The Federal Pell Grant is need based and is available to students who demonstrate a significant amount of need for financial aid, complete a FAFSA, and meet the federal program eligibility requirements.
If you are awarded a Pell Grant, the grant amount is determined by the number of credit hours you are enrolled in and attending at the financial aid lock date and your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) (2023–24 FAFSA) or Student Aid Index (SAI) (2024–25 FAFSA), however, the amount stated on your financial aid award is based on projected funding and is subject to change.
Repayment is not normally required, unless you withdraw from school or don't pass all of your classes.
Maintaining Your Eligibility
If you receive a Federal Pell Grant you must successfully complete your coursework. Before renewing your grant for the upcoming semester, we will ensure that you have successfully completed the required hours to continue to receive your full Pell award.
Withdrawing or failing your classes can affect your Pell Grant eligibility for future semesters.
Lifetime Eligibility
The amount of Federal Pell Grant funds you may receive over your lifetime is limited by federal law to be the equivalent of six years of Pell Grant funding. Since the maximum amount of Pell Grant funding you can receive each year is equal to 100%, the six-year equivalent is 600%. Learn more about how your Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility Used is calculated.
Year Round Federal Pell Grant
Starting with the 2017-18 academic year, eligible students can receive additional Federal Pell Grant funds for the summer semester. This means that even if a student already received a full Pell Grant during the fall and spring semesters, the student may qualify for Federal Pell Grant during the summer semester as well.
To be eligible for the additional Federal Pell Grant funds, a Federal Pell Grant recipient must have been enrolled full-time in both the fall and spring semesters AND be registered in at least 6 credits for the summer semester. (This requirement is being discontinued beginning Fall 2024.)
Please keep in mind that all Federal Pell Grant funds will count towards the student’s Federal Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU). If a student fails to remain enrolled at least halftime for the summer semester, the additional Federal Pell Grant funds may be cancelled.
Here are some examples to help you determine Year Round Federal Pell Grant eligibility.
Example 1
Federal Pell Grant Max Award: $5,920.
A student received the following award for the fall and spring semesters:
Fall semester: $2,960
Spring semester: $2,960
Total: $5,920
The student was enrolled in 12 credits in the fall semester and 12 credits in the spring semester and successfully completed those credits with a passing grade.
The student registered for 6 credits for the summer semester. The following is the students updated award letter since the student meets the additional Federal Pell Grant criteria:
Fall semester: $2,960
Spring semester: $2,960
Summer term: $1,480
Total: $7,400
Example 2
Federal Pell Grant Max Award: $5,920.
A student received the following award for the fall and spring semesters:
Fall semester: $2,960
Spring semester: $2,220
Total: $5,180
The student was enrolled in 14 credits in the fall semester and 11 credits in the spring semester and successfully completed those credits with a passing grade. The student registered for 6 credits for the summer semester. The following is the students updated award letter since the student meets the additional Federal Pell Grant criteria:
Fall semester: $2,960
Spring semester: $2,220
Summer term: $1,480
Total: $6,660
Even though the student was not enrolled full-time for both the fall and spring semesters, once the student receives the remaining Federal Pell Grant eligibility from the fall and spring semesters in the summer (in this example $740), the student becomes eligible for the additional Federal Pell Grant for the remaining credits. For this example, an additional $740.
Example 3
Federal Pell Grant Max Award: $4,070.
A student received the following award at a previous college:
Fall semester: $2,035
Spring semester: $2,035
Total: $4,070
The student was enrolled in 12 credits in the fall semester and 12 credits in the spring semester and successfully completed those credits with a passing grade. The student decides to register for 6 credits for the summer semester at a new school. The student is eligible for the additional Federal Pell Grant at the new college for $1,018 with the 6 credits of enrollment.