Are you eligible for Financial Aid?

Financial aid eligibility is based on several criteria. The following factors can impact a student’s aid package.

Citizenship Status

Federal Student Aid (Direct Student Loans, Parent Plus Loans, Pell Grant, etc.) are available to U.S. Citizens, and eligible non-citizens. Please view the Citizenship Page for more information. 

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

Undocumented students, including DACA recipients, are not eligible for federal student aid, but may still be eligible for state or college aid, in addition to private scholarships. Virginia students are eligible for the Virginia Alternative State Aid (VASA) Application if they meet the Virginia residency requirements.

Enrollment

Non-Degree Seeking Students

Students enrolled in a non-degree certificate or non-credit programs are not eligible for federal aid.

Enrollment Status

Students must be enrolled at least half-time for federal loans and the majority of grant funds. Grant funds may be reduced if enrolled less than full-time. Students are responsible for ensuring the courses they are enrolled in are applicable to their program of study. Enrolling in courses that do not apply to a student’s degree program may result in ineligibility of financial aid funds. Please view the Enrollment Freeze page for more information. 

Housing Status

Financial Aid eligibility can be affected by whether the student is living in on-campus housing. While Federal loans and grants are not affected by housing status, some merit-based institutional scholarship may be affected. Please click to find more specific information on Merit Scholarship renewals. If you are considering changing your UMW housing status, please first contact the Office of Financial Aid to determine any potential changes to your financial aid package.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is a policy based on a federal regulations that states that students must maintain a steady rate of completion toward a degree and maintain a minimum GPA in order to be eligible for financial aid.

After semester grades are posted, the Financial Aid office identifies students that are not progressing satisfactorily, and notifies them of their change in eligibility. A student may appeal for their financial aid eligibility if they meet certain criteria.