Eligibility for most financial aid programs is based on demonstrated need of the student and/or the student’s family and on registered credit hours.

For federal and state financial aid programs a student must:

• Be a citizen, national or permanent resident of the United States. Certain persons in the process of becoming citizens or permanent residents may also be eligible.

To be eligible for federal financial aid programs (Pell, FSEOG, Federal Work Study, Federal Direct Loan, Federal PLUS), a student must also:

• File a FAFSA (studentaid.gov)
• Submit all prior college transcripts
• Be accepted by the College for admission as a regular student and demonstrate the ability to benefit from the selected program of study. Students enrolled in high school, post-secondary option students, and early admit students are not eligible for aid.
• Show intent on the admission application to obtain an associate degree for transfer to another college, an associate degree for the job market or a certificate.
• Be enrolled in a financial aid-eligible degree or certificate program.
• Be enrolled in courses that provide credit toward a financial aid-eligible degree or certificate program. Courses taken as audit are not eligible.
• Meet the enrollment and attendance requirements for each program.
• Demonstrate the ability to benefit from the education offered. You must provide an official transcript to the Office of the Registrar verifying you have earned a high school diploma or GED.
• Comply with requirements concerning Selective Service registration. For information regarding Selective Service, or to register, visit www.sss.gov.
• Comply with requirements concerning submission of a Statement of Educational Purpose. This is included on the financial aid application (FAFSA).
• Certify that you are not in default on any federal loan.
• Certify that you do not owe a refund to any federal aid program, including grant overpayments resulting from withdrawing from class(es).
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress as set forth in the Stark State College Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.
• Accumulate no more than 30 hours of developmental courses.

For Ohio programs (Ohio National Guard Tuition Assistance, and War Orphans Scholarship), the student must also:

• Be a resident of Ohio (according to Ohio Law) for 12 consecutive months
• Be enrolled in credit courses
• Be enrolled in an associate degree program; certificate-seeking students are not eligible for state funds