Eligibility Requirements

Aid programs include many different grant, scholarship, loan, and work programs from different sources with unique names for each aid program.  Some aid programs require financial need, but many others do not. Many grants require financial need. Most merit-based scholarships do not require financial need and are usually awarded to the strongest applicants based on a competitive comparison of students' academic records or other achievements. 

To apply for most federal aid programs (including federal loans, grants, and work-study funds) and TU's need-based Institutional Grant, you must meet all of the federal general eligibility requirements below. Each of these aid programs also has additional eligibility requirements.  Some of the Maryland Higher Education Commission's (MHEC) state grants and scholarships also use some of these requirements.

Federal General Eligibility Requirements

Students must meet all eight requirements below.  Parents who borrow Federal PLUS Loans must meet requirements 1 and 2.

1. Meet federal aid Citizenship Requirements (U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident, or other eligible non-citizen).
2. You must not be in default on any prior federal student or parent loans and must not owe any repayments on federal student grants.
3. Students must annually submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and must agree to only use federal student aid for educational purposes.
4. Formal admission into a degree or certificate program, and enrollment in courses that are applicable to that program.
5. Meet TU's Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.
6. Must have a valid social security number (except for students from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau)
7. Male students must register for Selective Service.
8. You must not violate specific federal aid drug conviction restrictions.  These restrictions only suspend aid eligibility for students who were convicted of selling or possessing drugs while they were receiving federal student aid. If you think you have a conviction that might apply, read this federal process overview, call 1-800-4-FED-AID, or visit the FAFSA website.  The FAFSA has questions that will determine if your conviction will affect your eligibility for federal aid.

Undocumented and DACA students do not meet these federal requirements, but are eligible for other aid programs. 

Additional Eligibility Requirements

The following aid programs also require financial need:

• Federal Pell and SEOG Grants
• Federal Work-Study funds
• Federal Direct Subsidized Loans
• TU Institutional Grant 

The following aid programs DO NOT require financial need:

• Federal TEACH Grant
• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
• Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (Parent PLUS Loan)
• Federal PLUS Loan for Graduate Students (Graduate PLUS Loan)