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by Sarah Durning, CourseAdvisor

The Pell Grant is considered the foundation of the federal grant program because, in most cases, in order to be eligible for other federal grants you must already be a Pell Grant recipient. These Grants are need-based and most are awarded to students with family incomes under $20,000 annually, although students with family imcomes up to $45,000 annually are eligible. Pell Grants can be used for tuition, fees or other educational expenses. Unlike student loans, grants not have to be repaid.

What is the Pell Grant Application Process?

The Pell Grant application process begins with filing a Free Application for Financial Student Aid or FAFSA form through your school's financial aid office. Submitting a FAFSA form is the first step to obtaining any kind of federally funded student aid. Feel free to talk to staff members of your school's financial aid office to be sure that you accurately complete your Pell Grant application process and FAFSA form. Be careful to observe your school's deadline so that you don't miss out on your opportunity to receive student aid.

Pell Grant Award Amounts and Pay-out Process

The Pell Grant awards a maximum of $4,731 and a minimum of $400. There are many factors considered when determining each student's award amount. Some of these factors include whether you are a full-time or part-time student, whether you will attend school for the full academic year or less, and your overall costs to attend school. If you are an eligible student and are awarded a Pell Grant, you will receive it either by a check issued directly from your school or as a credit to your account. You must fill out a new Pell Grant application each academic year.

Pell Grant Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for a Pell Grant, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen, U.S national, or eligible non-citizen
• Be an undergraduate student working towards your first degree
• Have submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Have a valid Social Security Number
• Have a high school diploma or General Education Development (GED)
• Be enrolled in an eligible postsecondary school
• Not have a bachelor's degree or professional degree (although there are exceptions for some post-baccalaureate teacher certification programs)
• Certify that you will use the Grant only for educational purposes
• Be registered with the Selective Service if you are a male between the ages of 18 and 25

Preparation is Key to the Pell Grant Application

You can ensure that your Pell Grant application process goes smoothly by reading all the instructions carefully. Your school's financial aid office should be able to answer any questions not covered by the application's guidance. Also, check out the U.S. Department of Education Pell Grant page for links to more information.

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Sources:
1) Funding Education Beyond High School
2) http://www.ed.gov Sarah Durning is a CourseAdvisor Content Editor.