Am I Eligible for Financial Aid?

Any student applying to or currently enrolled at Richard Bland College is encouraged to apply for financial aid. General eligibility requirements are listed below. For specific requirements, please refer to the Types of Aid section. Students must meet all eligibility requirements described here to be considered for any Title IV federal financial aid programs and need-based aid assistance from the College.

1. Have a High School Diploma or Equivalent. Students must have a high school diploma or its equivalent, or have a certificate indicating they have completed a home-study program recognized by their home state.
2. Be Enrolled in an Approved Degree or Certificate Program.
3. Credit Hours. In order to receive a full financial aid award package, students must be full-time (meaning at least twelve credit hours each semester). Students who choose to take less than a full-time course load may have their financial aid award reduced as required by federal regulations and institutional policies. In order to receive a Stafford student loan, a student must be enrolled at least half-time (a minimum of 6 credit hours each semester).
4. Be a U.S. Citizen or an Eligible Non-Citizen. Students must be United States citizens or classified as eligible non-citizens.
5. Have a Valid Social Security Number (with the exception of students from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau).
6. Be Registered with the Selective Service. Male students between the ages of 18 and 25 must be registered with Selective Service.
7. Not in Default on a Loan or Owe a Refund on a Grant. Students must not be in default on a Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Stafford Loan, Federal Supplemental Loan for Students, or Federal Direct Loan, nor owe any refund on a Federal Pell Grant or Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant.
8. Not Have a Drug Conviction. Students must not have been convicted of violating any federal or state law related to the possession or sale of drugs while receiving Title IV aid. Students who are convicted must notify the Financial Aid Office. They may lose their eligibility for Title IV financial assistance and may be required to pay back any aid they received prior to their conviction.
9. Demonstrate Satisfactory Academic Progress. Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress, according to the standards and practices of the College. Students who fail to maintain satisfactory progress may not receive federal Title IV assistance or state and College need-based grants and scholarships.