Financial Aid Eligibility

To qualify for financial aid, you must satisfy the requirements listed below.

Federal Financial Aid

Citizenship Status

You must have a valid Social Security Number unless you are from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau. And you must satisfy one of the following requirements:

• Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national
• Be a U.S. permanent resident with a Form I-551, I-151, or I-551C (green card)
• Have an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
• Have "battered immigrant-qualified alien" status
• Have a T-visa or a parent with a T-1 visa
• If you are male (defined as male at birth), be registered with Selective Service (must register between the ages of 18 and 25).

If you are an undocumented student (which includes anyone under DACA status) or work with undocumented students, download the U.S. Department of Education's Resource Guide for Undocumented Youth for assistance with college planning.

Academic Status

To receive federal student aid, you must meet all of these academic requirements:

• Have a high school diploma, General Education Development (GED) certificate, or a complete high school education in a homeschool setting approved under state law
• Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate program
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress in college or career school

Financial Status

You must also satisfy both of these criteria related to your finances:

• Certify on the FAFSA^® that you are not in default on a deferral student loan, do not owe a refund on a federal grant, and will use federal student aid only for education purposes
• Have financial need, which means that the Cost of Attendance at a college (which varies by school) is greater than your Student Aid Index (SAI). The one exception is the Unsubsidized Federal Direct Student Loan, which can be offered to students regardless of financial need.

More Information

If you have any questions about your eligibility for financial aid:

• Visit StudentAid.gov for information about your eligibility for financial aid from the federal government
• Contact each college's financial aid office for details about your eligibility for financial aid from that college and from your state of residence

State Financial Aid

Eligibility for state financial aid is very similar to that of federal aid, though some states, including Massachusetts, allow students to apply for state aid regardless of citizenship status. As well, some states offer financial aid regardless of a student's financial need. Check with your state of residence for specific eligibility criteria.

Institutional Financial Aid

Financial aid offered by colleges and universities (institutional financial aid) also closely follows federal guidelines in terms of eligibility, though some colleges do offer college financial aid funds (need-based and/or merit-based) to non-U.S. citizens/permanent residents. As well, many colleges offer significant amounts of merit-based aid, which does not take into account a student's financial need. Check with each college to find out eligibility criteria for their institutional aid.