In order to qualify for a Pell Grant you must meet the following requirements.
(1) Have a financial need.
(2) Have a high school diploma, a GED, or have the ability to benefit from the program or training offered.
(3) Be enrolled to obtain a degree
(4) Be a US citizen, permanent resident, or other eligible classification of non-citizen.
(5) Have a valid social security number
(6) Make satisfactory academic progress for federal student aid programs
(7) Register with Selective Service, if you are a male between the ages of 18 and 25.
(8) Certify by signing a FAFSA that you will use any federal student aid funds awarded to you solely for educational purposes.
(9) Certify by signing a FAFSA that you are not in default of any federal student loan and that you do not owe a repayment of any federal student aid grant.
Applicants must have a financial need to receive additional post-secondary funds or they will not qualify. The lower the EFC, the greater the student’s financial need. For example, the neediest students will have a EFC score of 0 and may be eligible for the maximum Pell Grant award if their cost of attendance is high enough and if the student attends an accredited institution full time for a full academic year.
When the EFC score increases, the student’s need is less and so the amount of the Pell Grant award will decrease. After the maximum EFC score of 3,850, eligibility for a Pell Grant becomes zero.
Students with a total family income up to $50,000 may be eligible for Pell Grants, though most Pell funding goes to students with a total family income below $20,000.
Find out how much money you could receive through the Pell Grant.
