Students without a high school diploma or GED long have had the opportunity to show they have the “ability to benefit” from federal student aid by passing a federally approved test for which the federal government sets pass scores and defines testing procedures. More recently, Congress created a new Ability-to-Benefit (AtB) option, which allows these students to qualify for financial aid after successfully completing six credits toward a certificate or degree, instead of taking an AtB test.

To learn more, read this fact sheet by Julie Strawn.