Eligibility Requirements

To receive aid from the major student aid programs you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non citizen.
• Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate.
• Be registered with Selective Service (if required).
• Have financial need.
• Be enrolled as a regular student working toward a degree.
• Have a valid Social Security Number.
• Be making satisfactory academic progress.
• Sign a statement of educational purpose/certification statement on refunds and default.

In addition:
Federal Stafford and Federal Perkins Loans must be repaid. Undergraduate students who have a Bachelor’s degree are not eligible for Federal Pell Grants, Federal SEOGs, or Minnesota State Grant.

Calculating Eligibility  

Your eligibility for financial aid was based on our analysis of your financial “need.” Need is the difference between what it costs to attend college and what you and your family are expected to pay from your own resources.

Financial Need = [Cost to attend] - [Expected Student/Family Contribution]

Financial aid is intended to supplement, not replace, family resources. Families should think of themselves as the first – and probably primary – source of college funds. A larger family contribution is usually expected from a family with a higher income and/or assets.

There are many ways in which the estimated contribution can be paid, including: current income, savings, loans, or a combination of savings, loans, and current income. A family has fewer choices if they have saved little or nothing for college. They will have to rely on some mix of  current and future earnings to pay the expected contribution.

You can get a booklet describing the formula that produces the Expected Family Contribution by writing to: