34 C.F.R. Subpart C—Student Eligibility
Title 34 - Education
Source: 60 FR 61810, Dec. 1, 1995, unless otherwise noted.
This subpart contains rules by which a student establishes eligibility for assistance under the title IV, HEA programs. In order to qualify as an eligible student, a student must meet all applicable requirements in this subpart. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1091)
Link to an amendment published at 71 FR 45696, Aug. 9, 2006. A student is eligible to receive title IV, HEA program assistance if the student— (a)(1) (i) Is a regular student enrolled, or accepted for enrollment, in an eligible program at an eligible institution; (ii) For purposes of the FFEL and Direct Loan programs, is enrolled for no longer than one twelve-month period in a course of study necessary for enrollment in an eligible program; or (iii) For purposes of the Federal Perkins Loan, FWS, FFEL, and Direct Loan programs, is enrolled or accepted for enrollment as at least a half-time student at an eligible institution in a program necessary for a professional credential or certification from a State that is required for employment as a teacher in an elementary or secondary school in that State; (2) For purposes of the FFEL and Direct Loan programs, is at least a half-time student; (b) Is not enrolled in either an elementary or secondary school; (c)(1) For purposes of the ACG, National SMART Grant, and FSEOG programs , does not have a baccalaureate or first professional degree; (2) For purposes of the Federal Pell Grant Program— (i)(A) Does not have a baccalaureate or first professional degree; or (B) Is enrolled in a postbaccalaureate teacher certificate or licensing program as described in 34 CFR 690.6(c); and (ii) Is not incarcerated in a Federal or State penal institution; and (3) For purposes of the Federal Perkins Loan, FFEL, and Direct Loan programs, is not incarcerated; (d) Satisfies the citizenship and residency requirements contained in §668.33 and subpart I of this part; (e)(1) Has a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent; (2) Has obtained a passing score specified by the Secretary on an independently administered test in accordance with subpart J of this part; (3) Is enrolled in an eligible institution that participates in a State “process” approved by the Secretary under subpart J of this part; or (4) Was home-schooled, and either— (i) Obtained a secondary school completion credential for home school (other than a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent) provided for under State law; or (ii) If State law does not require a home-schooled student to obtain the credential described in paragraph (e)(4)(i) of this section, has completed a secondary school education in a home school setting that qualifies as an exemption from compulsory attendance requirements under State law; (f) Maintains satisfactory progress in his or her course of study according to the institution's published standards of satisfactory progress that satisfy the provisions of §668.16(e), and, if applicable, the provisions of §668.34; (g) Except as provided in §668.35— (1) Is not in default, and certifies that he or she is not in default, on a loan made under any title IV, HEA loan program; (2) Has not obtained loan amounts that exceed annual or aggregate loan limits made under any title IV, HEA loan program; (3) Does not have property subject to a judgment lien for a debt owed to the United States; and (4) Is not liable for a grant or Federal Perkins loan overpayment. A student receives a grant or Federal Perkins loan overpayment if the student received grant or Federal Perkins loan payments that exceeded the amount he or she was eligible to receive; or if the student withdraws, that exceeded the amount he or she was entitled to receive for non-institutional charges; (h) Files a Statement of Educational Purpose in accordance with the instructions of the Secretary; (i) Has a correct social security number as determined under §668.36, except that this requirement does not apply to students who are residents of the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Republic of Palau; (j) Satisfies the Selective Service registration requirements contained in §668.37, and, if applicable, satisfies the requirements of §668.38 and §668.39 involving enrollment in telecommunication and correspondence courses and a study abroad program, respectively; (k) Satisfies the program specific requirements contained in— (1) 34 CFR 674.9 for the Federal Perkins Loan program; (2) 34 CFR 675.9 for the FWS program; (3) 34 CFR 676.9 for the FSEOG program; (4) 34 CFR 682.201 for the FFEL programs; (5) 34 CFR 685.200 for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan programs; (6) 34 CFR 690.75 for the Federal Pell Grant program; (7) 34 CFR 691.75 for the ACG and National SMART Grant programs; and (8) 34 CFR 692.40 for the LEAP program; and (l) Is not ineligible under §668.40. