How Many Credits Are Needed for a Pell Grant Disbursement?

Pell grants are federal need-based awards for low-income college students. The maximum grant award under the Pell grant program is $5,500 per year. To qualify for Pell grants, students must at least be enrolled half time at an accredited institution that grants an associate or bachelor's degree. Pell grant awards are offered to undergraduate students and can be used to cover tuition payments, room and board or other related expenses. The U.S. Department of Education administers Pell grants.

General Requirements

In addition to at least being a half time student, Pell grant applicants receive a monetary determination based on the tuition cost of a college that they wish to attend. Coursework under 12 credits is considered part time. Undergraduate students who have not earned their bachelor's degree and vocational students are eligible to apply for Pell grants. Applicants must be U.S. citizens with a high school diploma and demonstrated financial need, which must be verified by the U.S. Department of Education. Eligible noncitizens include students who are permanent residents or F1 and F2 student visa holders.

Application

To qualify for Pell grants, students must first complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid form. FAFSA applications can be submitted online. FAFSA applications are used to calculate a student's eligibility for a Pell grant. FAFSA applicants should review the deadline dates for application submissions. Pell grants cannot be processed until a FAFSA form has been completed. In addition to Pell grants, FAFSA forms can be used to apply for other forms of financial aid including student loans.

Additional Requirements

Eligible Pell grant recipients must attend a participating two- or four-year college or university and be enrolled in a program that leads toward a degree. To maintain Pell grant eligibility, students must be making satisfactory progress in all of their coursework. Students with convictions of a drug-related crime while receiving Pell grants are automatically disqualified from receiving any additional grant awards. Pell grant awards are calculated based on a student's or parent's income and assets.

Consideration

The amount of a Pell grant award depends on a student's enrollment status. Pell grant awards are "prorated" for half-time students. A half-time student who is eligible to receive $4,000 per year will receive $1,500 for taking 9 to 12 credits. In some cases, post-baccalaureate students may qualify for Pell grants, depending on their program of study. In 2011, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act made revisions to Pell grant eligibility and disbursement amounts, according to the National Association for College Admission Counseling. Since the signing of the law, more students are eligible to qualify for Pell grants. The maximum Pell grant disbursement amount is also expected to increase each year.

References

• Pennsylvania College of Technology: Frequently Asked Questions About Federal Pell Grants
• National Association for College Admission Counseling: Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act
• PellGrantRequirements.net; The Pell Grant Requirements and Qualifications; Glen Clarke
• U.S. Department of Education: Federal Pell Grant Program
• U.S. Department of Education: FAFSA Information