Financial Aid Eligibility

Policies relating to the College's general admission and academic progress standards are described elsewhere in this catalog. The following are the requirements for most financial aid administered by Merced College:

• You must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen,

• You must have a valid Social Security number,

• You must be working toward an eligible degree or certificate program;

• You must be making satisfactory academic progress;

• You must not owe a refund on a Federal grant or be in default on a Federal educational loan;

• You must have “financial need” as determined by submitting the FAFSA or Dream Act;

• You must have a high school diploma, or GED, or pass the California High School Proficiency Examination;

• Recent legislation affecting student eligibility reduces student eligibility for Pell Grants to the equivalent of 12 full-time semesters. This is a lifetime limitation not a limitation per school.

To be eligible for California grants, students MUST also:

• Be a resident of California, and have “financial need” based on the criteria for the California College Promise Grant or Cal Grant Programs.