Application, Enrollment, and Federal Requirements

Application Requirements:

  • Have a high school diploma
  • Be a citizen or eligible non-citizen with a valid Social Security Number
  • Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) yearly
  • Comply with any and all requests for information
  • Remain in good standing on educational loans and grants per the National Student Loan Database System (NSLDS)

Enrollment Requirements:

  • Be enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program. Most certificate programs do not meet the eligibility requirements for federal student aid, however, there are some exceptions. Please contact our office for additional information.
  • In general, remain enrolled for at least six credits if you are an undergraduate student* with the exception of the Federal Pell Grant, which is awarded based on the number of credits (1 credit minimum) and the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Your Pell grant may require recalculation at census date if you have dropped credits during the add/drop period.
  • In general, remain enrolled for five credits; at the 400 level or higher if you are a graduate student.
  • Comply with Penn State's Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.

*Some grant programs require full-time enrollment, which is indicated in each grant's eligibility section.

Federal Requirements:

We will monitor your Award Summary throughout each semester to ensure your student aid does not exceed your financial need or your costs. If this occurs, a hold will temporarily appear on the homepage of your LionPATH account indicating that you have an “Overaward of Financial Aid”. Our office will review and adjust your aid as appropriate to remain within federal guidelines.

We must also monitor to be sure that you have not used your Federal Aid eligibility at another school during the same academic period. If this occurs, a hold will temporarily appear on the homepage of your LionPATH account indicating that you have been flagged for “Transfer Monitoring”. If you have aid pending at another school, you will want to contact them to have it cancelled. Our office will review and adjust your aid as appropriate to remain within federal guidelines.

Additional items that may disqualify you from federal aid: