Federal Aid Programs

Federal Pell Grant:

Grants are awarded to undergraduate students who have demonstrated need and who are working on their first bachelor’s degree. Eligibility is based on the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculated by filing the FAFSA. Individual award amounts are based on federal appropriations and enrollment status. The amount of Federal Pell Grant funds a student may receive over his or her lifetime is limited by a new federal law to be the equivalent of six years of Pell Grant funding. Since the maximum amount of Pell Grant funding a student can receive each year is equal to 100%, the six-year equivalent is 600%.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG):

This grant program is awarded to students who have demonstrated need and with the lowest Expected Family Contribution (EFC) levels as determined by filing the FAFSA form. Individual award amounts may range from $100 to $4000 based on federal appropriations, allocations to the University, and enrollment status.

Federal Work-Study Program (FWS):

Students with financial need may earn money to pay for college expenses by working at a variety of on or off-campus jobs. The federal government finances the major portion of a student's earnings, and the University or off-campus employer finances the remainder. Work-Study provides an opportunity for students to learn professional skills while working for financial assistance. Determination of eligibility is made by the Office of Financial Aid. Students interested in obtaining employment on campus should contact the Career Development Center.

Federal Direct Loan Program (formerly the Stafford Loan Program):

Students must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen attending at least half-time to apply for a Federal Direct Loan. Subsidized Federal Direct Loans are based on financial need as determined by federal formula. Interest is paid by the federal government until a student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time. Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loans are available to students who have not established financial need based on the federal formula and the interest is paid by the student while in school.

The Office of Financial Aid will determine the amount of a student’s Federal Direct Loan after the results of the FAFSA are received. The amount of the loan is based on the maximum loan limits established by the federal government. Students offered a Federal Direct Loan must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and participate in a loan entrance counseling interview at www.studentloans.gov. The maximum loan limits for each 12 month period of enrollment are as follows:

All Federal Direct Loan borrowers are required to complete an Exit Interview when they leave the college or drop below half-time enrollment status. The Office of Financial Aid will send information about this process when a student leaves the institution due to graduation or withdrawal.

* Dependent Students whose parents are denied a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan are eligible for an additional $4,000 or $5,000 Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan depending on class level.

Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loans:

Eligible parents of dependent students may borrow up to the cost of education minus any other aid per year for each son or daughter in an approved college. There is no interest subsidy and parents have the option of deferment so that they will not need to make payments while their child is enrolled at least half-time and for an additional six months after their child graduates, leaves school, or drops below half-time enrollment.

Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans:

Eligible graduate or professional students can apply for the Graduate Plus Loan up to the cost of education minus any other aid per year in which they are enrolled. Payments are deferred until six months after students graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment. Interest accrues on this loan during periods of non-payment.

Federal Teach Grant:

TEACH (Teacher Education Assistance for University and Higher Education) Grant is a merit based Federal Title IV program designed to encourage highly qualified teachers to serve in low -income schools in high-need fields.

• Teaching Obligation: Grant recipients agree to teach for at least four years within eight years of finishing their teacher preparation program and to teach high-need students in designated schools that serve low-income students. If you do not complete the four-year teaching obligation, your grant will convert into an unsubsidized loan, which you will have to repay with interest calculated back to the date the funds were originally disbursed. The field you teach in must be a high need field in the state where you teach in order to satisfy your service requirement.*
  
  * According to some estimates, only 20 percent of students who participate in the TEACH Grant Program will be able to use the funds as grants, while many students will see their funds converted to loans with accumulated interest.