All About Pell Grants

by Reese Zulinke · Published November 18, 2020 · Updated November 27, 2023

The Pell Grant is one of the most common types of financial aid. We’ll cut straight to the point. Here’s a list everything you need to know about it to maximize your eligibility!

Before you do anything else, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The Pell Grant is offered to students with high financial need as determined by the FAFSA, so completing the FAFSA online is the first step in determining your eligibility.

The Pell Grant prorates. The amount per semester you might receive under a Pell Grant falls within a range depending on your enrollment status and FAFSA results. Your financial aid offer in Titan Web will reflect the full-time amount before you register for classes. Within a few days after you register and are charged tuition and fees, your grant prorates based on enrollment. This means your Pell Grant will be lower if you enroll less than full-time. Remember, full-time equals 12 or more credit hours, three-quarter-time equals 9 to 11 credit hours, half-time equals 6 to 8 credit hours, and less-than-half-time equals 1 to 5 credit hours.

Register for classes you need. Only classes required for graduation in your current major at EFSC are used to determine your Pell Grant proration. Not sure what classes you need? Check your myGPS degree audit, or reach out to your advisor.

Timing is important! You’ll want to time your class registration to maximize your Pell Grant eligibility. This is because if you add additional classes later, we can’t increase your Pell Grant funds after the fact. Let’s walk through an example: If you register for any class before the add/drop deadline for a term, then you should register for all of your classes by that deadline. If you were to register for three classes in December, for example, then add another class in February (after the add/drop deadline has passed), we won’t be able to increase your Pell Grant to include that February class. Likewise, if you don’t register for classes until after the add/drop deadline, then you should register for all of your classes on that same day in order for them to be Pell Grant-eligible.

You might have multiple disbursement dates. The Pell Grant disburses based on when your classes start. Let’s take spring as an example. Say you enroll for one class starting in January and another starting in March. Your Pell Grant will have two separate disbursements. Check out the Disbursement Schedule for more details.

You can have Pell for Summer Term! Check out the Summer Financial Aid page for all the info.

Pell has a lifetime limit. You are limited to the equivalent of 12 full-time semesters of Pell Grant. This limit applies at all schools you attend, so your Pell eligibility won’t reset if you transfer schools or change majors. Plan your classes carefully so you can graduate within the equivalent of 12 full-time semesters.

You need to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). That means having a 2.0 cumulative GPA, passing at least 67% of your classes, and staying within time limits to remain eligible. Check out the SAP page for more details.

Whew! That’s a lot, but at the end of the day, we want to help you maximize your Pell Grant! If you have questions about the Pell Grant or any other financial aid topics, you can call the Office of Financial Aid at 321-433-7339 (Monday through Thursday between 8 AM and 7 PM), email us from your Titan student email account at finaid@easternflorida.edu, or check the EFSC website for our in-person schedule.

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Reese Zulinke

Reese previously worked in EFSC's Financial Aid Office, in the business of helping students understand the what, when, where and why of paying for college. Some people might say that financial aid is a scary topic, but the more you know about it, the less scary it is! If you're searching for more financial aid information, have a look around the Splash of the Titans blog, where you'll find helpful material and tips.