COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID

Whether you're enrolling in college for the first time or returning to school after a period of time off, you should apply for federal student aid.

Federal student aid from the U.S. Department of Education is the largest source of aid in America, providing over $150 billion in grants, work-study, and federal loans for students attending four-year colleges or universities, community colleges, and career schools. On this page, we discuss who gets aid, the types of aid available, how to apply, and more!

Student Aid Eligibility

Eligibility for most federal student aid is based on financial need and on several other factors.

The most basic eligibility requirements to receive federal student aid are that you must

* be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen,
* have a valid Social Security number,
* register (if you haven't already) with the Selective Service, if you're a male between the ages of 18 and 25,
* maintain satisfactory academic progress in college or career school, and
* show you're qualified to obtain a postsecondary education by
o having a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certificate;
o passing an approved ability-to-benefit test (if you don't have a diploma or GED certificate, a school can administer a test to determine whether you can benefit from the education offered at that school);
o completing six credit hours or equivalent course work toward a degree or certificate;
o meeting other federally approved standards your state establishes; or
o completing a high school education in a homeschool setting approved under state law.