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1091, 28 U.S.C. 3201(e)) [60 FR 61810, Dec. 1, 1995, as amended at 63 FR 40624, July 29, 1998; 64 FR 57358, Oct. 22, 1999; 64 FR 58291, Oct. 28, 1999; 67 FR 67073, Nov. 1, 2002; 71 FR 38002, July 3, 2006] (a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, to be eligible to receive title IV, HEA program assistance, a student must— (1) Be a citizen or national of the United States; or (2) Provide evidence from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service that he or she— (i) Is a permanent resident of the United States; or (ii) Is in the United States for other than a temporary purpose with the intention of becoming a citizen or permanent resident; (b)(1) A citizen of the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Republic of Palau is eligible to receive funds under the FWS, FSEOG, and Federal Pell Grant programs if the student attends an eligible institution in a State, or a public or nonprofit private eligible institution of higher education in those jurisdictions. (2) A student who satisfies the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section is eligible to receive funds under the FWS, FSEOG, and Federal Pell Grant programs if the student attends a public or nonprofit private eligible institution of higher education in the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Republic of Palau. (c) Only a student who is a citizen of the United States is eligible to receive funds under the ACG and National SMART Grant programs. (d)(1) If a student asserts that he or she is a citizen of the United States on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the Secretary attempts to confirm that assertion under a data match with the Social Security Administration. If the Social Security Administration confirms the student's citizenship, the Secretary reports that confirmation to the institution and the student. (2) If the Social Security Administration does not confirm the student's citizenship assertion under the data match with the Secretary, the student can establish U.S. citizenship by submitting documentary evidence of that status to the institution. Before denying title IV, HEA assistance to a student for failing to establish citizenship, an institution must give a student at least 30 days notice to produce evidence of U.S. citizenship. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1091, 5 U.S.C. 552a) [52 FR 45727, Dec. 1, 1987, as amended at 71 FR 38002, July 3, 2006] (a) If a student is enrolled in a program of study of more than two academic years, to be eligible to receive title IV, HEA program assistance after the second year, in addition to satisfying the requirements contained in §668.32(f), the student must be making satisfactory under the provisions of paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of this section. (b) A student is making satisfactory progress if, at the end of the second year, the student has a grade point average of at least a “C” or its equivalent, or has academic standing consistent with the institution's requirements for graduation. (c) An institution may find that a student is making satisfactory progress even though the student does not satisfy the requirements in paragraph (b) of this section, if the institution determines that the student's failure to meet those requirements is based upon— (1) The death of a relative of the student; (2) An injury or illness of the student; or (3) Other special circumstances. (d) If a student is not making satisfactory progress at the end of the second year, but at the end of a subsequent grading period comes into compliance with the institution's requirements for graduation, the institution may consider the student as making satisfactory progress beginning with the next grading period. (e) At a minimum, an institution must review a student's academic progress at the end of each year. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1091(d))
Link to an amendment published at 71 FR 45696, Aug. 9, 2006. (a) A student who is in default on a loan made under a title IV, HEA loan program may nevertheless be eligible to receive title IV, HEA program assistance if the student— (1) Repays the loan in full; or (2) Except as limited by paragraph (c) of this section— (i) Makes arrangements, that are satisfactory to the holder of the loan and in accordance with the individual title IV, HEA loan program regulations, to repay the loan balance; and (ii) Makes at least six consecutive monthly payments under those arrangements. (b) A student who is subject to a judgment for failure to repay a loan made under a title IV, HEA loan program may nevertheless be eligible to receive title IV, HEA program assistance if the student— (1) Repays the debt in full; or (2) Except as limited by paragraph (c) of this section— (i) Makes repayment arrangements that are satisfactory to the holder of the debt; and (ii) Makes at least six consecutive, voluntary monthly payments under those arrangements. Voluntary payments are those payments made directly by the borrower, and do not include payments obtained by Federal offset, garnishment, or income or asset execution. (c) A student who reestablishes eligibility under either paragraph (a)(2) of this section or paragraph (b)(2) of this section may not reestablish eligibility again under either of those paragraphs. (d) A student who is not in default on a loan made under a title IV, HEA loan program, but has inadvertently obtained loan funds under a title IV, HEA loan program in an amount that exceeds the annual or aggregate loan limits under that program, may nevertheless be eligible to receive title IV, HEA program assistance if the student— (1) Repays in full the excess loan amount; or (2) Makes arrangements, satisfactory to the holder of the loan, to repay that excess loan amount. (e) A student who receives an overpayment under the Federal Perkins Loan Program, or under a title IV, HEA grant program may nevertheless be eligible to receive title IV, HEA program assistance if— (1) The student pays the overpayment in full; (2) The student makes arrangements satisfactory to the holder of the overpayment debt to pay the overpayment; or (3) The overpayment amount is less than $25 and is neither a remaining balance nor a