Federal Financial Aid
Federal Aid Eligibility
To be eligible for most types of financial aid, a student must:
- Be accepted into a nursing program;
- Demonstrate financial need by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA);
- Be a United States citizen or an eligible non-citizen;
- Be in compliance with selective service registration requirements;
- Not be in default on, or owe a refund or repayment for, any aid under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965; and
- Be making satisfactory academic progress. Federal assistance can vary based on the student’s need as defined by the United States Department of Education needs analysis formula and the availability of funds.
The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended by Congress in 1980 and reauthorized in 1992, mandates that institutions of higher education maintain minimum standards of satisfactory academic progress (“SAP”) in order for students to receive financial aid. Students failing to maintain SAP may be ineligible to receive financial assistance and be required to make other financial arrangements to meet their financial obligations.
Applying for Federal Aid
Our Financial Aid Planners assist students in completing all paperwork related to federal funding. We are available to help you complete application forms and understand promissory notes.
Professional Judgment
Financial Aid Administrators have the authority to make Professional Judgment ("PJ") adjustments in determining a student's need for Title IV Federal student financial assistance. There are two different categories of PJ
- Special Circumstances refer to the financial situations (loss of a job, etc.) that justify an aid administrator adjusting the data elements in the Cost of Attendance or Estimatic Financial Contribution calculation
- Unusual Circumstances refer to the conditions that justify an aid administrator making an adjustment to a student's dependency status based on a unique situation (e.g., human trafficking, refugee or asylee status, parental abuse or abandonment, incarceration), more commonly referred to as a dependency override.
A student may have both a Special Circumstance and an Unusual Circumstance. To pursue an adjustment based on a Special Circumstance and/or an Unusual Circumstance, students should contact their Financial Aid Planner.
Get Started
Do you have additional questions about financing your education? Reach out to your local Jersey College representative for assistance: