There are some differences between adults returning to school and students going to college straight out of high school, and we've got a simple college preparation checklist for adult students.
As far as federal student aid is concerned, the steps are pretty much the same for adults as for younger students: fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form and then keep in touch with the college or career school about receiving the aid. Still, you might find that adults have unique questions about federal student aid.
Is there an age limit for receiving federal student aid?
Can a student get federal student aid if the student has bad credit?
If a student has federal student loans that are in default, can they receive federal student aid?
If the student received a Federal Pell Grant before, can they receive Federal Pell Grant funds again?
Is there financial aid specifically for single parents with children?
If tax information from two years ago does not reflect the student's financial situation today, how should the student fill out the FAFSA® form?
Is there an age limit for receiving federal student aid?
No, there's no age limit. Almost everyone is eligible for some type of federal student aid. The adult student still needs to complete the FAFSA form, and make sure not to miss any deadlines, just like any other student.
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Can a student get federal student aid if the student has bad credit?
A student's credit record isn't considered unless they are attending graduate or professional school and want to receive a Direct PLUS Loan. To qualify for a Direct PLUS Loan, a student must not have an adverse credit history.
PLUS Loans: What to Do if You're Denied Based on Adverse Credit History article(Result Type: General)
Description:Article telling parents and graduate students what to do if their Direct PLUS Loan application is denied due to an adverse credit history.
Resource Type:Article or Blog Post
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If a student has federal student loans that are in default, can they receive federal student aid?
No. If a student has federal student loans that are in default, they are not eligible to receive additional federal student aid until the default is resolved. The borrower can resolve a default by paying the defaulted loan in full, consolidating the loan, or rehabilitating the loan. Learn more about getting out of default.
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If the student received a Federal Pell Grant before, can they receive Federal Pell Grant funds again?
Yes, if the student has not already earned a bachelor's degree, the student may be eligible for Federal Pell Grant funds after receiving them before. The student can receive the Federal Pell Grant for no more than 12 terms or the equivalent (roughly six years). The student can check if they are close to their limit by logging in to StudentAid.gov's "My Aid."
Students who have already earned a bachelor's degree may still be able to receive Federal Pell Grants for some teacher certification programs.
If the student has additional questions, they should contact their school's financial aid office.
Is there financial aid specifically for single parents with children?
There is no federal student grant or loan designated for single parents, but federal student aid can be used to pay childcare costs while the parent is in school. Advise the student to talk to someone in the financial aid office about having dependent care expenses added to the student's cost of attendance so those expenses are taken into account when the financial aid administrator determines the amount of aid the student can receive.
Additional considerations:
- Some schools have on-campus daycare facilities that their students with children can take advantage of.
- Some schools offer classes online; a parent might find the flexibility of such a class suits their schedule best.
- Although the U.S. Department of Education does not offer a special aid program for single parents, another entity might. Encourage your students to use free online scholarship searches to find out what might be available.
U.S. Department of Labor Scholarship Finder(Result Type: General)
Description:Free scholarship search tool for students finding scholarships along with information on how to apply.
Resource Type:Web Resource or Tool
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If tax information from two years ago does not reflect the student's financial situation today, how should the student fill out the FAFSA® form?
If the student's income is lower than it was two years ago—or will be reduced once the student starts school and needs to work fewer hours—they should contact the school's financial aid office as soon as possible. (Ideally, the student should contact the school before filling out the FAFSA form, but that isn't a requirement for the process.) The school might ask for proof of the change in income and may use that information to recalculate the student's eligibility for federal student aid.
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