To be eligible for federal financial aid, the student must:

Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen

Have a valid Social Security Number

Be in compliance with Selective Service registration requirements (male students only) For information on how to register - click on the following link: http://www.sss.gov/Default.htm

Have completed all required forms

Have “financial need” as defined by the Federal need analysis methodology (except for unsubsidized loans)

Have a high school diploma, GED, or its equivalent.  Students who are not high school graduates and do not have a G.E.D. must either pass an Ability-to-Benefit (ATB) exam at COD or complete and pass a specified number of degree applicable college units for financial aid eligibility.  For more information regarding the ATB exam or the acceptance of units in lieu of an ATB test, please call the Financial Aid Office directly at (760) 773-2532

Be enrolled in a program of study that leads to an Associate’s Degree, or a two-year program that is “transferable” toward a Bachelor’s Degree at a four–year college or university or in a vocational/career education certificate program that meets federal Title IV requirements

Maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by the COD Financial Aid Office: Maintain the required minimum grade point average (GPA) and minimum unit completion rate according to COD’s Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy [See separate section entitled "Satisfactory Academic Progress"] Complete a program of study within 150% of the published length of the program

Meet eligibility requirements if the student has been convicted of either the sale or possession of illegal drugs

Sign a statement on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) certifying that you: Will use federal and/or state student financial aid only to pay the cost of attending an institution of higher education Are not in default on a federal student loan or you have made satisfactory arrangements to repay it Do not owe money back on a federal student grant or you have made satisfactory arrangements to repay it Will notify your current college if you default on a federal student loan  Will not receive a Federal PELL Grant from more than one college for the same period of enrollment Understand that the Secretary of Education has the authority to verify information reported on the FAFSA with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and other federal agencies