What Is The Federal Pell Grant, Who Is It For, And How To Apply?
Posted by Bob Pwetersmith in Uncategorized, tags: education, financial support, general, misc, Miscellaneous, news, pell grant, scholarship, UncategorizedThe Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to promote access to postsecondary education. It has been around since the 1970s and the program was named after its sponsor, then Rhode Island Senator Claireborne Pell. The Federal Pell Grants are awarded typically to students who have not completed a bachelor’s degree yet. There are also instances when the said grant is rewarded to certain post baccalaureate students. To qualify for this federal financial assistance package for students, you have to hold American citizenship and a valid social security number, have a high school diploma or GED certificate, and not have any convictions related to the sale, use, or possession of drugs.
The largest amount you can receive for this award year is about five thousand dollars. The amount you will get is dependent on your family’s estimated contribution, tuition and fees as determined by your school, your enrolment status, and the amount of time the student plans to attend college. Unlike loans, the Federal Pell Grant does not need to be repaid. It serves as a foundation for financial aid, to which other forms of student aid, whether from federal or non-federal providers, can be added.
In order to qualify for a Pell Grant, the first step is the submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA form. The responses that you supplied in the said form will be entered into a formula which determines you Estimated Family Contribution or EFC number. Majority of those whose applications were approved come from families where household incomes fall below $20,000 a year.
You have the option to complete and submit the form on the FAFSA website itself, or you can send in your application through regular mail. For electronic submissions, you can expect your Student Aid Report in as little as 3 days, while those who opted to send via mail will have to wait for 10 days at least. The application is for free, but if you want a more hassle-free and expedited process you can pay a small amount to have the Student Financial Aid Services, Inc help you out.
You have to remember though that the student aid provided by the government is not inexhaustible and the awarding of grants is usually done on a first-come, first-served approach, so it pays to submit your application the earliest time possible. Also be mindful of any deadline instruction, because if you missed them, you will also lose the privilege for receiving a scholarship for the said program for that year.
The federal pell grant will provide you money, which you don’t have to repay, so you can go to college and get that much needed degree. Click here to learn some tips on how to apply for the pell grant.
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