Federal Aid Eligibility Requirements

General eligibility requirements for federal student aid are that you must:

• demonstrate financial need (for most programs);
• be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen;
• have a valid Social Security number (with the exception of students from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau);
• be registered with Selective Service, if you’re a male (you must register between the ages of 18 and 25);
• be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate program;
• be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible for Direct Loan Program funds;
• maintain satisfactory academic progress in college or career school (see www.mhcc.edu/KeepMyAid/ for MHCC’s policy);
• sign the certification statement on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) stating that
  • you are not in default on a federal student loan and do not owe money on a federal student grant and
  • you will use federal student aid only for educational purposes; and
• show you’re qualified to obtain a college or career school education by
  • having a high school diploma or a recognized equivalent such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate;
  • completing a high school education in a homeschool setting approved under state law (or—if state law does not require a homeschooled student to obtain a completion credential—completing a high school education in a homeschool setting that qualifies as an exemption from compulsory attendance requirements under state law); or
  • enrolling in an eligible career pathway program and meeting one of the "ability-to-benefit" alternatives.

[Source: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/eligibility/basic-criteria]

Eligibility for all financial aid (except Parent Loans, private alternate loans and many scholarships) begins with the calculation of a student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or the ORSAA (Oregon Student Aid Application). Federal Pell Grant eligibility will be the same for equal enrollment statuses as every college in the United State, but other aid eligibility may vary depending on the college and costs.

State Aid Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility for aid from the State of Oregon varies depending on the award, but is generally based on the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or the ORSAA (Oregon Student Aid Application) and parent or student adjusted gross income (AGI) for the year reported on the application.

For more information on state grants and scholarships, and eligibility requirements for each, visit of the Office of Student Access and Completion website at oregonstudentaid.gov.

The State of Oregon offers financial aid options for undocumented or DACA students. Visit oregonstudentaid.gov/finaid-undocumented for more information about eligibility and application requirements.

MHCC Eligibility Requirements

In order to receive financial aid at MHCC, students must apply for aid using the FAFSA, ORSAA, or other applications for scholarships or grants, and be determined to be eligible based on application criteria.

MHCC students must be enrolled in and attending courses for an aid-eligible program. See the Academic Catalog to determine if a program is aid eligible. Students who are not seeking a degree will not be eligible for aid.

• Students who are attempting preparatory coursework for a program at any college may be eligible for 12-month continuous Title IV loan aid only (this does not apply to alternative loans).
• Students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree are not eligible for Federal Pell Grant and will be eligible for student loans contingent upon completion and approval of a Maximum Timeframe Appeal.

Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) according to MHCC’s policy requirements. See www.mhcc.edu/KeepMyAid/ for more information.

MHCC supports the concept of “vertical progression” as a justification for funding. Vertical Progression is defined as ascending through either one or more degrees or curriculums, progressively moving into a more improved position to compete in the job market.

Examples of vertical progression and horizontal movement:

Vertical Progression: more likely to be funded

Horizontal Movement: will not be funded