How does financial aid work?
You don’t necessarily have to be in a low-income category to qualify for financial aid. Some students receive aid based on special achievements while others receive aid based on financial need. The need is the difference between what it costs to attend college and what a student and family are expected to contribute.
Educational cost - Expected family contribution = Eligibility for need-based financial aid
Expected Family Contribution
The expected family contribution is a combined total of the parent and student contributions determined by the Federal Government. The family contribution will be calculated when you submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the federal processor.
Student Aid Index (SAI)
The FAFSA Simplification Act replaced the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) with the SAI for 2024-2025. The Student Aid Index (SAI) is an eligibility index number that the financial aid office uses to determine how much federal student aid you will receive. This number results from the information that you provide on your FAFSA® form. This number is not a dollar amount of aid eligibility or what your family is expected to provide. A negative SAI indicates the student has a higher financial need
General Eligibility Requirements
In order to receive federal, state, or LRSC-sponsored aid, a student must be working towards a degree or certificate in an eligible program. Federal regulations have strict rules about awarding federal aid for repeated classes. Most federal aid requires at least half-time active enrollment. Other eligibility requirements are:
- Demonstrate financial need for most programs
- Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate
- Have a valid Social Security Number
- Certify that you are not in default on a federal student loan and do not owe money on a federal student grant
- Certify that you will use federal student aid only for educational purposes
Citizenship
To receive federal and/or state financial aid, a student must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or eligible non-citizen or non-resident, as determined by federal and state regulations.
Enrollment
In order to receive federal, state, or LRSC-sponsored aid, a student must be working towards a degree or certificate in an eligible program, with at least half-time active enrollment.
- Full-time: 12 credits or more
- Three-quarters time: 9-11 credits
- Half-time: 6-8 credits
- Less than half-time: 1-5 credits
Satisfactory Progress
A student must maintain satisfactory progress with LRSC to be eligible for financial aid.
For more information about student aid, go to www.studentaid.gov.