What is a Pell Grant?

For your Aid Summary and Pell Grant details, go to StudentAid.gov

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What is a Pell Grant?

Pell Grants are federally-funded, need-based grants given to college students to help pay for college.

Pell Grants do not need to be paid back.

To be eligible for a Pell Grant, you must complete a FAFSA to determine your Pell Grant eligibility and be meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Students may receive a Pell Grant for a maximum of the equivalent of 12 full-time terms.

Any Pell Grant eligible student whose parent or guardian died as a result of military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11th, 2001, will receive the maximum award amount based on federal regulations.

Starting with the 2024-25 academic year, the Pell Grant will be prorated based on your enrollment intensity.

For federal student aid purposes, full-time enrollment for programs offered in standard terms is 12 credit hours.

A percent will be calculated based on the credit hours less than full-time divided by 12.

For example, a student enrolled in 10 credit hours would have an enrollment intensity of 83% of the term's full Pell eligibility.

A student cannot receive more than 100% within a term.

Under the Special Rules for Pell Grants, students who meet the eligibility requirements under the special rule will receive maximum Pell regardless of their SAI.

The student must be under 33 years old or enrolled at least part-time in college at the time of their parent's or guardian's death.

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