Becoming eligible for the Pell Grant is about demonstrating the appropriate level of financial need in accordance with satisfying the list of Pell Grant specific, and general federal student aid requirements. The Pell Grant was designed to benefit students who exemplify an “exceptional” financial need, and you will therefore have to exhibit a very high level of financial need in order to become eligible for the Pell Grant.
Financial Need and EFC
Financial need is primarily measured via EFC for the Pell Grant, with the current maximum cutoff threshold set at 5,273. This means that you must have an EFC below this number in order to gain a positive Pell Grant eligibility status. EFC is calculated via the inclusion of several factors, with the most critical ones being income, household size, and the number of family members attending college.
Lower incomes, bigger households, and more family members attending college will all lower your EFC, although income will play the most significant role by far. Remember that the final Pell Grant amount that you are able to receive is also based on EFC, with lower EFC values resulting in higher award amounts. There are minimum amounts in place, so if you are treading the line you will at least receive the minimum Pell Grant amount that is set for that particular award year.
Pell Grant Specific Requirements
Besides financial need there are still other requirements that must be fulfilled in order to become eligible for the Pell Grant. These can be divided into two groups—the items that are specific to the Pell Grant, and the ones that are in place to qualify for federal student aid. The Pell Grant specific requirements include the following:
- Cannot be serving time at a state or federal penal institution
- Must be an undergraduate student
The main exception to being an undergraduate student is if you are enrolled in qualified professional degree program that may lead to licensure, or teacher certification. Examples include various dentistry, and pharmacy programs.
General Federal Student Aid Requirements
The Pell Grant is a form of federal student aid, and you must therefore be able to qualify for federal aid to become eligible for the Pell Grant. The following requirements must be satisfied to become eligible for federal student aid and the Pell Grant:
- United States citizenship (or eligible non-citizen)
- Valid social security number
- High school diploma, GED, or prove via other means an “ability to benefit”
- College must participate in federal student aid program
- Curriculum must lead to a degree, must make satisfactory academic progress
- Males between 18 and 25 must be enrolled with the Selective Service
- Drug conviction while receiving federal student aid may negate eligibility
- Cannot be in default on federal student loans, or owe money on federal education grants
Upon satisfying this list of requirements you should be eligible for most forms of federal student aid, including the Pell Grant. If you have a drug conviction while receiving federal student aid you will have to complete a separate worksheet that will determine whether or not you will become eligible.
