Pell Grant - Getting a Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant Program provides grants to undergraduatestudents who have financial need and meet the other requirements for FSA assistance. Unlike other programs such as the campus-based programs, schools don’t have to make decisions about who receives Pell funds or how much they receive. FSA pays Pell funds to all eligible students, and formulas determine how much each student receives.

Schools do have many responsibilities in administering the program, and those responsibilities are discussed in this publication.

A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid. Pell Grants are considered a foundation of federal financial aid, to which aid from other federal and non-federal sources might be added.

PELL SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

Two Pell-specific eligibility requirements are that the student must either be an undergraduate or be enrolled in an eligiblepostbaccalaureate teaching credential program, and not beincarcerated in a federal or state penal institution.

An undergraduate course of study under the Pell definition is onethat usually doesn’t exceed 4 academic years or is a program of 4 to 5 academic years designed to lead to a baccalaureate or first professional degree.

If the program is longer than 5 years (for example, a 6-year pharmacy program), then students enrolled in that program are considered undergraduate students only for the first 4 academic years of the program.

Certain students who have received a bachelor’s degree canreceive a Pell Grant when enrolled in postbaccalaureate teachercertification programs. This is a very limited exception to therequirement that a Pell Grant recipient must be an undergraduatestudent enrolled in an undergraduate program.

Because of the restrictions that apply to this provision, only a limited number of programs exist where students will be eligible for Pell Grants.

How much can I get?

The maximum Pell Grant award for the 2008-09 award year (July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009) is $4,731. Keep in mind the maximum can change each award year and depends on program funding. The amount you get will depend not only on your financial need, but also on your costs to attend school, your status as a full-time or part-time student, and your plans to attend school for a full academic year or less.

If I am eligible, how will I get the Pell Grant money?

Your school can apply Pell Grant funds to your school costs, pay you directly (usually by check), or they can combine these methods. The school must tell you in writing how much your award will be and how and when you will be paid. Schools must disburse funds at least once per term (semester, trimester, or quarter).

Schools that do not use semesters, trimesters, or quarters must disburse funds at least twice per academic year.

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