Your financial aid eligibility is based on your financial circumstances in addition to several other factors.
Enrollment Status
- Registration Requirements
To be eligible for Vermont State Scholarships, students are expected to enroll on a full-time basis in a degree-seeking program. Eligibility for federal aid programs, including Pell, FSEOG, Federal Work-Study, and Direct Loans, requires at least half-time enrollment in a degree-seeking program. - Withdrawal/Resignation
Returning Federal Funds: Vermont State is required to return to the federal aid programs the amount of aid received that was in excess of the aid “earned” for the time period the student remained enrolled. Students who remain enrolled through at least 60% of the payment period (semester) are considered to have earned 100% of the aid received.
Timely Progression Toward Degree
- Satisfactory Academic Progress
In accordance with federal regulations, recipients of federal financial aid must maintain a satisfactory rate of progress toward completion of a degree (pace), must be in good standing based on a cumulative GPA, and must meet maximum time frame requirements.
Reaching Maximum Federal Aid Limits
- Pell Lifetime Eligibility Used
The maximum amount of Federal Pell Grant funds you may receive over your lifetime is limited by a new federal law to be the equivalent of six years of Pell Grant funding. Since the maximum amount of Pell Grant funding you can receive each year is equal to 100%, the six-year equivalent is 600%. - Direct Loan Limits
There are aggregate limits on the amount of Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans based on dependency status and educational program.
Default of a Federal Student Loan
- Students in default on any federal student loan are not eligible to receive aid from any federal program until the default status is resolved.
