Student Aid Reference Desk | Pell Grant

Pell Grant

As its original name, the Basic Educational Opportunity Program (BEOG), implies, the Pell Grant Program serves as the foundation of a needy student's financial aid package. Pell Grant is unaffected by other aid, and is "portable" in that once a student is determined to be eligible, the grant is available at any Title IV-participating school. BEOG was renamed in honor of Sen. Claiborne Pell, who was instrumental in establishing this program.

Statutory Authority

U.S. Code, Title 20—Education Chapter 28—Higher Education Resources and Student Assistance Subchapter IV—Student Assistance > Part A—Grants to Students in Attendance at Institutions of Higher Education § 1070a [HEA §401]

Regulation

ED References

See also Subtopics for more specific references.

2019-20 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3

Publications, Articles & Other Resources

College Affordability

Federal Pell Grant Eligibility and Receipt: Explaining Nonreceipt and Changes to EFC Using National and Institutional Data

Higher Ed Affordability Continues to Decline for Pell Recipients – Federal, State Lawmakers Must Act

Subtopics

Administrative cost allowance

Annual award

See also Payment schedule and disbursement schedules

Calculation of a Federal Pell Grant for a payment period

See also Recalculation of a Federal Pell Grant award

50% limitation

Clock hour or nonterm credit hour programs

2019-20 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 3

Correspondence programs

2019-20 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 3

Fractions and rounding

2019-20 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 3

Non-standard term credit hour programs

2019-20 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 3

Programs for which ED has waived the 30-week minimum academic year requirement

Standard term credit-hour programs with at least 30 weeks of instruction in its academic calendar

Electronic Announcement, 11/5/19

Revised Policy for Standard Term Length

2019-20 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 3

Standard term credit-hour programs with less than 30 weeks of instruction in its academic calendar

2019-20 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 3

Transfer student

Cross-over payment period

2019-20 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 3

Declining or returning Pell Grant (student request)

2019-20 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 3

Disbursement schedule

See Payment schedule and disbursement schedules

Duration of student eligibility

General rules

Restriction to first baccalaureate

General rule

Institution’s responsibility to determine program completion

Exception for postbaccalaureate in teacher certification

Lifetime limit and lifetime eligibility used (LEU)

General information

2019-20 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 3

Calculation

Disputation

Electronic Announcement, 4/18/14

Tracking and remaining eligibility

Electronic Announcement, 5/6/14

2019-20 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 3

Frequency of payment

Timing and frequency

Retroactive payments for periods already completed

Funding: receipt and maintenance of funds

Incarcerated Students

See top list entry for Student eligibility

2020-21 FSA Handbook, Vol. 1, Ch. 6

ISIR/SAR deadline for receipt by school

Minimum Pell Grant

2019-20 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 3

Overpayment recovery

See top list entry for Overawards and Overpayments

Payment schedule and disbursement schedule

See also top list entry for Cash management and Disbursement

Pell Grant payments from more than one institution for simultaneous attendance

Recalculation of a Federal Pell Grant award

General summary information

2019-20 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 3

Change in cost of attendance

Change in enrollment status

Change in expected family contribution (EFC)

Reconciliation

Electronic Announcement, 11/19/19

Electronic Announcement, 2/2/18

2019-20 FSA Handbook, Vol. 4, Ch. 5

Records

See top list entry for Recordkeeping

Reports

Scheduled Federal Pell Grant (Scheduled award)

690.2(c) - Scheduled Federal Pell Grant Definition

Transfer student

2019-20 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 3

Unusual enrollment history

Electronic Announcement, 1/20/16

2020-21 FSA Handbook, Vol. 1, Ch. 3

Year-Round Pell Grant

2019-20 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 3

“NASFAA's Take on Year-Round Pell Implementation Questions,” NASFAA Today’s News, August 1,2017

“A Closer Look at Assigning Summer Cross-Over Periods with Year-Round Pell, and Other Q&As,” NASFAA Today’s News, June 21, 2017

Zero EFC (maximum Pell eligibility) for otherwise Pell-eligible children of certain soldiers and public safety officers

2019-20 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 3

Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship

20 U.S. Code Sec. 1087mm(b) [HEA §473(b)]

Electronic Announcement, 11/19/18

2019-20 FSA Handbook, Vol. 3, Ch. 3