Federal Pell Grant

A Federal Pell Grant is free financial aid money for students to attend the college that requires no repayment. The Federal Pell Grant is typically awarded to low-income undergraduate students to make post-secondary education more accessible to those with financial need. A Federal Pell Grant is one of four need-based grants. Federal Pell Grant funds can be used for tuition and fees, room and board, transportation, books, supplies and more.

Eligibility Criteria/ Scholarship Guidelines

Have a high school diploma, GED certificate or equivalent.

Demonstrate financial need.

Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen.

Have a valid Social Security number.

If you are a male, register with the Selective Service,  through the FAFSA.

Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate program.

Maintain satisfactory academic progress in your college or career school.

Sign the certification statement on the FAFSA. This states that you are not in default on a federal student loan, that you do not owe money on a federal student grant, and that you will use federal student aid only for educational purposes.

FAFSA

The only way to apply for a Federal Pell Grant is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This application evaluates your financial need, which will determine whether or not you will be awarded a Federal Pell Grant.

The FAFSA will calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC measures your family’s financial strength and is the most significant factor in determining a student’s need-based financial aid awards.

Value
Federal Pell Grant funds cover a variety of costs and generally include the following: All tuition and fees, Books, supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses, Room and board or other living expenses, an allowance for dependent care expenses.

Deadline
January 2

Validity
The amount of Federal Pell Grant funds a student may receive in a lifetime is limited to the equivalent of six years of funding.