What You Need to Apply for a Pell Grant
When you apply for a Pell Grant, you are applying to the largest and oldest financial aid institution in the country. Pell Grants are largely based upon financial need. You do not need to maintain a certain grade point average to qualify for a Pell Grant. However, you may risk losing your funding if you do not meet the academic requirements set forth by your university. The average monetary Pell Grant for the 2008-2009 school year was $4,731. This is a substantial amount of money, and it is worth your time to maintain your grades in order to keep it. There are only select schools that participate in the Pell Grant program. You will need to check if your chosen university is one of them. .
In order to apply for a Pell Grant, you must meet certain criteria. First and foremost, your eligibility will be determined by the answers you provided when you filled out your FAFSA. The United States Department of Education looks at certain factors, such as your expected family contribution, to determine how great your need for financial aid is. The funding for Pell Grants is limited, and there are thousand upon thousand who apply for this grant each year. Therefore, it is wise for you to submit your application as early as possible. If you are chosen to receive the grant, the funding will be sent to your chosen university.
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Each college or university is limited in the Pell Grant funding that they receive from the government. Therefore, the restrictions on those who can apply for a Pell Grant are somewhat strict. In order to qualify, you must be a student who is pursuing their first undergraduate degree. You must also be a United States citizen or have residency status in the country. You must also have a GED or a high school diploma. There may be additional criteria you need to meet, and the responsibility of investigating these additional criteria is up to you.
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There are also certain criteria that will prevent a student from being able to apply for a Pell Grant. This includes a student who is currently incarcerated. It also includes students who owe refunds on previous grants or students who have defaulted on their school loans. Males who have registered for the Service Draft will also be disqualified unless it is for a valid medical or personal reason.