Sunday 6 May 2012

How To Meet The Pell Grant Eligibility Criteria

By Fred Ornamental


Attaining the minimum standards set for Pell Grant eligibility criteria is at the top of the priority list of many college students. The explanation behind this preoccupation is understandable because it is the premier nationwide grant program that provides benchmarking metrics for other educational assistance programs. It has considerable pedigree having been existence since the passing of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

Federal Pell Grant eligibility is considered the basic determining point for a wide range of nationwide financial aid programs. If you are not eligible for it chances are that you will find it close to impossible to get any form of aid even from non governmental agencies. This is basically the reason why many needy students cannot afford to miss out on the opportunity if they can help it

The basic consideration for eligibility is that someone needs to be enrolled or otherwise qualified for enrollment for a degree or certificate program in a college that meets requirements set for what is referred to as Title IV funding. An institution falling under this category needs to have recognition from the Department of Education for receiving student financial aid at the federal level.

Applicants are required to set down the details of their applications after completing a standardized online form known as the Free Application for Student Aid or FAFSA in short. The form can be accessed on the Department of Education's website for free. Before going about the task it is important to have all the details about the previous year's annual tax returns handy.

Those who hope to qualify must ensure they have a steady academic progress record throughout their school years. Various institutions have a different criteria for determining what this amounts to and it will serve your cause to know this in advance. In general however, a "C" grade is considered the basic minimum across the board.

An important factor to consider has to relate to the behavior and personal conduct of the applicant. The board that determines whom to award aid to frowns on all forms of drug convictions for instance. In fact any evidence of violent crime in the past will be of consequence. Any record of the sort will see you automatically disqualified no matter how deserving your case would be otherwise.

Being in possession of a valid Social Security Number is an important factor in judging credibility of any application. This in effect means one has to be a United States citizen or be a legal permanent resident in the country. There is also enough leeway for deserving non residents to qualify for the grant.

A great number of learners aspire to have a college education at some point in their lives. Because tuition costs levied by the greater proportion of higher education institutions can be prohibitively high, many people have no option but to apply for some form of funding from the government. This is the basis upon which the need to attain to the standards set for Pell Grant eligibility is such an important consideration.




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