Applying for a Pell Grant for college or technical school

Higher education can truly transform your life, given you get the

opportunity to pursue an academic path that aligns with your career

goal. Though the primary catalyst for higher education is a passion

for studying, paying for a college education requires sound financial

support student has the finances to get an education on their own,

which is why the US federal government initiated the program of Pell

Grant that works to offer financial aid to deserving students. The Pell

Grant covers the educational expenses of those students who don’t

have a sound financial background. Pell Grant offers financial assistance

to financially deserving students to secure admission to higher education,

college, and technical school. This grant differs from student loans as

students do not need to repay the amount they receive from this grant.

The eligible students under the Pell Grant receive a pre-determined

amount every year for their academic expenses. In the year 2022-23,

around 6 million students received funding amounting to $27.2 billion.

If you are interested in knowing more about the Pell Grant, the application

process, eligibility criteria, and other relevant information then this

article is meant for you.

Eligibility Criteria

The Pell Grant is meant to cover the educational expenses of low-income

undergraduate students. Are you wondering if you are eligible for the

grant or not? Paying for a college education is possible if you meet this

eligibility criteria:

Financial need: Students who do not have enough financial resources to

provide for their education are compensated through this grant. To

determine the financial status, expected family contribution (EFC) is

applied which is also sometimes referred to as the student aid index

(SAI). By evaluating the financial status through SOI your eligibility status

is determined.

First college or technical degree: This grant is meant for students who do

not currently have any graduate, bachelor’s, technical, or professional degree.

Citizenship status: The Pell Grant covers expenses for US citizens or

applicants who have secured an eligible noncitizen status (permanent residence).

Secured admission: The applicant must be enrolled or have an acceptance

letter of enrollment in an eligible degree or technical certification program.

The institute or school must also be a participant in the Pell Grant Program.

SAP: Students who secure the Pell Grant have to maintain satisfactory

academic progress (SAP) which is determined by the obtained GPA to keep

getting financial assistance on a regular basis. SAP entails that students

must complete a specified percentage of coursework and maintain a

pre-specified GPA.

Non-default status: The student mustn’t be a defaulter of any previous loan

taken from the federal government.

Pell Grant also funds students who are incarcerated and imprisoned if they

enroll in the eligible prison education program. This grant is also offered to

students who are enrolled in online educational degrees as long as the

program is approved by the federal government.

Pell Grant financial coverage

The amount of Pell Grant financial coverage for each student changes

every year.

For the year 2024-2025 (July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025), the maximum

amount a student can receive is $7,395. This is the maximum financial

coverage any student can receive. The financial award each student is

entitled to depends upon multiple factors including:

Financial need which is calculated by subtracting SAI from COA. The student

aid index (SAI) is calculated on the basis of your current financial earnings.

It is determined by applicants and their family’s assets and income.

Cost of attendance (COI) which is determined by your college or institute

for the degree you are enrolled in. COI covers the fees, tuition, books, and

other educational expenses that are expected from students. College with

higher COI results in larger financial aid.

Student’s status as a part-time or full-time student. Full-time students

secure more funds than part-time students.

Enrollment duration (full academic year or less than a full year).

You are entitled to receive Pell Grant funds for only one college/institute

at a time.

The Pell Grant Application:

If you are planning on paying for a college education through the  Pell

Grant funding then you need to fill out the application form.  For Pell

Grant funds, you need to fill out the FAFSA (free application for Federal

Student Aid) form. It entails several steps to complete the form

accurately. Here are the steps that you need to fill out the form and

apply for the Pell Grant. Required Documents: You will have to provide

specific and accurate financial information in your form. For that, you will

need certain documents that include:  A Federal income tax return. You may

also rely on IRS data. 

Social Security number SSN

Investment records (if any)

Bank statements depicting your family’s financial status.

Federal student aid ID also known as FSA ID to sign your application

electronically.

FSA ID: You can create your FSA ID to generate an electronic signature

for your FAFSA form. To create this ID you need to visit fsaid.ed.gov

and follow simple steps.

FAFSA form: Fill out the FAFSA form by entering the required information.

To do so you need to:

Visit the FAFSA.gov website and start a new application.

Enter personal, household, and financial information. You need to

mention the financial earnings of your family if you are dependent.

You will also have to answer family-related questions for example if any

of your siblings is enrolled in the college you are pursuing for your

studies or any other federal loan or grant you are currently using.

Mention your priority schools/colleges/institutions you are interested

in. Each enlisted educational institution will get a copy of your FAFSA

to see if you are eligible for financial aid under the Pell Grant Program.

Review and check all the details you have entered. Make sure that all

details are accurate and backed by necessary documentation. Once

you are satisfied with the details submit your application.

Timely complete your FAFSA application. This application opens for

students on October 1 every year. Make sure to apply as soon as possible

as it increases your chance of securing the aid.

Review your SAR: When you submit your FAFSA, it will generate your

SAR or student aid report based on the information you entered.

Review the SAR thoroughly to ensure that all entered information is

correct. If any information needs to be changed then this is your time

to make the online correction.

Keep an eye on the school’s feedback: Every school or college to which

you have sent your FAFSA will respond to you with feedback after

scrutinizing your application. This feedback includes important

information regarding your approval for the Pell Grant, the amount of

the financial aid package, and its duration.

Start your educational journey: If you get approval for the Pell Grant

then start your educational journey with the financial aid you receive.

You will be notified of the amount of funds you are eligible for the year.

You can use these funds to pay your fees, tuition, and other relevant

expenses.

Reapply next year: You will have to apply for the Pell Grant every year

until the end of your degree. You can get financial aid for a maximum

of 6 years or 12 semesters. You can also apply to get up to 150% of

eligible funds if you want to take summer courses and complete your

degree earlier than the degree duration.

How does Pell Grant work?
You can fill out an online application form for FAFSA (free application for

Federal Student Aid). FAFSA is shared with your target institutions where

the financial aid officers will review your application and based on your

SAI and COA determine your eligibility and the amount of funds to be

received if you are deemed eligible.

If the Pell Grant funds are insufficient for the students to complete their

degree, then the academic institution may offer them a combination of

financial assistance solutions. For example, they can offer students to apply

for other subsidized and unsubsidized student federal loans in addition to

the Pell Grant funds. They can also offer them to opt for work-study jobs

whereby they can earn themselves along with education to pay for their

academic expenses. These offers are shared with students when they are

given their letter of acceptance to make sure that the students are aware of

the amount of the Pell Grant funds and the financial aid they will need

(if any) in addition to these funds to cover their educational expenses.

How do students get their Pell Grant funds?
Usually, the Pell Grant funds are credited into your account by the college.

In some cases, they pay you in cash also or can employ both methods

simultaneously. It is the duty of your college (school or technical school) to

give you a written

document containing all details about the amount of payment, time of

payment, and mode of payment.

Conclusion:

Paying for a college education is now possible even if you are financially

unstable to bear your academic expenses for a college or technical degree.

The Pell Grant Program is your best shot to get federal financial aid and

you are not required to pay it back ever. By filling out your family and

personal income along with the required information in FAFSA, you can

apply for this program. FAFSA shares your information with your preferred

educational institutions (school/college/technical institute) that thoroughly

verify your information and deem your eligibility status based on SOI and

COA. They also prescribe the amount of funds you are entitled to receive

under this program. The Pell Grant is a great initiative that allows deserving

students to pursue their academic goals regardless of their poor financial

condition.