A Pell Federal Grant is awarded to people based on financial need.
When you fill out an application form, the information that you include is used to determine your expected family contribution.
There is a formula used by the Federal government to evaluate whether or not you will be able to fund your education on your own or if you are eligible for a Pell Grant.
You will be given an EFC number that is based on the information that you provided.
You can then go to your college and take a look at the Pell Grant chart.
Given your EFC number and the course load that you have, you will then be able to ascertain how much you are eligible to receive.
Pell Federal Grant money is awarded to undergraduate students as well as students who are enrolled in certain teaching certification courses.
There is a minimum academic requirement that you need to achieve and maintain but it is not onerous.
It is the goal of the Department of Education that students who qualify are given an opportunity for higher education.
Many people wonder whether or not a Pell Federal Grant needs to be repaid.
The simple answer is to say that it does not.
You may have to repay part of your Pell Federal Grant if you do not complete the courses for which it was given to you.
Because the Pell Federal Grant money has a maximum of just over $4000 per year, it will not be the only source of funds that you use to pay for college.
It will however make things much easier for you and reduce the debt burden that you have when you finish school.