Federal Pell Grants provide a foundation of financial aid to which one can add other federal and non-federal sources of aid. The amount of a Pell Grant is based on a family’s financial circumstances. Students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for a Pell Grant. A Pell Grant is awarded for one academic year. The financial aid year begins with the fall semester and ends with the summer term. Students are paid only after all required documents are received, reviewed, and approved by the Office of Financial Aid and attendance for scheduled courses is verified. The U.S. Department of Education recently established new regulations which reduce the duration of the student’s lifetime eligibility to receive Pell Grant from 18 full-time semesters (or its equivalent) to 12 full-time semesters (or its equivalent). This provision applies to all Federal Pell Grant eligible students effective 2012-2013.
PELL eligible students authorize PELL to prevent purge for non-payment before a term begins; however, this is an estimate of their award. The final award is contingent on attendance in scheduled course(s). Failure to attend a course(s) will result in the actual PELL award being reduced from the PELL estimate.