result of the application of the overaward threshold in 34 CFR 673.5(d). (f) A student who has property subject to a judgement lien for a debt owed to the United States may nevertheless be eligible to receive title IV, HEA program assistance if the student- (1) Pays the debt in full; or (2) Makes arrangements, satisfactory to the United States, to pay the debt. (g) (1) A student is not liable for a Federal Pell Grant overpayment received in an award year if the institution can eliminate that overpayment by adjusting subsequent Federal Pell Grant payments in that same award year. (2) A student is not liable for an ACG overpayment received in an award year if— (i) The institution can eliminate that overpayment by adjusting subsequent title IV, HEA program (other than Federal Pell Grant, ACG, or National SMART Grant) payments in that same award year; or (ii) The institution cannot eliminate the overpayment under paragraph (g)(2)(i) of this section but can eliminate that overpayment by adjusting subsequent ACG payments in that same award year. (3) A student is not liable for a National SMART Grant overpayment received in an award year if— (i) The institution can eliminate that overpayment by adjusting subsequent title IV, HEA program (other than Federal Pell Grant, ACG, or National SMART Grant) payments in that same award year; or (ii) The institution cannot eliminate the overpayment under paragraph (g)(3)(i) of this section but can eliminate that overpayment by adjusting subsequent National SMART Grant payments in that same award year. (4) A student is not liable for a FSEOG or LEAP overpayment or Federal Perkins loan overpayment received in an award year if the institution can eliminate that overpayment by adjusting subsequent title IV, HEA program (other than Federal Pell Grant) payments in that same award year. (h) A student who otherwise is in default on a loan made under a title IV, HEA loan program, or who otherwise owes an overpayment on a title IV, HEA program grant or Federal Perkins loan, is not considered to be in default or owe an overpayment if the student— (1) Obtains a judicial determination that the debt has been discharged or is dischargeable in bankruptcy; or (2) Demonstrates to the satisfaction of the holder of the debt that— (i) When the student filed the petition for bankruptcy relief, the loan, or demand for the payment of the overpayment, had been outstanding for the period required under 11 U.S.C. 523(a)(8)(A), exclusive of applicable suspensions of the repayment period for either debt of the kind defined in 34 CFR 682.402(m); and (ii) The debt otherwise qualifies for discharge under applicable bankruptcy law. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1091 and 11 U.S.C. 523 and 525) [60 FR 61810, Dec. 1, 1995, as amended at 65 FR 38729, June 22, 2000; 67 FR 67073, Nov. 1, 2002; 71 FR 38003, July 3, 2006] (a)(1) Except for residents of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau, the Secretary attempts to confirm the social security number a student provides on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) under a data match with the Social Security Administration. If the Social Security Administration confirms that number, the Secretary notifies the institution and the student of that confirmation. (2) If the student's verified social security number is the same number as the one he or she provided on the FAFSA, and the institution has no reason to believe that the verified social security number is inaccurate, the institution may consider the number to be accurate. (3) If the Social Security Administration does not verify the student's social security number on the FAFSA, or the institution has reason to believe that the verified social security number is inaccurate, the student can provide evidence to the institution, such as the student's social security card, indicating the accuracy of the student's social security number. An institution must give a student at least 30 days, or until the end of the award year, whichever is later, to produce that evidence. (4) An institution may not deny, reduce, delay, or terminate a student's eligibility for assistance under the title IV, HEA programs because verification of that student's social security number is pending. (b)(1) An institution may not disburse any title IV, HEA program funds to a student until the institution is satisfied that the student's reported social security number is accurate. (2) The institution shall ensure that the Secretary is notified of the student's accurate social security number if the student demonstrates the accuracy of a social security number that is not the number the student included on the FAFSA. (c) If the Secretary determines that the social security number provided to an institution by a student is incorrect, and that student has not provided evidence under paragraph (a)(3) of this section indicating the accuracy of the social security number, and a loan has been guaranteed for the student under the FFEL program, the institution shall notify and instruct the lender and guaranty agency making and guaranteeing the loan, respectively, to cease further disbursements of the loan, until the Secretary or the institution determines that the social security number provided by the student is correct, but the guaranty may not be voided or otherwise nullified before the date that the lender and the guaranty agency receive the notice. (d) Nothing in this section permits the Secretary to take any compliance, disallowance, penalty or other regulatory action against— (1) Any institution of higher education with respect to any error in a social security number, unless the error was the result of fraud on the part of the institution; or (2) Any student with respect to any error in a social security number, unless the error was the result of fraud on the part of the student. