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 College will show all student awards on the student portal (www.laredo.pasport.edu).
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Levels of Enrollment
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Equivalent Credit Hours
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Full Time
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12 or more Credit Hours
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Three Quarter Time
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9 - 11 Credit Hours
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Half Time
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6 - 8 Credit Hours
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Less than Half Time*
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5 Credit Hours or Less
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*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 2018–19 award year the maximum award is $6,095. 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 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. Amounts may change yearly. The maximum Federal Pell Grant award is $6,095 for the 2018–2019 academic award year.
Pell Eligibility Determination
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.