The Federal Pell Grant is a grant given by the Federal government to students with demonstrated financial need as calculated by the FAFSA. The grant does not have to be repaid, and you will receive the funds either directly or indirectly depending on how the school decides to give you your funds!
Do You Qualify? What are the Requirements for a Pell Grant?
The requirements for a Pell Grant are geared towards financial need so that as many low-income students as possible can make a college education a reality. Look below to see if you qualify for a Federal Pell Grant!
Financial Status
The United States Department of Education has a specific formula that they use to determine need-based students. This formula brings about a figure or number that will help decide whether the student is eligible. The formula looks at the student or parent’s income and assets first. Depending on if the student is independent or not, it may look to the family of the student. The EFC, or Expected Family Contribution formula, determines how much your family will be able to contribute to your education, taking into consideration how many siblings you have in college, how many dependents your family has, and your families income. If the student has a brother or sister pursuing a secondary degree, it may change the outcome of the formula and the family’s financial aid status.
United States Citizenship
The Pell Grant is also only given to students that are either a United States citizen or an eligible non-citizen. If you are not a citizen of the United States and are looking to receive the Pell Grant, you will need to keep a couple of things in mind. First, you may need to be considered a permanent resident of the United States. This means you must have an I-551 or Alien Registration Card. If you are not a permanent resident of the United States, you must have an I-94 Arrival-Departure Record from the INS (Immigration Services). The record must convey that you are a refugee, asylum granted, parole, or Cuban-Haitian entrant. Otherwise, you will not be able to receive this grant.
Your Degree
This particular grant is for undergraduate students only. This means that you will not qualify if you have already obtained a bachelor’s or professional degree. The only exception to this rule are students who are post-bachelorette and pursuing teacher certification programs. Again, if you are looking to use this grant for a masters or doctorate, you will not qualify for the Pell Grant.
Educational Criteria
There are specific criteria that this grant looks at educationally. First, there around 5400 institutions that take part in this grant. You must be going to one of these schools to qualify. When you fill out your FAFSA forms, you should be able to see whether your school qualifies. The student applying must also have a completed high school degree or GED. Male students should also keep in mind that to receive this grant, they must be registered with the select service or sign a statement saying that he may not register.
