To be eligible to receive Federal Title IV assistance, a student must:

• Enrolled and matriculated in an eligible program of study.
• Have a valid High School Diploma or a recognized equivalent.
• Be a U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, a Citizen of the Freely Associated States or a lawful U.S. Permanent Resident or other eligible noncitizen.
• Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Not be in Default Status for any previously disbursed Federal Direct Loans https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/default/get-out
• Not be in Overpayment Status for any previously disbursed Federal Grant https://studentaid.gov/help-center/answers/article/why-would-i-repay-federal-grant
• Have not exceeded Annual or Aggregate Loan Limits.
• Have not exceeded annual or lifetime Pell Grant Limits.
• Meet all Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements.
• Note: Eligibility requirements are subject to change in accordance with federal guidelines or revisions made by the Department of Education.

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant program provides funding toward tuition, fees, and other costs for students whose income is below levels set by the U.S. Congress. Pell grants do not have to be repaid. The Financial Aid Office can provide an estimate of grant awards based upon the information submitted on the FAFSA. Eligibility is determined by the students:

• Student Aid Index (SAI)
• Cost of Attendance (COA)
• Enrollment Intensity (the number of credit hours an eligible student takes in a term)

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

FSEOG is a need-based grant for Pell-eligible undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional need. Funds are limited, and priority is given to students who apply early to ensure timely award distribution.

Federal Work Study

Federal Work-Study funds are awarded to selected eligible applicants who have a valid completed FAFSA, have a financial need, and indicate an interest in Federal Work-Study on their FAFSA. To be eligible students must be enrolled at least half time, have a minimum GPA of 2.5, and have successfully completed their first semester at the ACTIVA Training Center.

Federal Direct Loans • Subsidized and Unsubsidized

Federal Direct Loans are low-interest loans made to students attending school at least half-time. Direct Loans, unlike grants, are borrowed money that must be repaid, with interest, and payments normally begin six months after leaving school. The amount of each payment depends on the size of the debt and the ability to pay.

Students can qualify for a Direct Loan based upon financial need as determined by the FAFSA. The need-based loan (known as “subsidized”) offers in-school interest subsidies by the federal government. In addition, students may qualify for non-need-based Direct loans (known as “unsubsidized”). These loans do not offer interest subsidies. It is possible for students to have both subsidized and unsubsidized Direct loans.

Federal Parent PLUS Loan

Federal Direct PLUS Loans are for parents who want to borrow to help pay for a child’s education. These loans enable parents with good credit history to borrow for each dependent. Unlike other financial aid programs, a family financial analysis is not required to be eligible for a Direct PLUS Loan. PLUS Loans must be repaid. Repayment generally begins 60 days after the loan is fully disbursed.

Student / Parent borrowers: Parents must consent to and approve the FA-DDX and sign their student’s FAFSA before applying for a PLUS loan. FA-DDX is a system/process used by the U.S. Department of Education, in partnership with the IRS, to automatically fetch (with consent) a student’s (and required contributor’s) federal tax information and transfer it directly into the FAFSA form. The Financial Aid Office must determine the student's eligibility for maximum annual subsidized and/or unsubsidized Direct Loans. The student is not required to receive a Direct loan as a condition for receiving the PLUS loan, nor may the Financial Aid Office require a student to receive a Direct loan before applying for a PLUS loan.

Note: Dependent students, whose parents are denied a PLUS loan, may be eligible for an additional unsubsidized Direct loan amount.