Special Eligibility

SPECIAL UNDERGRADUATE AND SPECIAL GRADUATE ELIGIBILITY FOR FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID

1. Students are classified by ETSU Admissions or the ETSU College of Graduate Studies as Undergraduate, Graduate, Special Undergraduate, or Special Graduate.
2. Undergraduate and Graduate students qualify for Title IV funds as they are enrolled in an approved program.
3. Special Undergraduate and Special Graduate Students do not qualify for Title IV funds, with certain exceptions.
   1. Students with a bachelor degree or master degree pursuing a 2nd bachelor degree qualify for Federal Work Study funds and Stafford Loan funds limited to 5th year senior level. Those pursuing a 2nd master degree qualify for Federal Work Study funds and Stafford Loan funds at the graduate level.
   2. Students with a bachelor degree who have applied for admittance into a graduate program and enrolled in approved prerequisite courses required for admittance to the program qualify for Federal Work Study funds and Stafford Loan funds limited to 5th year senior level for 12 calendar months.
   3. Students with a bachelor degree pursuing Teacher Certification qualify for Federal Work Study, Perkins Loans, and Stafford Loans limited to 5th year senior level for as long as they are enrolled in classes toward this certification.
   4. Students with a bachelor degree enrolled in approved courses required for admittance into a professional degree program (i.e. but not limited to Medicine, Pharmacy, Veterinary, Engineering, Law) are eligible for Federal Work Study and Stafford Loan funds limited to 5th year senior level for 12 calendar months. (This includes courses previously known as the Fastrack Program)
   5. Students pursuing a Graduate Certificate approved by the Department of Education qualify for Federal Work Study and Stafford Loans at graduate level.
4. Students with a Bachelor or Graduate degree taking courses only for the purpose of raising the GPA are not eligible for federal financial aid.
5. Students admitted as a “Visiting Student” not part of a consortium agreement with ETSU are not eligible for federal financial aid. These students are usually enrolled in a degree seeking program in another school and are taking classes at ETSU during the summer sessions. All fees are due in full by the payment deadlines.
6. They are not part of a consortium agreement with the other school.
7. To prove compliance with Federal Regulations, the Financial Aid Office requires documentation listing the courses in which the special student is enrolled and the purpose for these courses. For students with a bachelor degree enrolled in undergraduate level courses, but not admitted to a 2nd bachelor degree program, the Financial Aid Office requires a statement with the signature of the Departmental Head of the Program verifying the purpose of these courses. An Educational Plan Form is available online for the student to print and take to the appropriate administrator for this signature. We call this the ‘EDP Form.’  
8. The Educational Plan Form link.