Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is the largest grant program offered by the U.S. Department of Education. The Federal Pell Grant is designed for undergraduate students working toward their first bachelor's degree. Students are not required to repay Federal Pell Grant funds. 

What Students Should Know about the Federal Pell Grant

  • Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid Application (FAFSA) online to receive Federal Pell Grant.
  • Eligibility for Federal Pell Grant is based upon financial need and is determined by a formula consistently applied to all applicants.
  • The Federal Pell Grant Scheduled award is the maximum amount the student may receive attending full-time. The Federal Pell Grant Annual award is adjusted for the student’s enrollment.
  • The Student Aid Index (SAI) is a number that determines students’ eligibility for certain types of Federal student aid. This number is calculated with the Department of Education’s SAI formulas, which use information that students provide on the FAFSA.
  • Enrollment Intensity, the percentage of full-time enrollment at which a student is enrolled, is rounded to the nearest whole percent.
  • Unusual Enrollment History (UEH). Your FAFSA may be selected by the Department of Education because you received Federal Pell Grant and/or Federal Direct Student Loans at multiple institutions during a specific review period. Your financial aid file will not be awarded until the required UEH review is completed.
  • Federal Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU). The amount of Federal Pell Grant funds you may receive over your lifetime is limited by federal law to be the equivalent of six years of Pell Grant funding. Since the maximum amount of Pell grant funding you can receive each year is equal to 100%, the six-year equivalent is 600%.
  • Once the Federal Pell Grant amount is determined, the student is notified through their PHSC student account with an award letter that indicates the award amount per semester.
  • The Financial Aid Office awards estimated Pell Grant funds which are applied to pay tuition and fees.
  • Pell Grant fund amounts will adjust to match student enrollment. Enrollment status and Pell Grant amounts are determined at specific points during each semester.
  • If additional funds remain after the payment of tuition, fees and book charges, student will receive a balance stipend check within 14 days of awarding, or within 14 days of the last day of drop/add, whichever occurs last. 
  • Students will receive any available stipend through their selected stipend preference with BankMobile.

Purchasing Books with Financial Aid

Students who have been awarded financial aid for the semester may be able to charge the cost of their books against a portion of their financial aid award if they meet the following guidelines:

  • Must be enrolled for courses in the semester in which the student is awarded.
  • Must have enough financial aid to pay for tuition and fees, or other financial obligations, to the college and have remaining financial aid to cover the cost of textbooks.
  • Students are only allowed to charge required educational materials to their financial aid. Items such as clothing, food, and convenience items cannot be charged to a student's financial aid.
  • Students are responsible for the payment of the books and materials they charge against their financial aid. If for any reason the student is ineligible for financial aid, any unpaid balance to the bookstore will be the student's financial obligation and could result in an over-payment status.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a federally funded need-based grant program.

Eligibility Requirements for Pell Grant and FSEOG

  • Must be seeking a degree or certificate to be eligible for Pell Grant and FSEOG.
  • Must be a Federal Pell Grant recipient.
  • Enrolled in at least six credit hours per semester required for the degree or certificate program.
  • Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements.
  • Students who have submitted an error-free FAFSA and have a completed financial aid file by the priority deadline date of April 11 receive priority consideration. FSEOG is awarded on a first-apply, first-award basis.
  • Due to limited availability of FSEOG funds, not all students who meet eligibility and renewal requirements will be awarded.
  • Renewal requirements for FSEOG include completing the annual FAFSA by the stated priority deadline and meeting SAP requirements.
  • To remain eligible, students must not drop, withdrawal, or stop attending their courses, as these actions may require the student to repay all or a portion of the grant.