The Pell grant is a federal grant sponsored by the US department of Education for students from low income families. It is meant for undergraduate college students only. The grant is named after US senator Claiborne Pell, a Democrat from Rhode Island State. The grant is awarded to students in need of college funding through participating colleges and institutions. Students must satisfy the Pell grant requirements to be eligible for the grant.
Financial need is the primary criterion among Pell grant requirements. A student’s need for assistance is determined based on his Expected Family Contribution or EFC. Any undergraduate student falling below the predetermined cutoff threshold qualifies for the grant provided other criteria are satisfied. Note that the grant is awarded only to undergraduates and those pursuing a graduate program are not eligible to apply.
The US department of education determines financial aid using standard formula established by the congress. The EFC formula takes into account various factors like student’s income, parent’s income, household size, number of family members attending college etc. Applicants are expected to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form to apply for the grant, EFC is calculated by the department of education based on the information provided in the form. A Student Aid Report (SAR) is issued; it carries the EFC and informs the students regarding their eligibility.
The following are other Pell grant requirements:
To be eligible for the grant the applicant must be a citizen of the United States.
Valid social security number: Applicants must posses a valid social security number.
No criminal record: Applicants must not have a criminal record.
For eligibility candidates must have high school diplomas or General Education Development (GED) certificates.
To be eligible, all candidates must be enrolled with the selective services.
All Pell grant applicants must be enrolled in a program with one of the participating institutions.
Satisfactory academic performance: Students must demonstrate satisfactory academic progress to continue receiving the grant.
The grant is awarded to a student at least once per academic year, and is continued if the necessary Pell grant requirements are met.
