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Eligibility

General Eligibility Requirements
To receive aid from any federal student aid program, you must meet the following criteria:
-- Demonstrate financial need, except for some loan programs.
-- Demonstrate by one of the following means that you are qualified to enroll in post secondary education:
-- Have a high school diploma.
-- Education Development (GED) Certificate.
-- Pass an approved Ability-to-Benefit (ATB) test.
-- Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program.
-- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non citizen.
-- Have a valid Social Security Number.
-- Meet Satisfactory Academic Process.
-- Certify that you will use federal student aid only for educational purposes and certify that you are not in default* on a federal student loan and do not owe money on a federal student grant (which could happen if you withdraw from school, for example).
-- Comply with Selective Service registration (required for males ages 18 through 25).
-- You have not been convicted under federal or state law of selling or possessing illegal drugs
-- Incarcerated students have limited eligibility for federal student aid. Generally, you're eligible only for a Pell Grant if you are NOT incarcerated in a federal or state penal institution.

Match Requirements
When you apply for aid from FSA programs, some information is verified with certain federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration for verification of Social Security numbers and U.S. citizenship status. If the information doesn't match, the problem will have to be resolved for you to receive aid.

* Records are also verified against the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) for verification that you don't have a defaulted federal student loan, haven't received an overpayment on a federal grant, and haven't borrowed more than the total limit allowed.