What Prevents You from Being Eligible for Federal Financial Aid? (2024)

What Prevents You from Being Eligible for Federal Financial Aid? (1)

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College costs a lot, and that means that students have to come up with money to afford those costs. The federal government is the largest source of financial aid for college students. Therefore, many college students end up taking out federal aid in some form.

However, there are rules and eligibility requirements students must follow to qualify for federal financial aid. This means there are some things that can make you ineligible for federal aid. These include:

1. Not Filing the FAFSA

To receive federal financial aid, you must fill out and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA can determine your Student Aid Index (SAI) and how much additional funding you’d require to help make your education more affordable.

The FAFSA is used by more than just the government. Many private scholarships and loan programs also use the information to calculate student need and how much aid they are willing to give that student.

2. Certain Criminal Convictions

It may come as no surprise that having a criminal record may impede one’s ability to get federal aid. Incarceration, misdemeanors, arrests, and serious crimes could all affect a student’s aid. Smaller offenses may not necessarily cut off a student from all aid, but they could limit the programs they qualify for as well as the amount of aid they could receive. Larger offenses could disqualify a student entirely.

3. Not a US Citizen or Eligible Noncitizen

While certain non-citizens can qualify for federal aid programs, most will require citizenship or a green card. Make sure you research to see the citizenship requirements for the various federal aid programs out there.

4. No Diploma or GED

To qualify for federal financial aid for college, a student must prove that they are capable of pursuing higher education. Without a high school diploma, GED, completion of a state-approved homeschooling program, or enrollment in an eligible career pathway program, you will not receive federal aid.

Who Is Eligible for Federal Financial Aid?

To be eligible for federal financial aid in the United States, you must generally be a U.S. citizen, national, or eligible non-citizens, possess a valid Social Security Number, and have either a high school diploma or GED. Enrollment in an eligible degree or certificate program, and maintenance of satisfactory academic progress are also essential criteria.

Applicants should not be in default on federal student loans, should not have convictions for certain drug offenses, and must demonstrate financial need for need-based programs.

To apply for federal financial aid, prospective students and their families must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually. The FAFSA collects information on the applicant’s financial situation and is used to determine eligibility for various federal aid programs, including grants, loans, and work-study opportunities.

We strongly encourage everyone to file the FAFSA, and we mean everyone. It doesn’t matter if you think you don’t qualify, do it anyway! There’s no harm, and filing the FAFSA opens you up to federal aid and merit-based aid from colleges and could lead to getting more scholarships and grants.

You can also browse the College Raptor resources to discover personalized college matches, cost estimates, acceptance odds, and potential financial aid for schools around the U.S.—for FREE!

LenderRates (APR)Eligibility

What Prevents You from Being Eligible for Federal Financial Aid? (3)

6.97%-15.03%* Variable

5.99%-14.00%* Fixed

Undergraduate and Graduate

VISIT CITIZENS

What Prevents You from Being Eligible for Federal Financial Aid? (4)

6.37% - 16.70% Variable

4.50% - 15.49% Fixed

Undergraduate and Graduate

VISIT SALLIE MAE

What Prevents You from Being Eligible for Federal Financial Aid? (5)

4.98% - 16.85% Variable

4.24% - 16.39% Fixed

Undergraduate and Graduate

VISIT CREDIBLE

What Prevents You from Being Eligible for Federal Financial Aid? (6)

5.98% - 13.74% Variable

3.99% - 12.61% Fixed

Undergraduate and Graduate

VISIT LENDKEY

What Prevents You from Being Eligible for Federal Financial Aid? (7)

6.23% - 16.09% Variable

4.29% - 15.96% Fixed

Undergraduate and Graduate

VISIT ASCENT

What Prevents You from Being Eligible for Federal Financial Aid? (8)

6.54% - 11.08% Variable

3.95% - 8.01% Fixed

Undergraduate and Graduate

VISIT ISL

What Prevents You from Being Eligible for Federal Financial Aid? (9)

5.62% - 16.85% Variable

4.39% - 16.49% Fixed

Undergraduate and Graduate

VISIT EARNEST

What Prevents You from Being Eligible for Federal Financial Aid? (10)

4.98% - 12.79% Variable

8.42% - 13.01% Fixed

Undergraduate and Graduate

VISIT ELFI

College Raptor is not a loan lender and does not assume responsibility for suggesting a loan to a user who may not be eligible for it. Rates, terms, conditions, eligibility, approval, and other considerations are the decisions of the lenders and may vary depending on which lender or marketplace the user selects. We urge users to carefully consider and review all loan options and terms before committing to taking out a loan.

