Pell Grant And Its Eligibility Criteria

Pell Grant is a federal program in America that is intended to help the needy students with low yearly income. There are some 5500 universities who come under this grant.

It came into existence through Higher Education Act (1965). Named after S. Claiborne Pell, one of the supporters of this grant; it has benefitted millions of students so far.

Below mentioned are a few Pell Grant requirements. Though the financial criterion is at the top there are certain important conditions which keep you eligible for the grant. Discontinuation of may lead to the loss of the grant.

* As mentioned above finance is the main criterion behind this grant. It is mainly calculated on the basis of EFC, which is Expected Family contribution. Technically a student having less than $52,500 family income per year can avail this benefit but mostly it is given to the students having this figure below $20,000. However the Expected Family Contribution is more important. Once a student files the FAFSA which is the “Free Application for Federal Student Aid”, its acceptance is a subject matter to EFC which is determined by the concerned bodies on the basis of assets and debts.

* The college where one intends to get admission should come under the Pell Grant. There are a number of universities and colleges that won’t accept the application for the same.

* This is valid for graduate courses but can be given against vocational or some professional undergraduate courses as well.

* One of the important Pell Grant Eligibility criteria is that the applicant should be a US citizen only and has to stay in America till the completion of education and the money is to be wholly used for education.

* One who is a defaulter of such a lone prior can’t re-apply for the same. Also the applicant should never have been involved in drug related activity.

Besides the above there are a lot of things that one needs to follow to keep the grant intact like the person has to be a regular student. This criterion of regularity is determined by the college.

The student has to consistently show the academic improvement. Any future involvement in anti social activities disqualifies the student for the Pell Grant.