Does FAFSA Cover Double Majors?

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used to apply for federal financial assistance for higher education. This application gathers financial data from students and their families to assess eligibility for grants, loans, and work-study programs. The FAFSA helps the federal government and educational institutions determine a student’s financial need and the types of aid they may qualify for. Completing this form is a primary step for many seeking postsecondary education.

Eligibility for Federal Student Aid

To qualify for federal student aid, individuals must meet several requirements. Applicants need to be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens and possess a valid Social Security number. A high school diploma or a recognized equivalent is also a prerequisite for aid eligibility.

Students must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate program at an institution participating in federal student aid programs. Maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is an ongoing condition for receiving federal financial aid. This includes meeting institutional standards for academic performance and progress toward degree completion.

Impact of Double Majoring on Aid Eligibility

Pursuing a double major does not provide additional federal financial aid eligibility beyond what is available for a single major. Federal student aid is tied to a student’s progress toward completing one recognized degree program. Aid focuses on the completion of the first bachelor’s degree and is not designed to account for multiple undergraduate specializations simultaneously.

A double major can influence aid through its interaction with Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policies, particularly the “maximum timeframe” component. Federal regulations stipulate that students must complete their program within 150% of its published length, measured in credit hours. For example, a bachelor’s degree requiring 120 credits typically has a maximum timeframe of 180 attempted credits. Attempting a significantly higher number of credits due to a double major can cause a student to approach or exceed this limit, potentially leading to the loss of federal aid eligibility.

The “pace of completion” component of SAP can also be affected. This standard requires students to successfully complete a certain percentage of attempted credits, often around 67%. Taking extra courses or requiring more time to complete both majors could increase total attempted credits. This makes it more challenging to maintain the required completion pace if some courses are dropped or failed. Financial aid offices consider all attempted credits, including those for a second major, when evaluating SAP.

Maintaining Aid Eligibility While Double Majoring

Students pursuing a double major can take proactive steps to maintain their federal financial aid eligibility. Regular communication with the university’s financial aid office and academic advisors is important. They can provide guidance on institutional policies and help monitor academic progress in relation to federal aid requirements. Understanding the institution’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy, including its specific GPA, pace, and maximum timeframe standards, is also important.

Careful academic planning is important to ensure that coursework aligns with degree requirements for at least one major and contributes to overall progress. Students should monitor their credit accumulation to avoid exceeding the maximum timeframe for their primary degree. If a student anticipates needing more time or credits than typically allowed, they should discuss this with their financial aid office, as some institutions may have an appeal process for SAP. Ensuring that all courses taken count towards degree progress for at least one major can help manage credit load efficiently.

Considerations for Specific Federal Aid Programs

Certain federal aid programs have specific limitations that can be impacted by the extended enrollment often associated with a double major. The Federal Pell Grant, for instance, has a lifetime eligibility limit (LEU). Students can receive Pell Grant funds for no more than 12 terms or the equivalent, which is roughly six years or 600% of the full-time scheduled award. Pursuing a double major may extend a student’s enrollment period, increasing the likelihood of reaching this lifetime limit and exhausting their Pell Grant eligibility before completing both degrees.

Federal student loans also have aggregate limits, which are the maximum total amounts a student can borrow over their entire academic career. If a double major necessitates additional semesters or a heavier course load, students may approach or exceed these aggregate loan limits, potentially restricting their access to federal student loan funding in later years of study.