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1091) (a)(1) To be eligible to receive title IV, HEA program funds, a male student who is subject to registration with the Selective Service must register with the Selective Service. (2) A male student does not have to register with the Selective Service if the student— (i) Is below the age of 18, or was born before January 1, 1960; (ii) Is enrolled in an officer procurement program the curriculum of which has been approved by the Secretary of Defense at the following institutions: (A) The Citadel, Charleston, South Carolina; (B) North Georgia College, Dahlonega, Georgia; (C) Norwich University, Northfield, Vermont; or (D) Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia; or (iii) Is a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service or a member of the Reserve of the Public Health Service who is on active duty as provided in section 6(a)(2) of the Military Selective Service Act. (b)(1) When the Secretary processes a male student's FAFSA, the Secretary determines whether the student is registered with the Selective Service under a data match with the Selective Service. (2) Under the data match, Selective Service reports to the Secretary whether its records indicate that the student is registered, and the Secretary reports the results of the data match to the student and the institution the student is attending. (c)(1) If the Selective Service does not confirm through the data match, that the student is registered, the student can establish that he— (i) Is registered; (ii) Is not, or was not required to be, registered; (iii) Has registered since the submission of the FAFSA; or (iv) Meets the conditions of paragraph (d) of this section. (2) An institution must give a student at least 30 days, or until the end of the award year, whichever is later, to provide evidence to establish the condition described in paragraph (c)(1) of this section. (d) An institution may determine that a student, who was required to, but did not register with the Selective Service, is not ineligible to receive title IV, HEA assistance for that reason, if the student can demonstrate by submitting clear and unambiguous evidence to the institution that— (1) He was unable to present himself for registration for reasons beyond his control such as hospitalization, incarceration, or institutionalization; or (2) He is over 26 and when he was between 18 and 26 and required to register— (i) He did not knowingly and willfully fail to register with the Selective Service; or (ii) He served as a member of one of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty and received a DD Form 214, “Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty,” showing military service with other than the reserve forces and National Guard. (e) For purposes of paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this section, an institution may consider that a student did not knowingly and willfully fail to register with the Selective Service only if— (1) The student submits to the institution an advisory opinion from the Selective Service System that does not dispute the student's claim that he did not knowingly and willfully fail to register; and (2) The institution does not have uncontroverted evidence that the student knowingly and willfully failed to register. (f)(1) A student who is required to register with the Selective Service and has been denied title IV, HEA program assistance because he has not proven to the institution that he has registered with Selective Service may seek a hearing from the Secretary by filing a request in writing with the Secretary. The student must submit with that request— (i) A statement that he is in compliance with registration requirements; (ii) A concise statement of the reasons why he has not been able to prove that he is in compliance with those requirements; and (iii) Copies of all material that he has already supplied to the institution to verify his compliance. (2) The Secretary provides an opportunity for a hearing to a student who— (i) Asserts that he is in compliance with registration requirements; and (ii) Files a written request for a hearing in accordance with paragraph (f)(1) of this section within the award year for which he was denied title IV, HEA program assistance or within 30 days following the end of the payment period, whichever is later. (3) An official designated by the Secretary shall conduct any hearing held under paragraph (f)(2) of this section. The sole purpose of this hearing is the determination of compliance with registration requirements. At this hearing, the student retains the burden of proving compliance, by credible evidence, with the requirements of the Military Selective Service Act. The designated official shall not consider challenges based on constitutional or other grounds to the requirements that a student state and verify, if required, compliance with registration requirements, or to those registration requirements themselves. (g) Any determination of compliance made under this section is final unless reopened by the Secretary and revised on the basis of additional evidence. (h) Any determination of compliance made under this section is binding only for purposes of determining eligibility for title IV, HEA program assistance. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1091 and 50 App. 462) [60 FR 61812, Dec. 1. 1995, as amended at 61 FR 3776, Feb. 1, 1996]
