Eligibility Requirements
Federal financial aid eligibility requires you to have demonstrated financial need, be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen and be enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program. There are several other basic eligibility requirements you must meet to qualify for federal student aid.
Additional eligibility requirements may apply, including for non-U.S. citizens, students with criminal convictions, students who default on a loan and students with intellectual disabilities. Male students between the ages of 18 and 25 must be registered with Selective Service to be eligible for financial aid.
If you do not meet any of the FAFSA filing criteria and you are a Virginia resident, you may be eligible to file the Virginia Alternative State Aid (VASA) application.
Changes to Eligibility
Eligibility for financial aid is determined annually by the filing of the FAFSA or VASA application. First-year and transfer students should also complete the CSS Profile. Several circumstances could affect your original financial aid offer including, but are not limited to, verification of your application, change in your family's financial situation, failure to maintain academic progress, notification after your award of outside aid such as a scholarship, not enrolling for the required number of hours to receive aid through programs awarded, and/or enrolling in classes that are not going towards the completion of your undergraduate degree requirements.
Credit Hour Requirements
Undergraduate Students
Financial aid eligibility is initially determined using on the cost estimate of two full-time semesters. Regularly admitted full-time students may obtain approval from the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs to take a less than full-time course load (approved underload). This may result in a reduction of your costs and a subsequent proportional reduction to your financial aid eligibility. Only classes taken for academic credit and towards the completion of your undergraduate degree requirements will be considered for financial aid eligibility. Students that opt to enroll in classes that are not progressing the completion of their undergraduate degree requirements will be responsible for the costs associated with those classes (ex: an undergraduate student enrolling in graduate level courses). Note, a minimum of six hours is required to access Federal Direct Loans as an undergraduate student. Federal guidelines require that Pell Grants be reduced if the student is not enrolled full-time.
Graduate Students
Graduate students must register for at least half time (six credits) and for a minimum (four credits in fall/spring and three credits in summer) or non-topical/research/thesis hours each semester during the academic year to be eligible for federal financial aid.
Duration of Eligibility
Students must make satisfactory academic progress to stay eligible for federal aid.
Entering undergraduate students will have up to 10 semesters in which to complete their degree program and receive financial assistance. Transfer undergraduate students will also have 10 semesters of grant aid eligibility, which will be the total of the semester(s) taken at previous school(s) plus those completed at W&M.
