Student Eligibility To be eligible for financial aid, a student must be admitted to the university as a degree-seeking student and must generally be enrolled in at least six or more credit hours each semester. In some instances, students who are enrolled in fewer than six hours may be eligible for Federal Pell and Supplemental Grants. A student must enroll in a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester to be eligible for the Indiana Higher Education, Freedom of Choice, and Twenty-First Century Awards. Many of the other aid programs require full-time attendance. Incoming freshmen who are admitted on a contingency basis may receive financial aid for the academic year after successfully completing the summer preparatory course work. Extended studies (evening) and accelerated division students are assessed significantly reduced tuition charges and are therefore considered for Federal Pell Grants, State Grants, and/or Federal Stafford Student Loans only. Graduate students are eligible for the Federal Stafford Student Loan, and College Work-Study. Selection Criteria Students applying for financial aid are considered by the university financial aid office for all programs for which they are eligible, including federal, state, and institutional aid programs. First consideration for funds is given to applicants who submit the necessary forms by the appropriate deadlines. March 1st is the priority deadline for filing your FAFSA. The FAFSA must be received by the Federal Processing Center by March 10 to be considered for state funds. If applications exceed available funds, awards will be made to the most timely applicants. In most cases, only students who are United States citizens, permanent residents, or eligible noncitizens as defined by the Federal government, are eligible for financial aid, and with only a few exceptions, all students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and the University Financial Aid Application. To receive federal aid, the student must demonstrate financial need, not be in default on a Federal Perkins Loan or Federal Stafford Student Loan, must not have borrowed in excess of student loan limits, and must not owe a refund on a Federal Pell Grant or Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant. Also, men who are required to register with the Selective Service must do so. Merit scholarships are reserved for students who not only have financial need, but who have demonstrated superior academic achievement. High school class rank and test scores from the Scholastic Aptitude Test or American College Testing Service are used in evaluating the student's academic performance. Scholarship selection for returning or transfer students is based on college academic performance. Some specific aid programs utilize additional selection criteria. Continued Eligibility Many financial aid awards are renewable over the normal four-year college program. The student must demonstrate his or her eligibility each year before financial aid may be awarded. The student must continue to: meet the general eligibility requirements outlined above, demonstrate financial need by submitting the FAFSA, meet the eligibility requirements imposed by specific aid programs, and maintain satisfactory academic progress toward completion of a degree within a reasonable time period. Failure to make normal progress will cause the student to be ineligible for federal, state, and institutional aid programs. Duration of Eligibility Full-time students working toward a baccalaureate degree may receive financial aid for a maximum of 6 years (or 12 semesters). Three-quarter-time students are eligible for a period of up to 9 years (or 18 semesters), and half-time students may receive aid for a maximum of 12 years (or 24 semesters). Full-time students working toward an associate degree may receive a maximum of 3 years (or 6 semesters) of aid. Three-quarter-time and half-time students would receive aid for a maximum of 4 1/2 years (or 9 semesters) and 6 years (or 12 semesters) respectively. With the exception of the Stafford Student Loan, College Work-Study, and Parent Loan programs, financial aid is awarded only to undergraduate students working toward their first baccalaureate degree. Students who enter the professional phase of the physical therapy or occupational therapy program at the end of three years of undergraduate study are considered to be graduate students and are not eligible for some federal and state aid programs.