What is Title IV Student Financial Aid?

If you're thinking about advancing your education, you probably already know that there's a cost involved. But thanks to something called Title IV, you might have more federal funding options than you realize. So, what does Title IV mean in college?

"Title IV student financial aid refers to federal student aid programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965," said Christopher Couture, an assistant director of training for the student financial services team at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) who has worked at SNHU for over a decade.

In other words, he said Title IV is the chapter of the Higher Education Act that provides federal student aid funding. According to Couture, financial aid programs covered by Title IV include:

• Direct Loans
• Federal Pell Grants
• Federal Supplementary Education Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)
• Federal Work Study (FWS) programs

He noted that qualified students can apply for Title IV financial aid via the Free Application for Student Financial Aid (FAFSA) each year.

Who Qualifies for Title IV Financial Aid?

In the 2023-2024 academic year, over 10 million college students received federal grants or loans, according to the Education Data Initiative. A number of factors determine whether or not you're qualified for federal financial aid funding, the Federal Office of Student Aid (FSA) reports, including:

• Your U.S. citizenship or eligibility as a non-citizen
• Your financial need
• Your loan history
• Whether you've earned a high school diploma/GED

Visit the FSA website for a complete list of eligibility requirements.

Which College Programs Are Title IV Eligible?

Many college programs are eligible for Title IV financial aid, but not all. Couture recommends that students speak with an admission counselor or academic advisor at the school you plan to attend to learn more about which degrees and certificates qualify for federal funding.

"Not every academic program at SNHU is Title IV eligible; however, the large majority of them are," Couture said.

He noted that SNHU offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees that qualify for federal financial aid, including in subjects like:

• Business
• Criminal justice
• Cybersecurity
• Psychology
• Public health

There are dozens of other eligible options to choose from, too.

"After identifying their eligible program of choice, they should contact a finance counselor in Student Financial Services to learn about the FAFSA (Federal Application for Student Aid), their term structure and the requirements they must meet in order to remain eligible for Title IV funding," he said.

Are College Certificates Eligible for Federal Financial Aid?

While not all academic certificate offerings qualify for Title IV federal funding, several of SNHU's certificate programs are. For example, the undergraduate certificates in cybersecurity, accounting and business analytics at SNHU are all eligible for Title IV student financial aid. The undergraduate certificate in human resources also recently added 2 new courses, making the new, 18-credit undergraduate HR certificate Title IV eligible, as well.

Couture said that many graduate certificates at SNHU are also eligible for Title IV funding.

"I think the best thing for students to keep in mind is that our staff at SNHU are here to answer their questions, identify what certificate may interest them and whether or not it would be eligible for Title IV funding," he said.

Read more: How College Certificate Programs Can Help Your Career

Do I Have to Pay Back Title IV Funds?

If you take out student loans, they generally need to be repaid with interest over time, according to Couture, but other options don't require repayment.

"Some Title IV funds do have to be paid back if they are provided in the form of a loan, such as funding falling under the Direct Loan programs," he said. "Other funding offered under Title IV will not need to be repaid, such as the federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) and Federal Work Study funding."

Learn more: How Does Financial Aid Work? A Comprehensive Breakdown

Making Informed Financial Choices

After deciding on a program with an admission counselor, Couture said you can speak to your school's student financial services team if you have questions about your financial aid options or completing the FAFSA.

Remember to look into your funding options outside of Title IV, too. For example, Couture noted that the G.I. Bill® provides educational benefits to those with certain military affiliations, and some employers may offer tuition reimbursement benefits, too. You could also consider applying for various types of scholarships, including those based on merit, financial need or identity.

Like with any big financial decision, it's important to take the time to understand all of your options before making a commitment.

GI Bill^® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by the VA is available at the official U.S. government website.

Mars Girolimon '21 '23G is a staff writer at Southern New Hampshire University where they earned their bachelor’s and master’s, both in English and creative writing. In addition to their work in higher education, Girolimon’s short fiction is published in the North American Review, So It Goes by The Kurt Vonnegut Museum & Library, X-R-A-Y and more. Connect with them on LinkedIn.