Student Eligibility

Who gets federal student aid?

Many factors determine eligibility for federal student aid programs.  Your eligibility is determined by the information you provide on the FAFSA. 

Am I eligible?

To receive aid from the federal student aid programs you must meet certain criteria.  Except for some loan programs, you must show that you have financial need. 

Education requirements

• You must demonstrate by one of the following means that you are qualified to enroll in postsecondary education:   
• Have a high school diploma or a General Educational Development (GED) certificate
• Pass an approved ability-to-benefit (ATB) test.  If you don’t have a diploma or GED, you can take an approved ATB test to determine whether you can benefit from the education offered at the school.
• Meet other standards the state of Florida has established and the U.S. Department of Education has approved.
• Complete a high school education in a homeschool setting approved under state law.  
• You must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program.  
• You must meet satisfactory academic progress standards set by Trinity College of Florida.  

Legal and other requirements

• You must be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen.
• You must have a valid Social Security number (SSN) (unless you’re from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau.)  
• When you apply for federal student aid you must sign a statement that certifies that you will use federal student aid for educational purposes only.  You also certify that you are not in default on a federal student loan and do not owe a refund on a federal student grant.
• You must comply with Selective Service registration.  If you’re a male aged 18 through 25 and you have not registered you can, at the same time you complete your FAFSA, give the Selective Service System permission to register you by means of the FAFSA.