Federal Pell Grant
A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid. Federal Pell Grants usually are awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or a professional degree. (In some cases, however, a student enrolled in a post-baccalaureate teacher certification program might receive a Federal Pell Grant.) You are not eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant if you are incarcerated in a federal or state penal institution or are subject to an involuntary civil commitment upon completion of a period of incarceration for a forcible or non-forcible sexual offense. Eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant is partially determined by the number of credit hours in which the student is enrolled during the semester and the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Laredo Community College will show all student awards on the student portal (www.laredo.pasport.edu).
| Levels of Enrollment |
Equivalent Credit Hours |
| Full Time |
12 or more Credit Hours |
| Three Quarter Time |
9 - 11 Credit Hours |
| Half Time |
6 - 8 Credit Hours |
| Less than Half Time* |
5 Credit Hours or Less |
*Students enrolled less than full time may still receive a Pell Grant Award if the student's EFC allows it.
How much money can I get?
Amounts can change yearly. For the 2017–18 award year (July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2018), the maximum award is $5,960. The amount you get, though, will depend on
- your financial need,
- your cost of attendance,
- your status as a full-time or part-time student, and
- your plans to attend school for a full academic year or less.
- You may not receive Federal Pell Grant funds from more than one school at a time.
Laredo Community College Student Financial Aid & Veterans Affairs Service Center adjusts the amount of Pell Grant students receive based on number of credit hours students are enrolled in, changes through the official reporting day.
Award Amounts
Awards are based on your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as determined by the FAFSA and by a student’s level of enrollment. How much a student may receive will depend on the students' EFC, the students' cost of attendance, the students' enrollment status, and whether a student attends school for a full academic year. Students may only receive Pell Grant funds from one institution at a time. Amounts may change yearly. The maximum Federal Pell Grant award is $5,960 for the 2017–2018 academic award year.
Pell Eligibility Determination
To determine if a student is eligible, the U.S. Department of Education uses a standard formula, to evaluate the information if students report when students apply through the Free Application of Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The formula produces an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) number. The lower the EFC number, the more aid the student is eligible for. The Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) contains this number and will inform the institution if the student is eligible.
To be considered for Pell Grant Eligibility, you must:
- Fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid,
- Meet all Department of Education eligibility requirements including but not limited to:
- Having financial need,
- Having a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) Certificate, Homeschooled and/or Ability To Benefit alternatives.
- Registering with the Selective Services, if required,
- Being a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen,
- Having a valid Social Security Number,
- Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program,
- Meets Satisfactory Academic Progress
Lifetime Eligibility Used:
Effective July 1, 2012 the U.S. Department of Education implemented a new regulation that states that students may only receive a Pell Grant for six years of full-time enrollment (equivalent to 12 semesters or 600%) during their lifetime. This change affects all students regardless of when or where they received their first Pell Grant. The maximum amount of Pell Grant funding that a student may receive each year is equal to 100%, this is why the six-year equivalent is 600%.
For more information on Pell Grant visit: https://studentaid.ed.gov/types/grants-scholarships/pell.