Federal Pell Grant

The Pell Grant is an entitlement program. It is awarded to help undergraduates pay for their college education. Unlike loans, grants do not have to be paid back. Students who have earned a bachelor's degree are ineligible for a Pell Grant. To qualify for a Pell Grant the student must have financial need and be enrolled in a degree-seeking program on a full or part-time basis. 

Pell Lifetime Eligibility Limit

The amount of Federal Pell Grant funds a student may receive over a student's lifetime is limited by a new federal law to be the equivalent of six years of Pell Grant funding. Because the maximum amount of Pell Grant funding a student receives each year is equal to 100 percent, the new regulations state that a student may receive up to 12 semesters or the six year equivalent of 600 percent.

Whether a student has used all of his or her Pell Grant eligibility or only a portion, the student needs to be conscious about the lifetime limit of the Pell Grant when changing majors and/or scheduling classes; the Pell Grant equivalent of 600 percent will be for the student's entire award history.

To view Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU), students can log in using their FSA ID to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) to view LEU. (The LEU will be found on the Financial Aid review page.) The information will include all Pell Grants received over a lifetime from any college, not just Delgado Community College. If 600 percent of lifetime eligibility is not used, some Pell Grant eligibility may be remaining, if eligible.

For additional information on the Pell Grant program, please visit the Office of Federal Student Aid.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

FSEOG money is limited and available only for those who have exceptional financial need. Students with exceptional financial need are those who are eligible for a Pell Grant, have the lowest expected family contribution, are enrolled at least half-time, and still have unmet financial need.

Summer Pell Grant

Need to use Pell funds in the summer? Find out more about year-round Pell.

Video Resources for Grant Programs