Limits/Duration of Aid
Federal, state, and institutional regulations limit the duration/amount of eligibility for certain types of financial aid. It is important that each student know and understand these limits.
Federal Direct Stafford Loans
| Class | Annual Limits | Lifetime Aggregate Limits | ||||
| Subsidized | Unsubsidized | Subsidized | Unsubsidized | |||
| For dependent students with NO PLUS Loan denial | Additional for independent students -OR- dependent students WITH a PLUS Loan denial | For dependent students with NO PLUS Loan denial | Additional for independent students -OR- dependent students WITH a PLUS Loan denial | |||
| Freshman | 3500 | 2000 | 6000 | 23,000 | 8,000 | 34,500 |
| Sophomore | 4500 | 2000 | 6000 | |||
| Junior | 5500 | 2000 | 7000 | |||
| Senior | 5500 | 2000 | 7000 | |||
| Graduate | N/A | 20,500 | N/A | 138,500 | ||
Federal Perkins Loans
*NOTE: These loans have a limited availability.
| Class | Annual Limits | Lifetime Aggregate Limits | |
| Undergraduate | 5500 | 11,000 | Not completed two academic years of undergraduate work. |
| Undergraduate | 5500 | 27,500 | Completed two academic years and pursuing Bachelor’s Degree. |
| Graduate | 8000 | 60,000 | Including loans borrowed as an undergraduate student. |
Federal Direct Parent and Grad PLUS Loans:
Eligibility and limitations for PLUS loans are based on credit decisions made by Direct Lending and each student's Cost of Attendance Budget
Pell Grant
The duration of a student’s eligibility to receive a Federal Pell Grant is 12 full-time semesters (or its equivalent). Pell Grant is available to ETSU Undergraduate Students only.
Tennessee Student Assistance Award
Award recipients at ETSU may receive TSAA awards for a maximum of 8 semesters or until the program of study is complete (whichever comes first).
Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship
If you initially received a TELS award before the 2009 fall term you can receive a TELS award until the first of the following occurs:
- You earn a baccalaureate degree
- Five years have passed since you initially enrolled at any postsecondary institution
If you initially received a TELS award in the 2009 fall term or thereafter you can receive a TELS award until the first of the following occurs:
- You earn a baccalaureate degree
- Five years have passed since you initially enrolled at any postsecondary institution
- You have attempted 120 lottery scholarship hours or has received a TELS award for eight (8) full-time equivalent semesters at any postsecondary institution, whichever occurs later
Maximum Eligibility
According to the ETSU Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy:
"Maximum eligibility is reviewed each semester. If a student has attempted enough hours to graduate, and has not graduated, a warning email will be sent to the student at their GoldMail address, reminding them of maximum eligibility standards. Students who have attempted 150% of the required credit hours for their degree will become ineligible for financial aid."
NOTE: 2nd degree students and Undergraduate/Graduate Special students have different maximum eligibility requirements. Please review the ETSU SAP Policy.