Federal Student Aid Programs In America, 2020 admissions

Studying abroad can be every difficult to achieve. However, the United States have the top most and reputable colleges and universities in the world and as such, everyone wants to study there. Unfortunately, these colleges and universities does not come cheap. The good news is that, there are available Federal Student Aid Programs In America which students can apply for.

In other to achieve this, you must make sure you meet the eligibility criteria in order to be successful. Everyone is expected to meet the basic requirements to be eligible for federal student aid; however additional eligibility requirements apply for some people and in some situations.

Federal Student Aid Programs In America

Federal Student Aid Programs are programs set up by the federal and state government to disburse money that will be used to help pay for college or career school for students who can not meet up. Grants, loans, and scholarships help make college or career school affordable to students who are not financially able to attend college.

Financial aid can come from federal, state, school, and private sources to help you pay for college or career school. Financial aid can come in the form of a grant, scholarship or loan. The students can decide the type of aid suitable for them.

Types of Federal Students Aid Programs

There are different types of federal students aid programs available to students in America. Below is a list of the types of student aid programs:

Basic Eligibility Criteria for Federal Students Aid Programs

Students applying for federal students aid programs must meet some criteria. The general eligibility requirements for this program include, having financial need, be a US citizen or eligible noncitizen be enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program at your college and so on.

Ensure you are conversant with our basic eligibility criteria and direct any question you may have to a college financial aid office.

Please note: There is no income cut-off to qualify for federal student aid. Many factors are taken into account like, the size of your family, your year in school.

Students Who Lost Their Parent In Iraq or Afghanistan crisis

If your parent died due to military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after the evens of 9/11,  you might be qualified for additional Federal Pell Grant funding or for an Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant.

Non-U.S. Citizens

Generally, those with a “green card” ( which simply means, if you are a permanent resident alien), will be considered an “eligible noncitizen” and will be able to get federal student aid if he or she meet the other basic eligibility criteria. Visit our Non-U.S. Citizens page for more details on which immigration statuses make you an eligible noncitizen.

Students With Criminal Convictions

Applicants who have been incarcerated,  or have been convicted for drugs offense, or subject to involuntary civil commitment after completing a period of incarceration for sexual offence, may have limited eligibility for federal student aid.

Students With Intellectual Disabilities

These types of students may receive funding from the Pell Grant, Federal Work-Study programs, Supplemental Educational Opportunity in certain circumstances.

Homeless Students

Students of this kind are not provided financial aid program by the US Department of Education. As a matter of fact, homeless students can receive money for college of they are able to meet the eligibility requirements for federal student t aid.

Available resources for students who are homeless include, Federal Student Aid and Homeless YouthFAFSA – dependence status information. (Students of this category are not required to report parent information on the FAFSA form).

Students Who Are (or Have Been) in Foster Care

Students on this category does not receive financial aid program provided by the US Department of Education. The good news is that such students can receive money for college if they meet the eligibility requirements for federal student aid.

Some of the resources for students who are (or have been) in foster care include: Educational and Training Vouchers for Current and Former Foster Care YouthFAFSA – dependence status information. (this category of students are not required to report parent information on the FAFSA form).

Staying Eligible

If you are opportune to be in college or any career school, ensure you remain eligible for federal student aid by paying attention to few things, including keeping on track toward graduation. Do not forget to fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form every year.

Regaining Eligibility

There are number of ways in which a student can lose federal student aid eligibility. The most common ways are that you are in default or federal student loan, do not maintain satisfactory academic progress in college or career school, or are convicted of drug offense.

How to apply for Federal Aid in America

Step1: Start Planning Early

The first step towards getting financial aid is to plan well before the start of your school year. You must plan on how to pay for college before you start. You can do this by asking school counselors to direct you.

You can also contact the college financial aid office to know about state, college, and nonprofit grants and scholarships suitable for you so that you can apply for.

Before you apply for any one, you must make sure to meet application deadlines. You must save enough money before you get to college, this will help you to settle some fees before any aids comes your way.

Step 2: Fill Out the FAFSA Form

After your preparation, the next step is to get your FASFA form and fill it correctly. You must always apply for federal grants, work-study, and loans with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form before the start of  each year of college.

This is what your college will use in determining your federal aid eligibility. Many states and colleges use FAFSA data to award their own aid. After submission, you’ll receive your Student Aid Report.

Step 3: Review Your Aid Offer

The details contained in the FASFA form you fill determines the types and amounts of aid a college is offering you, and your expected costs for the year. You will also decide the loan to take If you’ve been accepted to multiple colleges.

You will have to compare the costs and aid offers before accepting anyone, this will help you to make the best out of your financial aid.

After accessing all options available accept the aid from the school that suits you and try to let them know of other sources of aid (such as scholarships) that you have access to or you expect to receive in the future.

Step 4: Get Your Aid

After you have gone through the steps above and its time for you to return to school, your financial aid office will remove the money you are owing to the school from your aid and give you the remaining balance to spend on other college costs.

To retain your financial aid eligibility you must be making steady and satisfactory progress in your academics. This is one of the requirements for financial aids. You must also complete a FAFSA form each year you want to get access to student aid.

Step 5: Graduate and Start Repayment

You must also be ready to repay your loans after graduating from college and start working. Your student loans expires immediately you graduate from college and you must make preparation on how to repay them.

The good news is that all Federal student loan borrowers have a six-month grace period before you begin making payments.

The advantage of it is that you will use this period to choose a repayment plan that suits you. If you think that you cannot meet up with your payments with the chosen payment plan, then, you must contact your loan servicer to discuss other repayment options.

Frequently Asked Questions About Federal Student Aid Programs in America

Q. What is Federal Student Aid?

Ans. Federal Student Aid is money set out by the federal and state government to disburse money that will be used to help pay for college or career school for students who can not meet up. Grants, loans, and scholarships help make college or career school affordable to students who are not financially able to attend college.

Financial aid can come from federal, state, school, and private sources to help you pay for college or career school. Financial aid can come in the form of a grant, scholarship or loan

Q. Who can receive Federal Student Loan in America?

Ans. The general eligibility requirements for this program include, having financial need, be a US citizen or eligible non-citizen be enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program at your college and so on. Ensure you are conversant with our basic eligibility criteria and direct any question you may have to a college financial aid office