Non-Degree Student Financial Aid Limits and Responsibilities

To be eligible for federal financial aid as a non-degree student, you must first:

plan to be enrolled in preparatory courses necessary for acceptance into a degree program (limited to one consecutive twelve-month period) OR plan to be enrolled in a required teaching or counseling certification program
plan to be enrolled at least half-time (Graduate level students: 4 credit hours during Fall or Spring or 3 credit hours during Summer; Undergraduates: 6 credit hours during any single semester)
complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
complete and submit all three parts of the Application for Federal Financial Aid for Non-Degree Students for the appropriate aid year (available in the Forms link in this website).

Note: Non-degree students who are taking coursework for the purpose of improving their grade point average (GPA) only are not eligible to receive federal financial aid. However, all non-degree students, regardless of their reason for enrollment as a non-degree student, may be eligible for alternative loans which are student loans from private non-federal lenders. The student should compare lenders and follow their application procedures. This form is not required for students who are seeking alternative loans from non-federal sources.

Degree Status Changes: Students may be eligible for more federal financial aid if their admissions status changes from non-degree to degree seeking (such as first or second bachelor’s degree, provisional master’s or other degree granting categories). You must notify our office if your enrollment status changes so that we may appropriately adjust your financial aid.

Types of federal financial aid: Federal aid for non-degree students is limited to Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans and Direct Parent PLUS Loans for dependent undergraduate students only. Non-degree graduate students are not eligible for Graduate PLUS loans. Each student loan applicant must have a completed and Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note on file (see What Other Requirements Do I Need to Complete).

Maximum Annual Federal Loan Eligibility by Non-Degree Student Type
Non-Degree Student Type	Maximum Annual Direct Loan Eligibility *
Dependent Undergraduate	$2,625 Subsidized/Unsubsidized and Parent PLUS Loan up to Cost of Attendance
Independent Undergraduate	$2,625 Subsidized/Unsubsidized and $6,000 additional Unsubsidized
Graduate/Professional	$5,500 Subsidized/Unsubsidized and $7,000 additional Unsubsidized (Student cannot apply for Graduate PLUS Loan as a non-degree student)
Note: Actual awarded loan amounts are based on financial need, eligibility, and other applicable limitations and are to be divided equally between Fall & Spring semesters