---
kind: "section"
citation: "34 C.F.R. § 668.32"
title: "34"
number: "668.32"
heading: "Student eligibility."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/34/668.32"
---

# §668.32. Student eligibility.


A student is eligible to receive Title IV, HEA program assistance if the student either meets all of the requirements in [paragraphs (a) through (m)](#a..m) of this section or meets the requirement in [paragraph (n)](#n) of this section as follows:

- (a)
  - (1)
    - (i) Is a regular student enrolled, or accepted for enrollment, in an eligible program at an eligible institution;
    - (ii) For purposes of the FFEL and Direct Loan programs, is enrolled for no longer than one twelve-month period in a course of study necessary for enrollment in an eligible program; or
    - (iii) For purposes of the Federal Perkins Loan, FWS, FFEL, and Direct Loan programs, is enrolled or accepted for enrollment as at least a half-time student at an eligible institution in a program necessary for a professional credential or certification from a State that is required for employment as a teacher in an elementary or secondary school in that State; and
  - (2) For purposes of the ACG, National SMART Grant, FFEL, and Direct Loan programs, is at least a half-time student.
- (b) **Is not enrolled in either an elementary or secondary school.**
- (c)
  - (1) For purposes of the ACG, National SMART Grant, and FSEOG programs, does not have a baccalaureate or first professional degree;
  - (2) **For purposes of the Federal Pell Grant Program—**
    - (i)
      - (A) Does not have a baccalaureate or first professional degree; or
      - (B) (1) Is enrolled in a postbaccalaureate teacher certificate or licensing program as described in [34 CFR 690.6(c)](/cfr/34/690.6.md?p=c); or

        (2) Is enrolled in an eligible workforce program as defined under [34 CFR 690.92](/cfr/34/690.92.md) and—

        (i) Is not enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a program of study that leads to a graduate credential; and

