There are some differences between adults returning to school and students going to college right after high school. Share our college preparation checklist for adult students to help them plan.
The federal student aid process is the same for adults as it is for younger students: complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form and then keep in touch with the college or career school about receiving the aid. Still, you might find that adults have unique questions about federal student aid.
Age Limit for Receiving Federal Student Aid
Federal Student Loans in Default
Received Additional Federal Pell Grant funds
Financial Aid for Single Parents with Children
Filling Out the FAFSA® Form if Tax Information Doesn't Reflect Financial Situation Today
Age Limit for Receiving Federal Student Aid
No, there's no age limit. Almost everyone is eligible for some type of federal student aid. The adult student still needs to complete the FAFSA form, and make sure not to miss any deadlines, just like any other student.
Federal Student Loans in Default
If a student has federal student loans in default, they are not eligible to receive additional federal student aid until the default is resolved. The borrower can resolve a default by:
- paying the defaulted loan in full,
- consolidating the loan, or
- rehabilitating the loan.
Your students can learn about getting out of default at StudentAid.gov/end-default.
Received Additional Federal Pell Grant Funds
If the student has not already earned a bachelor's degree, the student may be eligible for Federal Pell Grant funds after having received them before. The student can receive the Federal Pell Grant for no more than 12 terms or the equivalent (roughly six years). The student can check if they are close to their limit by logging in to their account at StudentAid.gov/login.
Students who have already earned a bachelor's degree may still be able to receive Federal Pell Grants for some teacher certification programs.
If the student has additional questions, they should contact their school's financial aid office.
Financial Aid for Single Parents With Children
There is no federal student grant or loan designated for single parents, but federal student aid can be used to pay childcare costs while the parent is in school. Advise the student to speak with the financial aid office about adding dependent care expenses to their cost of attendance so those expenses are taken into account when the financial aid administrator determines the amount of aid the student can receive.
Additional considerations:
- Some schools have on-campus daycare facilities that their students with children use.
- Some schools offer classes online; a parent might find the flexibility of such a class suits their schedule best.
- Although the U.S. Department of Education doesn't offer a special aid program for single parents, another entity might. Encourage your students to use free online scholarship searches to find out what might be available.
U.S. Department of Labor Scholarship Finder(Result Type: General)
Description:
Free scholarship search tool for students finding scholarships along with information on how to apply.
Resource Type:
Web Resource or Tool
Filling Out the FAFSA® Form if Tax Information Doesn't Reflect Financial Situation Today
If the student's income is lower than it was two years ago—or will be reduced once the student starts school and needs to work fewer hours—they may be eligible to have their financial aid adjusted. They should complete the FAFSA questions as instructed on the application, submit their FAFSA form, then contact the school they plan to attend to explain how their current financial situation has changed. The school might ask for proof of their income change and may use that information to recalculate the student's eligibility for federal student aid. The school's decision is final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education.