A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid. Pell Grants are awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or professional degree. For many students, Pell Grants provide a foundation of financial aid to which other aid may be added.
To determine if you are eligible, the U.S. Department of Education uses a standard formula, established by Congress, to evaluate the information you report when you apply using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. The formula produces a Student Aid Index (SAI) number. Your FAFSA Submission Summary, available on line at FAFSA, contains this number and will tell you if you are eligible.
Awards depend on Federal program funding. The maximum award based on full-time enrollment for the 2024-2025 academic year is $7,395 and the minimum is $740. Pell grant awards are determined by information on the FAFSA and the resulting "student aid index" (SAI). A student may receive a Pell Grant for the equivalent of six years, or 600%.
Other eligibility criteria is as follows:
- Must make satisfactory academic progress.
- Be either a U.S. citizen or meet a citizenship requirement.
- Have no debt from a defaulted education loan.
- Not owe a refund on a Federal Pell Grant or Federal SEOG.
- Demonstrate compliance with any applicable Selective Service requirements.
Fredonia credits the funds to the student's account, writes the student a refund check, or combines these methods. Fredonia is required to notify students in writing how much they will be receiving.
Financial Aid Census Date
Pell Grant financial aid awards will be processed based on enrollment census date. The Pell census date will be the next consecutive day after the last day to add classes for the semester. If students add credit hour enrollment after this date, their financial aid eligibility will remain the same and should be prepared to pay for additional charges out of pocket.
We will not recalculate awards after the last day to add courses in each semester (unless mandatory). Award amounts will be based upon the students enrollment status on the day after the last day to add classes of each semester.
At that time, if the number of credits the student is enrolled in is different from the enrollment that their original award was based upon, their Federal PELL Grant will be adjusted. No further adjustments to the Federal PELL Grant will be made after that point.
Federal PELL Grants initially awarded after the last day to add courses will be based upon the enrollment at the time the award is determined. No further adjustments to your Federal PELL Grant will be made after that point. If a student adds a class after the Pell Recalculation date, the Pell grant amount will not increase.
What is Year-Round Pell?
Year-Round Pell allows an eligible student to receive up to 150% of the student's Federal Pell Grant Scheduled Award.