Federal Grants

Federal Pell Grant

A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid. Federal Pell Grants are awarded to students with exceptional financial need, as defined by the FAFSA. Both full-time and part-time student can receive a Pell grant, provided they meet the eligibility requirements below.

Federal Eligibility Requirements

Must have a valid FAFSA on file and a Pell-eligible expected family contribution (EFC)
Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien
Accepted as a regular student working toward a first undergraduate degree
Maintain satisfactory progress toward a degree per the policies of the college
Cannot be in default on any other federal loan
Cannot owe a refund on a federal student grant or loan

Annual and Lifetime Limits

Annual Limit	Students may receive Pell for the fall, spring and summer terms depending on eligibility Award amount depends on Expected Family Contribution as determined by the FAFSA For the 2021-22 academic year, the minimum full-time award is $336 per semester and the maximum is $3,248. Amounts are prorated for enrollment that is less than full-time Amounts can change yearly
Lifetime Limit	Students are now limited to a lifetime maximum Pell Grant of 12 semesters / six years or full time equivalent (600%) at any community college, vocational school or four year/bachelor program. Once you reach the 600% Pell Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU), you will be ineligible for any additional Pell Grants. Students may visit StudentAid.gov and log in using their FSA ID and view their LEU. The LEU will be found on the “My Aid” page. What this means for you: You must plan for your future, especially if you intend to transfer to a four-year college to pursue a bachelor’s degree. The six-year limit is a LIFETIME limit, regardless of whether or not you complete your academic goals or your bachelor’s degree. This regulation is in effect even if you have had an appeal approved for failure to meet academic progress, it supersedes any prior offer of aid/award, and the United States Department of Education allows for no appeal or exception.

Annual Limit

Students may receive Pell for the fall, spring and summer terms depending on eligibility

Award amount depends on Expected Family Contribution as determined by the FAFSA

For the 2021-22 academic year, the minimum full-time award is $336 per semester and the maximum is $3,248. Amounts are prorated for enrollment that is less than full-time

Amounts can change yearly

Lifetime Limit

Students are now limited to a lifetime maximum Pell Grant of 12 semesters / six years or full time equivalent (600%) at any community college, vocational school or four year/bachelor program. Once you reach the 600% Pell Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU), you will be ineligible for any additional Pell Grants.

Students may visit StudentAid.gov and log in using their FSA ID and view their LEU. The LEU will be found on the “My Aid” page.

What this means for you: You must plan for your future, especially if you intend to transfer to a four-year college to pursue a bachelor’s degree. The six-year limit is a LIFETIME limit, regardless of whether or not you complete your academic goals or your bachelor’s degree. This regulation is in effect even if you have had an appeal approved for failure to meet academic progress, it supersedes any prior offer of aid/award, and the United States Department of Education allows for no appeal or exception.

Unusual Enrollment History

The U.S. Department of Education has established regulations to prevent fraud and abuse in the Federal Pell Grant program by identifying student with unusual enrollment histories.

Students that have received a Federal Grant at multiple institutions in the past three academic years are flagged as having unusual enrollment. Once flagged, the Financial Aid office must act and review the student’s prior academic history to determine eligibility. Students may be asked to submit an Enrollment History Verification form as part of the verification process.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a campus-based, federal grant program that does not need to be repaid. Campus-based programs are managed by individual campuses and have limited funding which makes it important that students file their FAFSA as soon as possible. New FAFSA applications become available every year on October 1st.

Eligibility Requirements

Must have a valid FAFSA on file for the upcoming fall semester
Be Pell-eligible (see above)
Have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of 0. If there are remaining FSEOG funds after making awards to all 0 EFC recipients, the students with the lowest EFCs will be considered next.
Must be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
Accepted as a regular student working toward a first undergraduate degree
Maintain satisfactory progress toward a degree per the policies of the college
Cannot be in default on any other federal loan
Cannot owe a refund on a federal student grant or loan

How SEOG Is Disbursed?

Around the 5th week of the semester, SEOG is disbursed from the federal government and applied to the student's account.

Annual & Lifetime Limits

Annual Limit	On-Campus students: $1000 per year ($500/semester)
Lifetime Limit	None; but the student must remain eligible for a Pell grant which does have a lifetime limit.