Eligibility for Federal Financial Aid

GENERAL CRITERIA FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID ELIGIBILTY

Listed below are the general criteria a student must meet to be eligible for federal student aid. Note that each financial aid award program may have additional criteria a student must meet to be eligible for that particular program.
Generally, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must:

• File your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov (you are encouraged to file your FAFSA and have a complete financial aid file by the KU March 1st priority date to be considered for limited funded programs)
• Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate ( exceptions apply, including an approved home-school setting or passing an ability-to-benefit test approved by the U.S. Department of Education ).
• Be working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program.
• Be a United States citizen or eligible non-citizen.
• Have a valid Social Security Number (SSN).
• Register with the Selective Service, if required. You can register online when you complete the FAFSA on the Web or you can call 1-847-688-6888.
• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
• Certify, by means of your signature on the FAFSA, that you are not in default on a federal student loan and do not owe money on a federal student grant.
• Certify, by means of your signature on the FAFSA, that you will use federal student aid only for educational purposes.

Note: If you have been convicted of violating any federal or state drug possession or sale laws, determine your eligibility for federal student aid by completing the FAFSA Drug Conviction Worksheet (you may still be eligible to receive federal student aid). Even if you think you may be ineligible for federal student aid, you are encouraged to complete the FAFSA because you may be eligible for non-federal aid.

FINANCIAL NEED DETERMINATION

Your eligibility for need-based programs (see which programs are need-based and which are non-need-based in the Financial Aid Guide) is calculated by subtracting your EFC from your estimated COA. The resulting figure, financial need, is an estimate of how much funding you "need" to afford KU for the academic year. You cannot receive any need-based funding in excess of your financial need.

Your estimated Cost of Attendance (COA) (also known as a budget) is a standardized estimate of what it will cost you to attend KU for the academic year. The estimated COA is comprised of the following components: tuition and fees, room and board, books, transportation, and personal expenses. The COA also includes charges such as non-resident tuition and special fees for programs such as engineering, law, and pharmacy. Your financial aid package cannot exceed your estimated COA. Information about KU tuition and fees, including information about the Four-year Tuition Compact, may be reviewed at www.tuition.ku.edu.

The information you report on your FAFSA is utilized by the federal processor to calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The formula used to calculate your EFC is established by federal law and is used to determine your eligibility for student aid programs. The EFC is an estimate of what your family might be able to contribute. Your EFC is printed on your Student Aid Report (SAR) that you receive after filing your FAFSA.

If you feel that your current situation is not accurately reflected on your FAFSA, you may request a Special Circumstances Re-Evaluation. See our Special Situations page for more information.