To determine your Pell Grant eligibility, first, you need to make sure the school you want to go to participates in the Pell Grant program. Not all colleges or universities do, so research the school before enrolling. Public colleges, universities and vocational schools usually participate in the Pell program, it’s mostly the private schools that may not. So, if you are planning on attending a private college ask the registrar’s office if the Pell grant is available.
When you have determined that your school is a participant in the Pell Grant program, then you need to fill out the free application form. This can be done online at the FAFSA website. Based on the information you provide on the application form, from your parent’s previous year tax return, the Department of Education will determine your Pell grant eligibility and the amount you need for the specific school you are attending. Basically, they take the cost of tuition minus whatever your family can contribute to determine your financial need.
Back in 1965, the Federal government passed the Higher Education Act. A section of the legislation was called the BEOG, or Basic Educational Opportunity Grant. The passing of this bill gave low and middle income students the ability to afford to go to college and receive a secondary education. Then in 1973 the BEOG became the Pell Grant, named for US senator, Claiborne Pell, who originated the initial legislation.
The Federal Pell Grant has become the standard for getting free money from the federal government to further your education. The Federal Pell Grant is considered the official jumping off point for determining your eligibility for other federal funding for receiving a college education. If you do not qualify for the Pell grant, you probably will not qualify for other government programs. Namely the FSEOG, or Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant.
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, just as the title suggests, is a supplemental grant to the Pell Grant. If you are eligibile for the Pell grant you will also be eligible for the FSEOG. The difference between the FSEOG and the Pell Grant is the fact that any school that offers the FSEOG is limited as to how many grants can be awarded. So, to increase your chances of obtaining this supplemental grant to your Pell Grant, make sure you apply as soon as the applications can be accepted, usually after January 1st with a deadline of June 30th. Awards range from $100 to $4,000 depending on your level of financial need.
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is only available to undergraduate students. Other conditions to continue to be eligible to receive this grant are, you must maintain at least six credit hours a quarter or semester and keep your grade point average up. Payments will be suspended on the FSEOG if these conditions are not upheld. So remember, file your fafsa application as early as possible so that the Department of Education can determine your FSEOG and Pell Grant eligibility.