Pell Grant for Homeschoolers

The Federal Pell Grant program provides money to students who want to attend college but may not be able to afford admission. Pell grants help U.S. students who qualify regardless of whether or not they received a diploma from a public high school or a homeschool program.

Function

Federal Pell Grants are intended for low-income undergraduate college students. Any undergraduate student who has been accepted to a participating community college, junior college or university may apply for a Pell Grant. Whether the student attended public school, private school or homeschool does not matter. However, the student must by a U.S. citizen with a valid social security number.

Features

The U.S. Department of Education determines Federal Pell Grant amounts by considering how much the student's family can contribute and how much college attendance will cost per semester. According to the U.S. Department of Education's website, in 2009 the Pell Grant program awarded more $25 billion to more than seven million students. The average Pell Grant amount per year ranges from about $400 to $5,000.

Application

To apply for a Federal Pell Grant, students and their parents can fill out forms at FAFSA.gov to determine their eligibility. If you do not meet the requirements for a grant, student loans may be obtained to pay for college.

Time Frame

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) forms can be filled out beginning January 1st for the upcoming fall semester. The FAFSA website recommends filing early before funds are depleted. Individual colleges may have financial aid deadlines of their own as well that will need to be considered. New FAFSA forms must be filled out every year.

Misconceptions

In the past, some colleges have required that homeschooled students take the GED test or other ability test prior to applying for financial aid. However, according to the Home School Legal Defense Organization, this is no longer necessary because of a new law passed by Congress in 1998 allowing students who have completed a homeschool program to be eligible for all federal financial aid, even if they are younger than eighteen.

References

• Ed.gov: Pell Grants
• FAFSA.gov: Facts
• HSLDA: Homeschooling and Financial Aid