What Prevents You from Being Eligible for Federal Financial Aid? (2024)

FAQs

What disqualifies you from getting financial aid? ›

Individuals who owe a refund on a grant made by a federal student aid program under Title IV of the Higher Education Act; Individuals in default on a Title IV loan; Individuals incarcerated in prison; and. Individuals convicted of possessing or selling illegal drugs.

Why am I not eligible for financial aid? ›

Students must be in good academic standing to receive federal aid. The required GPA varies from school to school, but typically students need a 2.0 or higher. If your grades fall below the minimum GPA, you could lose eligibility for financial aid. See also: What GPA do you need to get a full scholarship?

What prevents you from financial aid? ›

Grades Slipped or Haven't Completed Enough Credits

You need to make satisfactory academic progress in college or career school in order to keep getting federal student aid. Talk to your school about whether you can appeal the decision that made you ineligible to continue receiving federal student aid.

What makes you eligible for federal financial aid? ›

Eligibility Requirements. Our general eligibility requirements include that you have financial need for need-based aid, are a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, and are enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program at an eligible college or career/trade school.

What would disqualify someone from financial aid? ›

Other reasons for financial aid disqualification include: Not maintaining satisfactory progress at your college or degree program. Not filling out the FAFSA each year you are enrolled in school. Defaulting on a student loan.

What income is too high for FAFSA? ›

There is no set income limit for eligibility to qualify for financial aid through. You'll need to fill out the FAFSA every year to see what you qualify for at your college. It's important to make sure you fill out the FAFSA as quickly as possible once it opens for the following school year.

Who gets denied financial aid? ›

Being denied student loans is common for would-be borrowers, and several factors could lead to loan denial. Your credit history, credit score, insufficient application information, or other issues could cause you to be rejected for a loan. If you were denied a student loan, you still have options.

Why won't FAFSA let me in? ›

If your account username and password don't allow you to access the site, double-check your phone number or email. You might find that the info associated with your account is an older school email or a parent's email or phone. Select “Forgot My Username” or “Forgot My Password” to try the account recovery options.

How do you lose financial aid eligibility? ›

Some of the most common ways to lose student aid eligibility include defaulting on a federal student loan or not maintaining satisfactory academic progress.

What can affect your financial aid eligibility? ›

Your family's taxed and untaxed income, assets, and benefits (such as unemployment or Social Security) all could be considered in the formula. Also considered are your family size and the number of family members who will attend college or career school during the year.

Will I get financial aid if my parents make over 100k? ›

Don't worry, this is a common question for many students. The good news is that the Department of Education doesn't have an official income cutoff to qualify for federal financial aid. So, even if you think your parents' income is too high, it's still worth applying (plus, it's free to apply).

Why would a student be denied a student loan? ›

Lenders may look at your employment history, credit score, debt-to-income ratio, and enrollment status at your school. One of the most common reasons why a student might not qualify for a private student loan is because they don't meet their lender's FICO® Credit Score criteria.

Who is not eligible for FAFSA? ›

To qualify for federal financial aid for college, a student must prove that they are capable of pursuing higher education. Without a high school diploma, GED, completion of a state-approved homeschooling program, or enrollment in an eligible career pathway program, you will not receive federal aid.

How can I maximize my financial aid eligibility? ›

How to Get the Most Financial Aid? 7 Tips to Maximize College Funding
  1. File forms as early as possible. ...
  2. Minimize student assets. ...
  3. Understand and utilize FAFSA strategies. ...
  4. Fill out FAFSA regardless of income. ...
  5. Prepare for merit-based aid possibilities. ...
  6. Consider even top-rated schools as options.
Jan 4, 2024

What are three qualifications to receive federal student aid? ›

Basic Eligibility Criteria
  • demonstrate financial need for need-based federal student aid programs;
  • be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen;
  • 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);

Is it hard to get approved for financial aid? ›

Nearly all students who apply qualify for some form of federal financial aid. "It's very easy to qualify for aid based on the FAFSA," Barnett says. For years, filling out the FAFSA was a confusing, complex process for families. However, the FAFSA was streamlined for the 2024-2025 award year.

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