To be eligible for federal and state financial aid, students must: 

  • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year. Penn State's FAFSA School Code is 003329. *See note below.
  • Be enrolled/accepted in an eligible program of study.  
  • Be enrolled at least half-time (6 credits for undergraduate students, 5 credits at the 400 level or above for graduate students).
  • Have a high school diploma, a GED, or a passing "ability to benefit" test.  
  • Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen with a valid Social Security Number (SSN).
  • Be registered with the Selective Service if you're a male between the ages of 18 to 25.  
  • Not have eligibility suspended or terminated due to a drug-related conviction(s).
  • Not be in default on a federal student loan(s).  
  • Not owe repayment of a federal grant(s).
  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by the higher education institution.

* It is highly recommended that students/parents submit the FAFSA using a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID. Using an FSA ID rather than paper signatures can cut the federal processing time to less than a week.