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• Financial Aid at MSJC
• Financial Aid Student Eligibility

Financial Aid Student Eligibility

Federal Programs (e.g. Federal Pell Grant, FSEOG, FWS, Federal Direct Loans) 

To recieve federal financial aid, you MUST:

• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen; 
• Have a valid Social Security Number;
• Have a high school diploma, GED, CHSCP or *Ability-to-Benefit alternative;
• Be working toward a degree or certificate;
• Meet satisfactory academic progress standards;
• Not be in default or delinquency on federal education loans, or owe any federal grant money to any institution. 

California State Programs (e.g. Cal Grant, SSCG, California College Promise Grant)

To receive state financial aid funding, the California Student Aid Commission requires that you MUST:

• Be a California resident or have AB-540 status;   
• Be a U.S. citizen, eligible non-citizen, or undocumented person with AB-540 status;  
• Have a high school diploma, GED, CHSCP or *Ability-to-Benefit alternative;  
• Be working toward a degree or certificate;
• Be enrolled at least half-time (6 units) to receive the Cal Grant; 
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress;
• Have family income and assets below the established ceilings; AND
• Not be in default or delinquency on federal education loans, or owe any federal grant money to any institution. 

Ability to Benefit: 

1. Students enrolling for the first time after July 1, 2012 must have a High School Diploma, GED or state equivalent to be eligible for any federal financial aid. Students no longer have the option to pass an ATB test or to successfully complete 6 core/degree applicable units to gain eligibility for federal financial aid. 
   
   
2. Students who completed six degree-applicable units in an eligible Title IV program (or who passed an ability-to-benefit (ATB) test) prior to July 1, 2012 are still eligible to receive federal financial aid provided they meet all other eligibility requirements.