• demonstrate financial need (except for certain loans)
• have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate, pass a test approved by the U.S. Department of Education, meet other standards your state establishes that the Department approves, or complete a high school education in a home school setting that is treated as such under state law
• pursuing a degree or certificate in an eligible program
• be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
• have a valid Social Security Number (unless you're from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau)
• register with Selective Service if required (You can use the paper or electronic FAFSA to register, you can register at www.sss.gov, or you can call 1-847-688-6888 (TTY users can call 1-847-688-2567).)
• maintain satisfactory academic progress once in school
• certify you are not in default on a federal student loan and do not owe money on a federal student grant
• certify you will use federal student aid only for educational purposes
• cannot currently be in a correctional institution

Federal Pell Grant

This grant is available to eligible students who are working on their (first) bachelor's or associate's degree. The amount is determined by your official estimated family contribution (EFC) calculated from your FAFSA information. Congress designated the purpose and scope of the Federal Pell Grant Program to help financially needy students meet the cost of their postsecondary education (34 CFR Part 690(A)). A Federal Pell Grant is the first award applied to a student's account. Currently, for the 2018-2019 award year, the EFC range is 0 to 5486 and the award amount varies from $650 to $6095.

For the 2019-2020 award year an increase of $100 to the federal Pell Grant was approved by Congress. The EFC range is 0 to 5576 and the award amount varies from $650 to $6195.

Students may receive their Pell Grant for up to 12 full-time semesters.

Prior to the end of the 100% tuition credit period for the fall and spring terms, we award this grant assuming you will be attending full-time (12 credit hours). If you do not enroll as a full-time student, your grant will be adjusted according to the 2018-2019 Pell Grant Chart. After the published 100% tuition credit period expires, all awarded Pell Grants will be reviewed and any necessary adjustments will be made based on your enrollment, and no other Pell Grant adjustments will be made for subsequent enrollment changes for the respective term, assuming you are still enrolled and excluding the exceptions below.