Federal Pell Grants are awarded to students who need money to pay for their education after high school. A Pell Grant is not a loan, so it does not have to be paid back as long as all requirements are being met. The award of a Pell Grant is calculated using the Department of Education’s Federal Methodology Calculation. The award is dependent upon the student’s and/or family of the student’s financial circumstances, the student’s cost of attendance, and whether the student is attending full-time or part-time.

To be considered for a Pell Grant, a student must be an undergraduate student who does not already have a bachelor’s degree.  The application is submitted directly to the Department of Education by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Pell Grants are not automatically renewed from one academic year to the next. Therefore, all Pell Grant recipients must reapply each year after completion of the Federal Income Tax Returns. In accordance with federal regulations, a student will only be eligible to receive 12 full-time semesters of Pell Grant funding during the student’s lifetime. For more information about Pell Grants, contact the Financial Aid Office

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) program is for undergraduates with exceptional financial need. Pell Grant recipients with the lowest expected family contributions (EFC’s) will be considered first for a FSEOG. Just like Pell Grants, the FSEOG does not have to be repaid as long as all requirements are being met. To receive a FSEOG, a student must be an undergraduate student who does not already have a bachelor’s degree. Also, the student must be enrolled in at least six credit hours each semester. Financial need is determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Students need only to complete the FAFSA to receive consideration. Since funds are limited, not all eligible students will receive this grant. For additional information about the SEOG grant, contact the Financial Aid Office.

The Alabama Student Assistance Program (ASAP) is a state aid program that provides financial assistance to Alabama residents for post-secondary education at participating colleges within the State of Alabama. Students apply by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To be eligible, students must have demonstrated financial need. The student must be enrolled in at least six credit hours each semester to receive consideration for this grant. Since funds are limited, not all eligible students will receive this grant. For more information concerning the ASAP program, please contact the Financial Aid Office.