Federal Pell Grant, Federal Pell Grant Application & Guideline for Pell Grants

 The Federal Pell Grant is the first type of financial aid you should try to obtain.  The government considers the Pell Grant to be the cornerstone of all financial aid, since aid from other sources is considered supplemental to the Pell Grant. If you would like more Federal Pell Grant information and assistance, Visit FreeFinancialAidCounseling.com right now for more details.

The Federal Pell Grant requirements are simple:

•    Be a U.S. citizen/eligible non-citizen.
•    Possess a high school diploma, GED, or pass an ability-to-benefit (ATB) test.
•    Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the deadline, and that’s it!

The financial aid department at your school does the rest in determining your eligibility for the Pell Grant and other financial aid.

What is Federal Pell Grant?

The Federal Pell Grant is a student aid program administered by the U.S. Department of Education.  It was originally called the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant, but was renamed the Pell Grant in honor of the program’s creator, U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell.  The grant is awarded based on financial need as determined by the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is calculated from the FAFSA.  Unlike loans, which must be repaid, the Federal Pell Grant does not have to be repaid (as long as the recipient stays enrolled in school, of course).  

The Federal Pell Grant is awarded almost exclusively to students enrolled in an undergraduate program at an accredited university.  It is therefore, unlikely that you would be awarded a Pell Grant for master degree or other graduate level programs.  It is also unlikely that you would be awarded a second degree Pell Grant.  The most common exception is for a Pell Grant to be awarded to you if you are enrolled in a post-secondary teacher certification program.  Our representatives here at FreeFinancialAidCounseling online are available now to help you determine if you meet the qualifications for the Pell Grant.

What can a Pell Grant be used for?

A Federal Pell Grant, like other forms of Federal financial aid, is used to help you pay the Cost of Attendance (COA) at your school.  The COA consists of more than just tuition.  Living expenses, room and board, school fees, textbooks and even the cost of buying a computer are included in the COA.  According to the law, the total financial aid you receive cannot exceed the COA.

As stated above, upon successful processing of the FAFSA, your selected schools receive an Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR), which contains the information submitted on the FAFSA.  The schools’ financial aid departments will then send your award letters which indicate your how much aid you may receive and any Pell Grant notifications.  For more information about completing the FAFSA, visit FreeFinancialAidCounseling.com for more details.

How much money do I have to make to qualify for a Pell Grant?

While there is no strict minimum or maximum income required to receive a Pell Grant, the FAFSA does include your income (and your parents’ if necessary) as one component of your financial situation.  The FAFSA also considers banking and investment holdings, the size of your family, and the number of siblings attending college.  The FAFSA then uses a formula to compute your EFC, which estimates what portion of the costs you and your family are responsible for.  Full-time students with an EFC between 0 and 4617 can qualify for a Pell Grant award worth up to $5,350 for the 2009 - 2010 school year.  Under current Federal guidelines, a student with an EFC above 4617 will not be eligible for a Pell Grant. Contact FreeFinancialAidCounseling online now for more details.

Is there a printable Federal Pell Grant Application?

The form to apply for a Pell Grant is the FAFSA, and there is a paper form available from the Department of Education.  You can also fill out the FAFSA completely online, and save time on processing.  Filing a FAFSA on the web also gets your financial aid estimate to you quicker!  We here at FreeFinancialAidCounseling online can even guide you through the process while you’re still at your computer!

Is there an Income Guideline for Pell Grants?

While there is no specific income requirement for the Pell Grant, it is generally the case that the higher your income and your parents’ incomes are, the less likely you are to receive a Pell Grant award.  The FAFSA takes several factors into account when computing the EFC, not just income.  Contact us at FreeFinancialAidCounseling online for assistance in getting an estimate of your financial aid award.

How often do I get the Pell Grant?

You may receive a Pell Grant each semester you are enrolled in school as an undergraduate, up to a limit of 18 semesters.  Additionally, for each school year in which you expect to receive aid, submitting a new FAFSA will be required.

We here at FreeFinancialAidCounseling realize that the rules about Federal Pell Grant eligibility can be hard to understand.  We also know that many people are unaware of their Federal Pell Grant Qualifications.  Our representatives can reach you quickly and provide the answers and assistance you are looking for!  If you need to help to download a Pell Grant application or investigate other financial aid options.  If you have hard to answer questions like “What is the income limit for a Pell Grant?” we can help with that too.    We want to help make college affordable for you today!

college grants pell grants grant federal pell grant pell grant application grant money