After your Futures for Frontliners scholarship application has been accepted and you complete the three steps necessary to start participating in the scholarship program, you will have up to four years from your first semester as a scholarship participant to complete an associate degree or Pell-eligible skill certificate – unless you earn an associate degree earlier than that.
Until Summer 2023:
To maintain the scholarship during that entire time, there are certain requirements that you’ll need to meet annually:
- Continue to be a resident of this state.
- Be continuously enrolled. for at least 2 semesters for at least 6 credits (each semester) within a 12-month period. The semesters do not need to be consecutive, but the credits must be in your program of study.
- GOOD NEWS: Starting Summer 2023, you can be enrolled in as little as 1 credit in your program of study and still receive Futures for Frontliners. This does not, however, apply to past semesters. If you enroll in 1 credit or more in your program of study in Summer 2023, it will still count as 1 of the 2 required semesters for this requirement.
- Maintain a minimum cumulative 2.0 grade point average in the courses you take towards your program of study as a Futures for Frontliners participant.
- This GPA may be different from your overall GPA.
- Submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) ever year.
- See MI Student Aid's website on What FAFSA Do I Complete? if you have questions about which FAFSA to complete each year, when it's due, and what you may need to complete it.
- It’s okay if the FAFSA indicates you don’t qualify for federal aid. Even if you receive no funding from the Pell Grant, Futures for Frontliners could still cover your in-district tuition, mandatory fees, and contact hours.
- There are experts available to help you answer questions about completing the FAFSA.
- Contact the financial aid office at your local community college
- Contact the federal FAFSA team through online chat or by phone at 1-800-4FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).
- Don’t forget to:
- Gather your materials. To complete the FAFSA, you’ll need your:
- Social Security number or Alien Registration Number
- Driver’s license, if you have one
- Previous year’s federal income tax return, if you filed
- Previous year’s W-2 form (and for your spouse, if you’re married)
- Bank account statements
- Federal School Code (if you’re not sure what your school’s code is, you can use the FAFSA’s Federal School Code Search
- Sign in with your FSA ID. Your FSA ID is the username and password you created to complete, sign, and submit your FAFSA. You can use the “Forgot My Username” and “Forgot My Password” links to access your account online if you’re having trouble.
- Complete the online form. You can complete the FAFSA online.
- There’s an app for that! The FAFSA application is available for free on the myStudentAid app. Look for it in the Apple app store or Google Play.
- Never pay to file. Completing the FAFSA is always free. If a site requires payment, make sure you are at the official FAFSA site.
- Sign and submit the FAFSA. One of most common mistakes students make is not signing their FAFSA. Be sure to sign and submit your FAFSA. Since it is electronic, you will sign using your FSA ID and password. Once your FAFSA is submitted, you’ll see a confirmation page and receive a confirmation email.
Starting Academic Year 2023-2024
You’ll still have up to four years from your first semester as a scholarship participant to complete an associate degree or Pell-eligible skill certificate, but the requirements to maintain the scholarship will change.
Starting in Academic Year 2023-2024, the requirements you’ll need to meet annually will be to:
- Continue to be a resident of this state.
- Maintain enrollment in your program of study and earn a minimum of 12 credits towards your program of study, once you’ve begun an academic year.
- Meet satisfactory academic progress (SAP) at your institution or maintain a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA since becoming a Futures for Frontliners participant.
- Submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- See MI Student Aid's website on What FAFSA Do I Complete? if you have questions about which FAFSA to complete each year, when it's due, and what you may need to complete it. Our College Checklist also has helpful guidance about completing the FAFSA if you’re having trouble filing it again.
If you have questions about not meeting these requirements, contact your college to see if you’re on track. with your scholarship or if you’d be eligible to apply for a ‘scholarship leave of absence’.
