Who Qualifies for Financial Aid?

At Joyce University, we provide a number of resources to help our students find a career in healthcare. Expertise and hands-on training make up the biggest part of what we do, but we also do job placement and help students make connections that will assist them with their new career. We also offer assistance in one of the most difficult parts of any higher education: financial aid.

What is Financial Aid?

Financial aid in the U.S. comes from a variety of channels. The main sources of financial aid are:

• Federal and state agencies
• Educational institutions, both public and private
• Financial institutions
• Private foundations

Most of it comes in loans, but work study programs where you have a job on campus are also very common. All these types of financial aid have one thing in common: They start with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, better known as the FAFSA. That single application will connect you with most of the resources you need to complete your education.

Grants and scholarships are most often given out by private foundations or organizations, and usually have specific criteria about who can get them. They might only be given to students who achieve a certain level of academic success, write a good essay, or come from a certain background. For instance, the children of American service members who died in combat are eligible for certain types of Pell Grants.

Who Qualifies for Financial Aid?

Chances are you can get some kind of financial aid. To qualify, you need to:

• Be a U.S. citizen or qualified noncitizen
• Have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent
• Be enrolled or accepted at an eligible financial institution
• Be registered with the Selective Service if you’re a male between the ages of 18 and 25
• Have a valid Social Security number
• Maintain satisfactory academic performance to keep your financial aid

Some, but not all, aid is need-based. Determining need for assistance is always done on a case-by-case basis. It’s a matter of comparing a student’s income with the expense of the program they’re going into. If you think you qualify for need-based assistance, let your school know. There just might be something they can do for you.

There are, of course, all kinds of details and exceptions to the rules above. For instance, applicants from the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau don’t need to have Social Security numbers. If you’re curious or need to know more, the U.S. Department of Education has a full list of eligibility details for financial aid.

Financial Aid at Joyce

Like other colleges, Joyce’s process begins with the FAFSA, but we also provide personalized assistance in helping you fund your education. A financial aid counselor can help you find a plan that’s manageable for you, and help you determine if you qualify for need-based financial aid. They will also make you aware of grants and scholarships you might qualify for, and advise you on how to apply for them. It’s their job to make sure you get in the classroom, start learning, and prepare yourself for a career.