Eligibility
Basic eligibility Requirements
To receive financial aid at Palo Verde College, you must meet some basic requirements when you apply and then keep making steady progress in your classes.
To qualify for federal and/or state aid, you generally must:
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen (for federal aid) or meet AB 540 requirements (for California state aid).
- Have a high school diploma, GED, California High School Proficiency Exam, or an approved Ability-to-Benefit qualification.
- Pursuing a *Title IV Degree as defined by the Department of Education: enrolled (or accepted) in an eligible degree, certificate, or transfer program, with an educational goal declared at Admissions & Records. Generally, a program that is a minimum of one year in length or transfers to a 4-year institution qualifies.
- Not owe a refund on a federal grant and not be in default on a federal student loan from any school.
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.
- Submit your FAFSA (or CADAA) every year.
How many units you take matters.
Your aid is first estimated at full-time enrollment, then adjusted to your actual units when funds are paid.
ENROLLMENT LEVELS PER SEMESTER
|
Enrollment level |
Units per semester |
|---|---|
|
Full-time |
12 or more |
|
Three quarters time |
9 to 11 |
|
Half-time |
6 to 8 |
|
Less than half-time |
1 to 5 |
Pell Grant – Enrollment Intensity: The Pell Grant uses “enrollment intensity,” which means it adjusts with each unit you take — so even one extra unit can increase your Pell. All other programs use the broader levels above.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
How Do I Remain Eligible for Aid | Federal Student Aid
Video: https://paloverde.financialaidtv.com/play/1186-financial-aid-basics/341-what-does-sap-stand
: Fundamentos de Ayuda Financiera
Financial Aid Maximum Timeframe (MTF) Update
Palo Verde College has updated how it evaluates the Maximum Timeframe (MTF) requirement for financial aid eligibility to ensure compliance with federal regulations.
What is Maximum Timeframe?
To receive federal financial aid, students must complete their program within 150% of the published program length (for example, a 60-unit program must be completed within 90 attempted units).
This calculation includes all attempted coursework, such as:
- Prior coursework
- Transfer credits
- Repeated classes
- Withdrawals (W)
What Has Changed?
- The College has eliminated the “Warning Maximum Timeframe” status.
- Students who exceed, or cannot complete their program within the allowed timeframe, will be immediately ineligible for federal financial aid.
If You Become Ineligible
You may still have an opportunity to regain eligibility by:
- Submitting a Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) appeal by working with a counselor
- Following an approved academic plan, if your appeal is granted
What You Should Do
To stay eligible for financial aid:
- Monitor your total attempted units
- Meet regularly with a counselor or academic advisor
- Make sure you are on track to complete your program within the allowed timeframe
For more details or to review your academic progress, visit the Student Self-Service Portal.
Lifetime Eligibility Used
What is the Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU) for a Pell Grant? | Federal Student Aid