        (ii) Has not attained a graduate credential; and

  - (3) For purposes of the Federal Perkins Loan, FFEL, and Direct Loan programs, is not incarcerated; and
  - (4) **For the purposes of the TEACH Grant program—**
    - (i) For an undergraduate student other than a student enrolled in a post-baccalaureate program, has not completed the requirements for a first baccalaureate degree; or
    - (ii) For the purposes of a student in a first post-baccalaureate program, has not completed the requirements for a post-baccalaureate program as described in [34 CFR 686.2(d)](/cfr/34/686.2.md?p=d).
- (d) Satisfies the citizenship and residency requirements contained in [§ 668.33](/cfr/34/668.33.md) and [subpart I](/cfr/34/subpartI.md) of this part.
- (e)
  - (1) Has a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent;
  - (2) Has obtained a passing score specified by the Secretary on an independently administered test in accordance with subpart J of this part, and either—
    - (i) Was first enrolled in an eligible program before July 1, 2012; or
    - (ii) Is enrolled in an eligible career pathway program as defined in [§ 668.2](/cfr/34/668.2.md);
  - (3) Is enrolled in an eligible institution that participates in a State process approved by the Secretary under subpart J of this part, and either—
    - (i) Was first enrolled in an eligible program before July 1, 2012; or
    - (ii) Is enrolled in an eligible career pathway program as defined in [§ 668.2](/cfr/34/668.2.md);
  - (4) **Was home-schooled, and either—**
    - (i) Obtained a secondary school completion credential for home school (other than a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent) provided for under State law; or
    - (ii) If State law does not require a home-schooled student to obtain the credential described in [paragraph (e)(4)(i)](#e-4-i) of this section, has completed a secondary school education in a home school setting that qualifies as an exemption from compulsory attendance requirements under State law; or
  - (5) Has been determined by the institution to have the ability to benefit from the education or training offered by the institution based on the satisfactory completion of 6 semester hours, 6 trimester hours, 6 quarter hours, or 225 clock hours that are applicable toward a degree or certificate offered by the institution, and either—
    - (i) Was first enrolled in an eligible program before July 1, 2012; or
    - (ii) Is enrolled in an eligible career pathway program as defined in [§ 668.2](/cfr/34/668.2.md).
- (f) Maintains satisfactory academic progress in his or her course of study according to the institution's published standards of satisfactory academic progress that meet the requirements of [§ 668.34](/cfr/34/668.34.md).
- (g) Except as provided in [§ 668.35](/cfr/34/668.35.md)—
  - (1) Is not in default, and certifies that he or she is not in default, on a loan made under any title IV, HEA loan program;
  - (2) Has not obtained loan amounts that exceed annual or aggregate loan limits made under any title IV, HEA loan program;
  - (3) Does not have property subject to a judgment lien for a debt owed to the United States; and
  - (4) **Is not liable for a grant or Federal Perkins loan overpayment.** A student receives a grant or Federal Perkins loan overpayment if the student received grant or Federal Perkins loan payments that exceeded the amount he or she was eligible to receive; or if the student withdraws, that exceeded the amount he or she was entitled to receive for non-institutional charges.
- (h) **Files a Statement of Educational Purpose in accordance with the instructions of the Secretary.**
- (i) Has a correct social security number as determined under [§ 668.36](/cfr/34/668.36.md), except that this requirement does not apply to students who are residents of the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Republic of Palau.
- (j) Satisfies the Selective Service registration requirements contained in [§ 668.37](/cfr/34/668.37.md), and, if applicable, satisfies the requirements of [§ 668.38](/cfr/34/668.38.md) and [§ 668.39](/cfr/34/668.39.md) involving enrollment in telecommunication and correspondence courses and a study abroad program, respectively.
- (k) **Satisfies the program specific requirements contained in—**
  - (1) [34 CFR 674.9](/cfr/34/674.9.md) for the Federal Perkins Loan program;
  - (2) [34 CFR 675.9](/cfr/34/675.9.md) for the FWS program;
  - (3) [34 CFR 676.9](/cfr/34/676.9.md) for the FSEOG program;
  - (4) [34 CFR 682.201](/cfr/34/682.201.md) for the FFEL programs;
  - (5) [34 CFR 685.200](/cfr/34/685.200.md) for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan programs;
  - (6) [34 CFR 690.75](/cfr/34/690.75.md) for the Federal Pell Grant program;
  - (7) [34 CFR 691.75](/cfr/34/691.75.md) for the ACG and National SMART Grant programs;
  - (8) [34 CFR 692.40](/cfr/34/692.40.md) for the LEAP program; and
  - (9) [34 CFR 686.11](/cfr/34/686.11.md) for the TEACH Grant program.
- (l) Is not ineligible under [§ 668.40](/cfr/34/668.40.md).
- (m) In the case of a student who has been convicted of, or has pled nolo contendere or guilty to, a crime involving fraud in obtaining title IV, HEA program assistance, has completed the repayment of such assistance to:
  - (1) The Secretary; or
  - (2) **The holder, in the case of a title IV, HEA program loan.**
- (n) Is enrolled in a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program under subpart O of this part and meets the student eligibility criteria in that subpart.

## Notes

### Amendments

[60 FR 61810, Dec. 1, 1995, as amended at 63 FR 40624, July 29, 1998; 64 FR 57358, Oct. 22, 1999; 64 FR 58291, Oct. 28, 1999; 67 FR 67073, Nov. 1, 2002; 71 FR 38002, July 3, 2006; 71 FR 45696, Aug. 9, 2006; 73 FR 35493, June 23, 2008; 74 FR 20221, May 1, 2009; 74 FR 55942, Oct. 29, 2009; 75 FR 66952, Oct. 29, 2010; 87 FR 65495, Oct. 28, 2022; 88 FR 74700, Oct. 31, 2023; 91 FR 29333, May 19, 2026]

### Source

Source: 60 FR 61810, Dec. 1, 1995, unless otherwise noted.

### Authority

Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1001-1003, 1070g, 1085, 1088, 1091, 1092, 1094, 1099c, 1099c-1, 1221e-3, and 1231a, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[60 FR 61810, Dec. 1, 1995, as amended at 63 FR 40624, July 29, 1998; 64 FR 57358, Oct. 22, 1999; 64 FR 58291, Oct. 28, 1999; 67 FR 67073, Nov. 1, 2002; 71 FR 38002, July 3, 2006; 71 FR 45696, Aug. 9, 2006; 73 FR 35493, June 23, 2008; 74 FR 20221, May 1, 2009; 74 FR 55942, Oct. 29, 2009; 75 FR 66952, Oct. 29, 2010; 87 FR 65495, Oct. 28, 2022; 88 FR 74700, Oct. 31, 2023; 91 FR 29333, May 19, 2026]