Policy Type: Student Affairs
Policy Title: Financial Aid Eligibility
Policy Number: SA-15
Purpose:
Define eligibility requirements for federal, state, and institutional student aid
programs.
Scope:
All students applying for federal, state, and/or institutional student aid.
Definitions:
Ability to Benefit (ATB): Under the ATB provision, otherwise-eligible students — who do not have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent but are enrolled in select Title IV eligible programs at »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË College — may be eligible for financial aid.
Enrollment Status: Enrollment Status is based on the number of quarterly credits, which apply towards a student's eligible program of study, and is calculated quarterly.
- Federal student loans, federal/state work-study, and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG): Minimum six (6) quarterly credits which apply towards a student's eligible program of study.
- Grants (including Pell, Washington College Grant, College Bound Scholarship, institutional funds): Awards are prorated based on the number of eligible quarterly credits which apply towards a student's eligible program of study.
Enrollment Status | Number of Eligible Credits |
---|---|
Full-Time | 12 or more |
Three Quarter Time | 9 to 11 |
Half-Time | 6 to 8 |
Less Than Half Time | 5 or fewer |
FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid must be completed in order to apply for federal financial aid at »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË. FAFSA results are used to determine eligibility for federal, state, and institutional financial aid.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP): Students are required to maintain satisfactory academic progress in order to receive financial aid which is mandated by federal and state regulations. See Policy SA-17: Satisfactory Progress for Financial Aid
WASFA: The Washington Application for State Financial Aid is for students who don't meet the requirements of the FAFSA but meet the residency requirements of HB-1079, have DACA status, or other eligibility criteria as determined by Washington Student Achievement Council.
Policy:
Recipients of federal financial aid at »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË must meet the following criteria:
- Complete a FAFSA
- Have a high school diploma, GED® certificate, recognized HS equivalency, or qualify for Ability to Benefit (ATB) designation.
- Not be enrolled in an elementary or secondary school even if simultaneously enrolled in an eligible postsecondary program.
- Be enrolled as a regular student seeking an eligible degree or certificate.
- Meet and maintain satisfactory academic progress (see Policy SA-17: Satisfactory Progress for Financial Aid)
- Meet enrollment status requirements.
- Not be in default on a student loan or owe a repayment of federal educational grant funds.
- Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or eligible non-citizen.
- Register with selective service, if required to do so.
Note: The U.S. Department of Education may have additional eligibility requirements not stated in this policy. Please see for additional information.
Recipients of state & institutional financial aid at »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË must meet the following criteria:
- Complete a FAFSA or WASFA
- Have a high school diploma, GED certificate, recognized HS equivalency, or qualify for Ability to Benefit (ATB) designation.
- Not be enrolled in an elementary or secondary school even if simultaneously enrolled in an eligible postsecondary program.
- Be enrolled as a regular student seeking an eligible degree or certificate.
- Make satisfactory academic progress (see Policy SA-17: Satisfactory Progress for Financial Aid)
- Meet enrollment status requirements.
- Not owe a repayment of state grant funds (for additional state funding)
- Be a resident of Washington, as determined by the College's Residency Officer, RCW
28B.15, and WAC 250-18
Procedure:
- Review all eligibility edits provided by the Federal Student Aid Central Processing System for each financial aid applicant
- Review student's prior higher education enrollment to determine satisfactory academic progress.
- Review the registration information to determine program eligibility and enrollment intent.
- Review information from the National Student Loan Database and Common Origination and Disbursement System for default, concurrent enrollment, refund of any previous grants, overpayments, and Pell Grant and loan disbursements.
- Review Washington Student Achievement Council's databases for eligibility and overpayments
Specific Authority
Federal Regulations:
State Regulations:
Law Implemented:
History of Policy or Procedure
Draft: February 5, 2005
Adopted: January 6, 2006
Revised: August 22, 2012, July 9, 2019, February 7, 2020
Reviewed by: Student Affairs Leadership Team
Contact: Beth Hawes, Director of Financial Aid, 253.333.4978
President's Staff Sponsor: David Larsen, Dean of Enrollment and Completion, 253-833-9111, ext. 3307, dlarsen@greenriver.edu