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What is a Pell Grant and Do I Qualify for One?
Pell grants were established to help people in financial need pay for college. If you are an undergraduate student or a vocational student enrolled or accepted for enrollment in participating school, you may qualify for a Pell Grant.
Recipients of a Pell Grant do not have to repay the funds and they are able to use their funds at a participating university. The grants are distributed based on the recipient's need as well as the amount they are able to contribute to their education. There is a worksheet for each applicant to fill out which asks the following information:
Your financial need,
Your costs to attend school,
Your status as a full-time or part-time student,
Your plans to attend school for a full academic year or less.
Pell grants have a maximum contribution amount each year. For the past several years it has been around $4000. To see if you qualify, you will need to apply for the grant through your school. Your school, upon receiving your application, will tell you how much you qualify for and when and how you will receive your funds. You generally have three choices to receive the funds:
Have the check sent to your school
Have the check sent to you directly
Or a combination of the two
To find out if you qualify for a Pell Grant you must visit your school student aid department, find out if your school is a participating institution, and fill out an application and worksheet. If you qualify, take advantage of the opportunity. Education is expensive and the opportunity to receive a grant to help cover the costs can be a valuable resource.
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