Federal Pell Grant

A Federal Pell Grant is an award to help eligible undergraduates pay for their education after high school.  Federal Pell Grants provide the “foundation” of financial aid packages.  In most cases the Federal Pell Grant does not have to be paid back. 

All Federal Pell Grant awards for Fall & Spring semesters are based on full-time (12 or more credit hours) enrollment.  Federal Pell Grants will be adjusted for students who are not enrolled and attending (or participating, if online) full-time as of the semester census date.  Adjustments will also be made, even after the term has ended, if it is determined that a student received Federal Pell Grant funds for a course in which he/she enrolled but never attended.

è If a student is enrolled in courses that do not count toward his/her degree and/or if a student is repeating a course in which a passing grade was previously earned (unless repeating for ADDITIONAL credit allowable), they cannot be used to determine enrollment status for aid purposes.

NOTE: Upon completion of declared major curriculum requirements for a first bachelor's degree, a student is no longer eligible to receive a Pell Grant. Example: A student working on a double major has completed all requirements for the first bachelor's degree, but does not apply for graduation until he or she has completed the requirements for both majors, is no longer eligible for a Pell Grant.

Return of Title IV - Students who receive Title IV aid and do not complete at least 60% of the semester for which they are enrolled may be required to return a portion of the Federal funds received.  Title IV aid includes, but is not limited to, Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG), Academic Competitiveness Grants (ACG), National Science & Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grants, Perkins Loans, and Stafford Loans.  In most cases, the withdrawal date for students who officially withdraw will be the actual date of withdrawal as determined by the Registrar’s Office.  Students who cease attending without officially withdrawing are considered “unofficial withdrawals.”  The midpoint of the semester (or in some cases, the last date of attendance) will be used in determining the amount of aid to be returned for unofficial withdrawals.

Withdrawing from the University, either officially or unofficially, may require that you return a substantial amount of the Title IV funds that you received.  If you should have to withdraw at any point, contact the Financial Aid Office.

Receipt of additional financial assistance such as scholarships, grants-in-aid, or vocational rehabilitation grants may change eligibility for awards that have already been processed.  Federal Stafford Loans, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG), Academic Competitiveness Grants (ACG), National Science & Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grants, and/or Federal Perkins Loans may be decreased or canceled if the student receives additional assistance.  IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE INFORMED OF ALL ASSISTANCE YOU WILL BE RECEIVING.