Financial Aid Eligibility

Financial Aid Basics

The Financial Aid team is dedicated to assisting you in searching for the resources needed to attend Kettering, whether that comes in the form of grants, loans, work study or scholarships or a combination of all of the above.

Determining Financial Aid Eligibility

Financial need is the difference between the cost of attendance (COA) and the expected family contribution (EFC).

The cost of attendance (COA) refers to the total amount of education expenses (tuition, books and supplies, room and board, personal expenses, transportation expenses, etc.).

The EFC is the number used to determine your eligibility for federal, state and institutional need-based aid programs. This number results from the financial information provided in your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Financial aid packages are awarded as follows in this order:

  1. Pell Grant - The Pell Grant is awarded to students who meet the federal criteria as determined by EFC levels.

  2. Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) - The SEOG is awarded to Pell Grant eligible students with an EFC between 0 - 2,000. Funds are limited.

  3. Michigan Competitive Scholarship/Tuition Grant (STATE) - The state award is administered through the State of Michigan for Michigan residents only. The amount is determined by a formula which takes into consideration other gift aid and parent/student contribution. Funding is limited.

  4. Kettering University Opportunity Grant (KUOG) - The amount is determined by an institutional formula. Grant amounts are based on program funding and priority is given to students whose FAFSA is received by May 1. Subsequent awards may be available later in the year as funding permits.

  5. Federal Work Study (FWS) - Kettering University offers a maximum of $1,200 per academic year to students who demonstrate need.

  6. Federal Loans - Federal loans are awarded last. Students are offered subsidized or unsubsidized loans in amounts based on need, dependency status (dependent or independent) and by year in college.

If you are awarded a Kettering Merit or Endowed scholarship it will be included as part of your total financial aid package.

If you receive any outside scholarships keep in mind that federal regulations stipulate that an outside scholarship cannot be used to reduce your family's expected contribution. When you receive an outside scholarship, our office is required to reevaluate your financial aid package and account for the additional resource. This may result in the reduction of other aid. It is Kettering's policy to reduce federal loans and federal work study first, and grant aid last.

Eligibility Requirements

General eligibility requirements that you must meet are:

  • demonstrate financial need (for most programs),
  • be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen,
  • have a valid Social Security number (with the exception of students from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau),
  • register (if you haven’t already) with Selective Service, if you’re a male between the ages of 18 and 25,
  • be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student,
  • be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible for Direct Loan Program funds,
  • maintain satisfactory academic progress,
  • sign statements on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) stating that
    • you are not in default on a federal student loan and do not owe money on a federal student grant and
    • you will use federal student aid only for educational purposes, and
  • show you’re qualified to obtain a college or career school education by
    • having a high school diploma or a recognized equivalent such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate or
    • completing a high school education in a homeschool setting approved under state law.