Financial Aid Eligibility Requirements (Policy FA-20)

Policy:

To be eligible for federal, state, and most institutional or private financial aid, a student must meet
certain eligibility requirements.

Procedure:

  • File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  • Meet all regulatory eligibility requirements for federal financial aid including, but not limited to:
    • U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
    • Have earned a High School Diploma or GED certificate.
    • Not be in default on a federal student loan or owe a refund to any federal financial aid program at any institution.
    • Have not received a conviction for any offense during a period of enrollment for which the student was receiving federal financial aid under any federal or state law involving the possession or sale of illegal drugs.
    • Students enrolled in an eligible degree-seeking program at Clarkson College.
    • Enrolled at least half-time:
      • Undergraduate students: six (6) credit hours
      • Graduate students: three (3) credit hours for each semester the student wishes to be considered for financial aid
    • Enrolled in courses that fulfill the student’s degree requirements.
  • Submit additional documents or information as requested by Financial Aid.
  • Meet all Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements each academic term.
  • Certify that federal student aid awards will be used only for educational purposes.

Additionally, federal regulations require that the annual maximum loan amount an undergraduate student may receive must be prorated (reduced) in the following circumstances: 

 1. The student is enrolled in a program that is shorter than a full academic year; or 

2.The student is enrolled in a program that is one academic year or more in length, but is in a remaining period of study (i.e., a period at the end of which the student will have completed all program requirements) that is shorter than a full academic year. 

Note: The annual loan limit for Direct Unsubsidized Loans is not prorated for students enrolled in graduate or professional-level programs. 

Loan proration requirements also do not apply to students enrolled in preparatory coursework or teacher certification coursework. This is because these students are not considered to be enrolled in a program for Title IV purposes, and the requirement to prorate loans applies only when the student is enrolled in a program (or portion of a program) that is shorter than an academic year. 

It is important to understand that loan limit proration determines the maximum loan amount a student may borrow for a program or the remaining portion of a program—not the actual loan amount the student is eligible to receive. In some cases, the student’s eligibility (based on cost of attendance, SAI, and OFA) may be less than the prorated loan limit. 

Academic Policies and Procedures