Financial Aid Eligibility

Enhance Your Eligibility, Apply Early -- As early as January 1 each year!

The amount of financial aid you receive at disbursement will depend on whether you meet all of the eligibility and enrollment criteria for the awarded funds. Eligibility for financial aid is calculated using a formula called Federal Methodology (FM). FM calculates your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) based on the information that you provide on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Your EFC is the amount you and your family are expected to pay toward your educational expenses. The Federal Pell Grant award is based on the EFC. Other programs are based on need. The college's Cost of Attendance (COA) - your EFC = your financial need. Your toal need based aid package cannot exceed your financial need. Your total financial aid award cannot exceed your COA.

The day you submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) may also determine what kinds of financial aid are available. Meeting your FAFSA priority deadline allows you to be considered for aid programs with limited funding. The priority deadline is April 1.

To receive financial aid, you must:
• be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen;

• have a valid Social Security number (SSN);

• be admitted to an Anoka-Ramsey Community College degree or eligible certificate program, effective the term in which you receive aid. Unless you are taking required prerequisite courses (see below), you are not eligible before you have been admitted to a degree or certificate program even though you may be registered.

• comply with Selective Service registration requirements. If you are a male student at least 18 years old born after December 31, 1959, you must have Selective Service registration;

• not be convicted of a drug offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid (eligibility is suspended for a time period);
comply with the federal verification program, if requested;

• not be in default on a federal student loan or owe a refund on a federal student grant;

• provide information to resolve any discrepancies identified as a result of Department of Education interfaces with the Social Security Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, or the National Student Loan Data System (NDSL);

• meet financial aid satisfactory academic progress standards;

• not receive federal Pell Grant from more than one school at the same time;

• submit all requested academic transcripts.

Developmental Credits

Federal regulations limit a student’s eligibility for federal aid to a total of 30 developmental credits (not college level) attempted.