Can You Get a Pell Grant If You're Not Full Time?
Federal student aid programs for post-secondary students are administered by the U.S. Department of Education. The Pell Grant Program provides eligible college and university students grant awards, depending on their financial need. Both part-time and full-time students are eligible; however, only the neediest full-time students will receive the maximum grant award.
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Pell Grant Program
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The Pell Grant Program is one of many federal student aid programs, but it stands out because it is not a loan and, therefore, does not have to be paid back. Pell Grants go to the students with the most financial need. The federal government calculates such financial need based on the information a student submits on the required Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Pell Grant money is sent directly to the school the student is attending, which then disburses the grant money as appropriate.
Eligibilty
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To receive a Pell Grant, students must be attending a post-secondary school that is certified to administer federal student financial aid. The student usually must be working towards her first undergraduate degree. However, a student with a two-year or associates degree is still eligible for a Pell Grant when pursuing a four-year, bachelor's degree. Applicants can be either part-time or full-time students, but only full-time students can receive the maximum grant. Both financially independent students and those still dependent on their parents are eligible. Students residing in a halfway house or similar program are eligible, but not students in prison.
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Grant Amount
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The amount of the grant award varies depending on the calculated financial need of the student. The maximum award for the 2011-2012 academic year was $5,550. Financial need is calculated based on the income and assets of both the student and his parents, plus the actual costs of attending the particular school. The neediest students attending full-time programs will receive the maximum award. Only one Pell Grant can be awarded each academic year, up to a maximum of nine times.
Exceptions
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A special provision is made for applicants who had a parent killed during military service in Iraq or Afghanistan. These applicants will automatically be awarded the maximum grant amount, providing they lost their parent while already in college or at age 24 or younger. Under limited circumstances, applicants attending a post-baccalaureate program to obtain a teaching credential are eligible if they earned a bachelor's degree at a college that does not offer teacher certification. A Pell Grant does not preclude eligibility for receiving other federal student financial aid, including subsidized loans.
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