Student Aid Eligibility

Eligibility for federal student aid is based on financial need and on several other factors. The Rutgers University Financial Aid Office will determine your eligibility.

To receive aid from our programs, you must

• demonstrate financial need (except for certain loans).
• have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate
• be working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program.
• be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen.
• have a valid Social Security Number
• register with the Selective Service if required. You can register at www.sss.gov
• maintain satisfactory academic progress once in school.
• not be in default on a federal student loan or owe money on a federal student grant.
• certify that you will use federal student aid only for educational purposes.

Click here for additional information about recent changes resulting from the passage of the Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005 that may affect your student aid.

The Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended (HEA) suspends aid eligibility for students who have been convicted under federal or state law of the sale or possession of drugs, if the offense occurred during a period of enrollment for which the student was receiving federal student aid (grants, loans, and/or work-study). If you have a conviction(s) for these offenses, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) or go to the FAFSA on the Web site, click on "Before Beginning A FAFSA" in the left column, then click on "Drug Worksheet" to find out how this law applies to you.

How will I know what I'm eligible for?

The information you reported on your FAFSA is used to calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The formula used to calculate your EFC is established by law and is used to measure your family's financial strength on the basis of your family's income and assets. The EFC is used to determine your eligibility for federal student aid and indicates how much money you and your family are expected to contribute toward your cost of attendance for the school year. If your EFC is below a certain number, you'll be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, assuming you meet all other eligibility requirements.

You can get worksheets that show how the EFC is calculated by downloading them from our Web site at www.studentaid.ed.gov/pubs. Click on the award year appropriate to you under "EFC Formula."

Check student status https://www.acs.rutgers.edu/faaward

For more information visit: http://studentaid.rutgers.edu/eligibility.asp