Federal Pell Grant
The Federal Pell Grant is available to eligible undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s or professional degree. The amount of the Pell Grant can change yearly and is determined by Congress. Students cannot receive the Federal Pell Grant at more than one school at a time. Additionally, the amount of Federal Pell Grant funds that a student can receive over their lifetime is limited by federal law to the equivalent of six full years.
Eligibility
A student’s eligibility is based on the following.
- Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
- Financial Need
- Cost of Attendance
- Students status as a full-time, part-time or less than half-time status, and
- Students plans to attend either the full academic year or less
- Meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Amount (dependent on student’s EFC)
Aid Year 2021-2022: $672-$6,495
Aid Year 2022-2023: $974-$6,895
Year-Round Pell
Beginning July 2017, the Department of Education authorized Year-Round Pell, wherein Pell Grant-eligible students can receive up to 150% of their scheduled Pell award each year. NAU began awarding this additional Pell in spring 2018 to eligible students.
This will affect most students in the summer term. Students will be awarded their scheduled annual award first, and, if enrolled at least half-time in summer, may be offered an additional award. Each student’s situation is unique, but examples of student awards are as follows:
Student A:
| Fall 2021 | Spring 2022 | Summer 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Enrolled full time | Enrolled full time | Enrolled full time |
| 50% scheduled Pell award | 50% scheduled Pell award | 50% scheduled Pell award |
Student B:
| Fall 2021 | Spring 2022 | Summer 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Enrolled full time | Enrolled full time | Enrolled half time |
| 50% scheduled Pell award | 50% scheduled Pell award | 25% scheduled Pell award |
Student C:
| Fall 2021 | Spring 2022 | Summer 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Enrolled full time | Enrolled half time | Enrolled half time |
| 50% scheduled Pell award | 25% scheduled Pell award | 25% scheduled Pell award |
Student D:
| Summer 2022 | Fall 2022 | Spring 2023 | Summer 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrolled half time at community college in home state | Enrolled full time at NAU | Enrolled full time at NAU | Enrolled half time at NAU (nau.edu/summer) |
| 25% scheduled Pell award | 50% scheduled Pell award | 25% scheduled Pell award + 25% additional Pell award | 25% additional Pell award |
It is important to understand that all Pell awards (scheduled and additional) count toward a student’s Lifetime Eligibility Usage (LEU) of 600%.
Additional information can be found at studentaid.gov.
