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National Application Center :: frequently asked questions

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financial aid

Eligibility, How & When to Apply

What is student financial aid?

Student financial aid is money that is provided to help students and their families pay for college expenses. College can be expensive and many students and their families cannot afford to pay for tuition and fees, books and supplies, and the living expenses associated with attending college. Federal and state governments, colleges and universities and various organizations attempt to ensure that college is affordable for all students, by providing student financial aid to help meet the college costs for students who do not have sufficient resources. The federal government provides 75 percent of all financial aid awarded to students across the country. Nationally, states provide 6 percent of all aid, and institutions provide 19 percent. Of all federal financial aid, three quarters come in the form of student loans.

What is financial need?

Financial need is determined according to formulas established by the federal government. Using those formulas, the information supplied on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used to calculate an expected family contribution. This is the amount which students and their families are expected to pay for college costs. This amount is subtracted from the total cost of attending college and the difference is financial need.

Who should apply for financial aid?

If a student and his/her family (parents, spouse) need help to pay college expenses, he/she should apply for financial aid. There is no charge for filing an application.

All of the information submitted on the application form is confidential and released only to the financial aid offices at the campuses the student lists on the form.

Who is eligible for financial aid?

While eligibility for financial aid varies somewhat between programs, the basic requirements for major student aid programs are as follows:

  • have financial need, except for some scholarship and loan programs
  • have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate, or pass an independently administered test approved by the U.S. Department of Education, or meet other standards your state establishes that are approved by the U.S. Department of Education
  • be enrolled as a regular student working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program at an eligible institution
  • be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
  • have a valid Social Security number
  • make satisfactory academic progress
  • sign a statement of educational purpose/certification statement on refunds and default (found on the Student Aid Report)
  • register with the Selective Service System if you are a male between 18 and 25 years of age.

Are grades or GPA considered in determining eligibility for financial aid?

While your grades do not play a major role in determining eligibility for financial aid, academic criteria does come into play. First of all, students must meet the institution's admission criteria which typically includes some consideration of grades or other measures of academic achievement or potential. Financial aid recipients are required to make satisfactory academic progress toward their degree or credential objective. Institutions establish standards of satisfactory academic progress and monitor the progress of aid recipients. Institutional standards include consideration of the number of units students enroll in and satisfactorily complete each year, as well as the total number of units a student completes over the entire academic program. According to federal regulations, aid recipients must have a C average or a 2.0 GPA at the end of their second year. For institutional and other scholarships based on academic merit, grades are typically a factor in the selection of recipients.

How do I apply for financial aid?

You can get a copy of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) from your high school or college counselor. FAFSA forms are also available from the financial aid office at any college or university, trade and technical schools, and at many public libraries.

The U.S. Department of Education makes the FAFSA available in several formats on the Internet. A PDF version of the FAFSA can be downloaded, FAFSA Express software can be downloaded to your computer for completion, and FAFSA on the Web provides for online completion of the student aid application. Moreover, personal data entered on NationalApplicationCenter.com can be transferred directly into the online FAFSA form.

When should I apply for financial aid?

The FAFSA form for the 2004-05 school year became available in December 2000. The form may be filed after January 1, 2004.

You should check with the college you are interested in attending to get information about possible earlier deadlines and other procedures.