Pell Grant Requirements

Discover the Pell Grant Requirements and uncover the steps to locate the Pell Grant application.

Pell Grants are federal grants designed to assist undergraduate students from low and middle-income backgrounds.

The specific amount awarded to individuals may differ.

As of the 2022-2023 academic year, the maximum Pell Grant amount is $6,895.

Pell Grant Requirements- Credit FreePik
Pell Grant Requirements- Credit FreePik

Pell Grant Eligibility 2023 – 2024

The basic Pell Grant requirements are:

  1. Possession of a high school diploma or a General Educational Development (GED) certificate.
  2. Being a U.S. citizen or meeting specific criteria as a non-citizen.
  3. Enrollment in an accredited undergraduate program at a college or university.
  4. Absence of certain types of criminal convictions.
  5. Demonstrating low to moderate income, typically amounting to less than $40,000 per year.

It’s important to note that there isn’t a specific income threshold that automatically qualifies someone for a Federal Pell Grant.

Eligibility depends on various factors, such as the amount of income tax paid, the state of residence, parental employment status, the value of bank accounts and investments, parents’ age, the number of people in the household, and the number of family members attending college.

Pell Grant Application 2023 – 2024

To apply for the Pell Grant and other federal student financial aid, you need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

This application can be submitted online or through a paper-based form.

It is recommended to apply as early as possible in the year since grant funds are often limited.

In addition to the Pell Grant, your eligibility for state grants, scholarships, and certain private scholarships like the Bill Gates Scholarships may also be determined based on your Pell Grant eligibility.

A recent change in the Federal Pell Grants program involves the requirement for applicants to report their income using tax data from the IRS.

This can be done conveniently by utilizing the IRS data retrieval tool during the online FAFSA application process.

The information you provide on the FAFSA will determine your Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

A lower EFC indicates a higher likelihood of meeting the requirements for the Pell Grant. Typically, an EFC of 5500 or less suggests favorable eligibility for the Pell Grant.

Need Based Scholarships and Grants

If you meet the Pell Grant eligibility criteria, you might also be eligible for other need based scholarships and grants, such as:

Bill Gates Scholarships for Minorities

Lumberjack Scholarship