Scholarships and Financial Aids

Eligibility Requirements | Federal Student Aid

Basic Eligibility Criteria

Our basic eligibility requirements are that you must

demonstrate (for most programs);
be a U.S. citizen or an ;
have a valid Social Security number (with the exception of students from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau);
be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a in an eligible degree or certificate program;
be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible for Program funds;
maintain in college or career school;
sign the certification statement on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid(FAFSA^®) form stating that
- you are not in default on a federal student loan,
- you do not owe money on a federal student grant, and
- you will use federal student aid only for educational purposes; and
show you’re qualified to obtain a college or career school education by
- having a high school diploma or a recognized equivalent such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate;
- completing a high school education in a homeschool setting approved under state law (or—if state law does not require a homeschooled student to obtain a completion credential—completing a high school education in a homeschool setting that qualifies as an exemption from compulsory attendance requirements under state law); or
- enrolling in an eligible career pathway program and meeting one of the "ability-to-benefit" alternatives described below.

requirements can apply in certain situations including for non-U.S. citizens, students with criminal convictions, and students with intellectual disabilities.

Some have their own eligibility criteria in addition to the general requirements listed above. Check with your college’s if you have questions about a particular program.

Registering for Selective Service

Your registration status with Selective Service no longer affects your eligibility to receive federal student aid. However, you can still register through the FAFSA form. For general information about registering, call Selective Service toll-free at 1-888-655-1825 or visit sss.gov.

Note: If you are a citizen of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Republic of Palau, you are exempt from registering.

Ability-to-Benefit Alternatives

If you were enrolled in college or career school prior to July 1, 2012, or if you are currently enrolled in an eligible career pathway program*, you may show you’re qualified to obtain a higher education by

passing an approved ability-to-benefit test* (if you don’t have a diploma or GED, a college can administer a test to determine whether you can benefit from the education offered at that school) or
completing six credit hours or equivalent course work toward a degree or certificate (you may not receive aid while earning the six credit hours).

*For more information about these criteria, talk to the financial aid office at your school. Your financial aid counselor can tell you whether your school offers an eligible career pathway program and can advise you about any ability-to-benefit tests the school uses.

FAFSA

Filing the FAFSA is an essential part of seeking scholarships and financial aid for college. Many scholarship programs use FAFSA calculations to determine financial need. Additionally, colleges and universities award federal financial aid dollars based on a first-come, first-served basis, so you want to be sure you are considered for aid you may be eligible to receive. New this year --- the FAFSA can be completed any time after October 1 and most colleges/universities require FAFSA completion by March 1 of the following year.

Need-based aid

Money you receive based only on your family’s financial circumstances, regardless of your academic performance, talents, and other skills.

Merit-based aid

Money you receive based on your academic performance, talents, and other skills, regardless ofyour family’s financial circumstances.

Grants and Scholarship

FREE money that you do NOT need to repay that comes from the federal government, colleges/universities, or independent organizations.

Loans

Money that you DO need to repay within a certain amount of time, that earns interest (you will end up owing more than you borrow). Federal loans for students and parents are the best kind – steer clear of private loans.

Work-Study

Federal program that provides students with jobs on campus to earn money toward their education throughout the year (approximately 10 hours per week); includes summer work expectation. [*Note: Schools also offer other on-campus work opportunities in addition to federal work-study.]

Key terms

Tuition -- The amount of money it costs only to attend class/earn credit. Does not include any other costs of attending college/university!

Cost of Attendance -- The total amount of money it costs to attend a college/university (usually listed annually). Everything is included – tuition, housing and meals, books and supplies, insurance, fees, travel, etc. **This is the number used to calculate financial aid awards.

Expected Family Contribution (EFC) -- The amount of money your family is expected to contribute annually to your education. This is calculated by the government and colleges/universities, and may vary from school to school. **Note: The only financial aid that can cover the EFC is a parent PLUS loan.

FAFSA4caster-- is a tool to calculate estimated federal EFC: https://fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/app/f4cFormDemonstrated Need -- How much money a particular family needs to make a specific school affordable (see below).

Meets 100% of demonstrated need -- School provides financial aid equal to the amount of your demonstrated need.

Gapping -- School provides financial aid less than the amount of demonstrated need; students are left with a “gap” that must be filled with private scholarships.

Award Letter -- Summary of financial aid for a particular student from a particular school.

Net Price Calculator -- An online tool that you can use to estimate how much a particular school might cost for you to attend. All schools have one, but they vary a lot in quality. Find all school’s Net Price Calculators here:http://collegecost.ed.gov/netpricecenter.aspx

Keep in mind

*Sticker price is NEVER what you pay. Financial aid is highly individualized and each school will provide adifferent financial aid award. Don’t let sticker price influence where you apply; the cost of a school for your family should only impact where you ultimately attend.

* It is often cheaper to attend a more expensive school. Private schools and out-of-state public schools often have higher sticker prices than public in-state schools, but they also often have significantly more financial aid available. You could attend an FL public university for in-state tuition, or you might attend a private school or out-of-state public school that costs $60,000 for only $500.

Special interest aids

African American and Black Students

Hispanic and Latino Students

Student Caregivers

Students Experiencing Homelessness

Students with Disabilities

Undocumented Students

College Preparation YouTube Playlist

Curious about what college is like? Take a look at the videos in our “Prepare for College" YouTube playlist. The playlist includes such topics as “What’s the biggest myth about college?” and “What’s the best tip about going to college?”

What is the Most Surprising Thing About College?

Checklists

Whether you’re a student or parent, years away from college or just about to start, the following checklists will help you get ready.

Elementary School Checklist: Student and parent checklists that start the student on the road to enjoying learning and point the parent to resources for college savings accounts.
Middle School Checklist: Student and parent checklists that get the student thinking about high school and possible careers and encourage the parent to keep an eye on the student’s progress.
High School Checklist: Student and parent checklists that help the student focus on succeeding academically and learning about financial aid and provide the parent with tips for supporting the student and participating in the financial aid application process.
Grad School Checklist: Checklist to help individuals get prepared for graduate or professional school.
Adult Student Checklist: Checklist for adults applying to college, including those who left high school before graduating, graduated high school, completed some college courses, or may be in the workforce.
Getting a Late Start?—Last-minute Checklist: Checklist for anyone who has been accepted at a college and is starting classes soon but hasn’t applied for financial aid yet.

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