To be eligible for aid, applicants must achieve consistent satisfactory academic progress toward a degree, certificate, or transfer objective in their college work. Financial Aid requires a declared major, an Educational Plan, and enrollment in an eligible program of at least 16 units in length.

Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a scale of 4.0. Only courses completed with a grade of A, B, C, D, or CR will be considered as acceptable for Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Full-time students will be expected to complete their course of study in six semesters. In order to be making Satisfactory Academic Progress a student must complete at least 67% of all college units attempted (60 units/90 units = 67%). Students needing units at or beyond 90 will be reviewed on a case by case basis by petition. Certificate programs vary in length, therefore each is given 150% of published completion time. The number of educational goals a student may attempt and/or complete is limited to three.

Students must complete a certain number of units attempted each academic year. The number of units to be completed each year is based on the student's choice of academic load. A student who does not complete the units needed for that academic load may be placed on financial aid probation. At that time students will be asked to see an academic counselor to review the student's educational plan and develop a possible remedy. If the student is unable to fulfill the agreed upon remedy while on probation the student will then be ineligible to receive further financial aid. Students may appeal to the Supervisor or Director of Financial Aid when and if financial aid is denied. Students also must comply with the terms of any prior financial aid petition or probationary agreement. Students who have loans must enroll in and complete at least 6 units each semester with a 2.0 GPA.

Remedial courses are eligible for funding only if recommended on a student's educational plan by an academic counselor. A maximum of 30 units of remedial classes will be eligible for funding.

English as a Second Language (ESL)
English as a Second Language (ESL) courses are eligible for funding only if recommended on a long term student educational plan by an academic counselor, that shows when the student will begin a certificate, associate degree, or transfer preparation program. English as a Second Language coursework is considered preparation for students to work at the post secondary school level. All students (including ESL students) must have a declared educational goal.

If you do not have a high school diploma or GED, you are not eligible for aid unless you pass one of the Ability to Benefit tests approved by the U.S. Department of Education. Contact the Assessment Office for test dates.