Financial Aid Eligibility
To qualify for federal student aid, you generally need to meet the following criteria:
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Financial Need: Most aid programs require financial need, so it’s important to apply for financial aid by the priority deadlines.
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Education Level: You must have one of the following:
- A high school diploma
- A GED certificate
- Completed secondary-level homeschooling in line with your state's laws
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Enrollment Status: You should be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an eligible degree or certificate program. Only courses required for your declared program will count toward your aid eligibility.
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Citizenship: You must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen.
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Academic Progress: Continuing students must meet satisfactory academic progress standards.
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Educational Purpose: Federal student aid must be used only for educational expenses.
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Loan and Grant Status: You need to certify that you are not in default on any federal student loans and that you do not owe money on federal student grants.
Note for Guest Students: If you are a guest student wanting to take classes at WCCCD, you can only receive financial aid if your home school has a consortium agreement with WCCCD. Check with your home school for details.
Repeat Course Policy for Financial Aid
Federal regulations require us to monitor your enrollment for Title IV aid when you repeat courses. Here’s what you need to know:
- You can retake a course if you fail it and receive financial aid for that.
- If you passed a course (with a grade of D or better), you can only receive financial aid for that course one more time.
Important Notes:
- Once you’ve attempted a course twice with a passing grade, you won’t be eligible for financial aid for that course again, regardless of the outcome.
This policy is separate from WCCCD’s academic policies on repeating courses, so be sure to check both!
If you have any questions about your eligibility or the repeat course policy, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Financial Aid Office for assistance.
