Academic Considerations

• Students must provide proof of their ability to benefit from higher education in order to obtain a Pell Grant. A high school diploma or General Education Diploma (GED) are the preferred documentation, however students who have not achieved either are not automatically disqualified. A college's financial aid department is authorized to administer "ability to benefit" tests to perspective students who lack other acceptable documentation; attaining passing grades on a sampling of post-secondary coursework will also fulfill this requirement.
  
  

Federal Guidelines

• Students must be enrolled or planning to enroll in a qualified degree program at a participating college or university and maintain a grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0. Male students between the ages of 18 and 25 are further required to provide proof of Selective Service registration. Pell Grants are available to all U.S. citizens and eligible foreign residents with a valid Social Security Card. Defaulted student loans and felony or drug convictions can hamper or eliminate a student's ability to qualify.
  
  

Unique to the Pell Grant

• Pell Grant awards are generally restricted to students enrolled in an undergraduate program and seeking their first bachelor's degree; post-graduate students and those who have earned a prior degrees are usually ineligible. However, graduate students seeking licensure in programs like pharmacy and teaching may be qualified. Students currently incarcerated in a state or federal prison are also restricted from obtaining Pell Grant awards to further their education.
  
  

Economic Qualifiers

• Pell Grants are ultimately awarded based on financial need. A student's ability to meet this qualification is based on her Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is determined in the application process, which is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students can obtain an estimate of likely entitlement by using the forecaster tool provided on the FAFSA website; the formal application is available on that site (see resources). Students will receive instant notification of their eligibility to receive a Pell Grant and in what amount upon completion of their application.