My Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant Program is a great boon for needy students completing their undergraduate education. The Federal Pell Grant eligibility criterion is fairly simple-US students who are enrolled in an undergraduate course of study or are in an eligible post baccalaureate program. However, students applying for the Pell Grant are required to furnish certain details such as their financial aid history and EFC (Expected Family Contribution) documents. In most cases, the determining factor for receiving the Pell Grant is the EFC. As per 2006-2007 regulations, the EFC must be less than or equal to $3,800 to qualify for a Pell Grant. The eligibility of the student for this largest federal grant program is determined by the Department of Education. The amount awarded ranges anywhere from $400 to $5,000 depending on the student’s enrollment status.

A student’s financial aid history also plays a crucial role in determining the amount of the Pell Grant. This is so because it helps to determine the extent of financial support a student received at other schools.

To qualify for Federal Pell Grants, students need to be transparent about their financial status while submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA) application form at their website-www.fafsa.ed.gov. On completing a FAFSA, students are inevitably considered for a Pell Grant. Post verification (of the details given in the form,) the educational aid is sanctioned provided the students meet the eligibility guidelines established by the Federal government. Also, certain sensitive information such as the student being a graduate or an under-graduate should be filled up carefully. Under normal circumstances, if a form shows that a student is not an undergraduate then the Department’s records will show that s/he is not entitled for the Pell Grant under the regular program provision.

Students who have received the Pell Grant can also be eligible for similar educational aids that can be included as a part of their total financial aid package.

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 7th, 2008 at 3:14 pm and is filed under Uncategorized | . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.