Link to an amendment published at 71 FR 45696, Aug. 9, 2006. (a) If a student is enrolled in correspondence courses, the student is eligible to receive title IV, HEA program assistance only if the correspondence courses are part of a program that leads to an associate, bachelor's, or graduate degree. (b)(1) For purposes of this section, a student enrolled in a telecommunications course at an institution of higher education is not enrolled in a correspondence course, if— (i) The student is enrolled in a program that leads to a certificate for a program of study of 1 year or longer, or an associate, bachelor, or graduate degree; and (ii) The number of telecommunications and correspondence courses the institution offered during its latest completed award year was fewer than 50 percent of all the courses the institution offered during that same year. (2) For purposes of paragraph (b)(1) of this section, an institution of higher education is one— (i) That is not an institute or school described in section 521(4)(C) of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Act; and (ii) At which at least 50 percent of the programs of study offered by the institution during its latest completed award year led to an associate, bachelor, or graduate degree. (3) For purposes of paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section, the institution must calculate the number of courses using the provisions contained in 34 CFR 600.7(b)(2). (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1091) [60 FR 61810, Dec. 1, 1995, as amended at 64 FR 57358, Oct. 22, 1999] A student enrolled in a program of study abroad is eligible to receive title IV, HEA program assistance if— (a) The student remains enrolled as a regular student in an eligible program at an eligible institution during his or her program of study abroad; and (b) The eligible institution approves the program of study abroad for academic credit. However, the study abroad program need not be required as part of the student's eligible degree program. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1091(o))
Link to an amendment published at 71 FR 45696, Aug. 9, 2006. (a)(1) A student is ineligible to receive title IV, HEA program funds if the student has been convicted of an offense involving the possession or sale of illegal drugs for the period described in paragraph (b) of this section. However, the student may regain eligibility before that period expires under the conditions described in paragraph (c) of this section. (2) For purposes of this section, a conviction means only a conviction that is on a student's record. A conviction that was reversed, set aside, or removed from the student's record is not relevant for purposes of this section, nor is a determination or adjudication arising out of a juvenile proceeding. (3) For purposes of this section, an illegal drug is a controlled substance as defined by section 102(6) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801(6)), and does not include alcohol or tobacco. (b)(1) Possession. Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, if a student has been convicted— (i) Only one time for possession of illegal drugs, the student is ineligible to receive title IV, HEA program funds for one year after the date of conviction; (ii) Two times for possession of illegal drugs, the student is ineligible to receive title IV, HEA program funds for two years after the date of the second conviction; or (iii) Three or more times for possession of illegal drugs, the student is ineligible to receive title IV, HEA program funds for an indefinite period after the date of the third conviction. (2) Sale. Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, if a student has been convicted— (i) Only one time for sale of illegal drugs, the student is ineligible to receive title IV, HEA program funds for two years after the date of conviction; or (ii) Two or more times for sale of illegal drugs, the student is ineligible to receive Title IV, HEA program funds for an indefinite period after the date of the second conviction. (c) If a student successfully completes a drug rehabilitation program described in paragraph (d) of this section after the student's most recent drug conviction, the student regains eligibility on the date the student successfully completes the program. (d) A drug rehabilitation program referred to in paragraph (c) of this section is one which— (1) Includes at least two unannounced drug tests; and (2)(i) Has received or is qualified to receive funds directly or indirectly under a Federal, State, or local government program; (ii) Is administered or recognized by a Federal, State, or local government agency or court; (iii) Has received or is qualified to receive payment directly or indirectly from a Federally- or State-licensed insurance company; or (iv) Is administered or recognized by a Federally- or State-licensed hospital, health clinic or medical doctor. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1091(r)) [64 FR 57358, Oct. 22, 1999]
Title 34: Education
PART 668—STUDENT ASSISTANCE GENERAL PROVISIONS
Subpart C—Student Eligibility
§ 668.31 Scope.
§ 668.32 Student eligibility—general.
§ 668.33 Citizenship and residency requirements.
§ 668.34 Satisfactory progress.
§ 668.35 Student debts under the HEA and to the U.S.
§ 668.36 Social security number.
§ 668.37 Selective Service registration.
§ 668.38 Enrollment in telecommunications and correspondence courses.
§ 668.39 Study abroad programs.
§ 668.40 Conviction for possession or sale of illegal drugs.
