Determining Pell Grant eligibility is the starting point for determing whether you qualify for financial aid.
In 1965, as part of the Higher Education Act, the federal government established the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant (BEOG) to help low- and middle-income students afford their college tuition. Designed to serve as the starting point for obtaining other financial aid assistance, the BEOG helped even out the playing field for those in need of financial aid. Today, we call the BEOG a Pell Grant.
Federal Pell Grants are still the starting point for determining other financial aid help. If you don't qualify for a Pell Grant, the odds are you won't qualify for any type of grant assistance, especially those offered through government agencies.
Instructions
1. File your Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, form. After filing the all-important FAFSA form, the government will determine your EFC, or your expected family contribution. This number will help determine how much grant money you may qualify to receive. Pell Grant offerings are determined by comparing this amount to the cost of the school that you have chosen, the amount of financial help being offered by your school of choice as well as your overall need.
2. Determine your student status. While part-time students do qualify for Pell Grant help, full-time students can be awarded as much as $4,310 every year, as of 2008. In addition, Pell Grants are normally only given to undergraduate students who have not yet earned a bachelors or master's degree in any subject area. In some cases, however, Pell Grant recipients may be working toward a post baccalaureate teacher certificate program.
3. Know how much you need. Need is a big factor in determining how much your Pell Grant will ultimately be. Those attending more expensive schools with a lower family contribution may qualify for larger Pell Grants in addition to other financial aid.
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