Federal Grants


Grants

Grants are considered gift aid. Gift aid is the most valued source of financial aid because grant money does not have to be repaid.  Grants are awarded based on need.

Federal PELL Grant (PELL)

The PELL Grant is a federal program for undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or professional degree. Amounts can change yearly.  The maximum Federal Pell Grant award is $7,395 for the 2023-2024 award year (July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024). The amount you are awarded will depend on:

  • your financial need,
  • your cost of attendance,
  • your status as a full-time or part-time student, and
  • your plans to attend school for a full academic year or less.

Award Range:  up to $3,698.00 per semester

You may not receive Federal Pell Grant funds from more than one school at a time.

Effective on July 1, 2012, you can receive the Federal Pell Grant for no more than 12 semesters or the equivalent.  You'll receive a notice if you are getting close to your limit.  If you have any questions, contact your financial aid office.

Students may be eligible to receive up to 150% of their sched­uled award for an award year. This provision is called Year-Round Pell, or additional Pell. It is called “Year- Round” because it allows students to receive additional Pell funds, of­ten in summer terms when (without the provision for Year-Round Pell) a student’s remaining Pell eligibility would traditionally end. To be eligible to receive Year-Round Pell, students must be enrolled at least half-time in the payment period and be Pell eligible in all other ways. The student receives the same amount as is normally calculated for a payment period.

If you are eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, you'll receive the full amount you qualify for.  Each school participating in the program receives enough funds each year from the U.S. Department of Education to pay the Federal Pell Grant amounts for all its eligible students.  The amount of any other student aid for which you might qualify does not affect the amount of your Federal Pell Grant.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

The SEOG is a federal grant program.  Awards are made based on unmet need, expected family contribution, and file completion on or before the Financial Aid Priority Dates.  The Financial Aid Office is responsible for selecting eligible students with the lowest family contributions and determining the amount of SEOG awards. 

The standard award is $750/year. Automatic packaging is set to award to students with a $0 EFC and is awarded until the federal allocation is met. Awards above $750 are assessed on a case by case basis as federal allocations allow. Qualifying students must renew the FAFSA every new academic year and meet Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy requirements to continue in this program.

 

November 2023