What is a Federal Pell Grant?

A Federal Pell Grant is need-based federal financial aid available primarily to eligible undergraduate students. Unlike a loan, a Pell Grant generally does not have to be repaid.

Repayment may be required in limited circumstances, such as when a student withdraws, receives a change in enrollment that affects eligibility, receives aid for which the student was not eligible, or receives certain outside assistance that changes the financial aid calculation.

Qualification & Eligibility

Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each award year to be considered for a Federal Pell Grant.

Pell Grants are generally available to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s, graduate, or professional degree. Students enrolled in certain eligible post-baccalaureate teacher-certification programs may also qualify.

Eligibility is determined under a federal formula that considers information such as:

• The Student Aid Index (SAI);

• Student and contributor income and tax information;

• Family size;

• Federal poverty guidelines;

• Enrollment intensity;

• Cost of attendance; and

• Previous Pell Grant usage.

Beginning with the 2026–27 award year, federal law includes additional Pell Grant eligibility requirements. Foreign earned income excluded from federal taxation is included in the income used to evaluate Pell eligibility. In addition, an applicant generally will not qualify if the applicant’s SAI equals or exceeds twice the maximum Pell Grant award for the applicable award year, unless a federal exception applies.

Submitting a FAFSA does not guarantee Pell Grant eligibility.

Your Pell Grant Amount

The amount of a student’s Pell Grant is determined by the U U.S. Department of Education and the institution using the federal Pell Grant formula.

The actual amount may depend on:

• The student’s federal Pell Grant eligibility calculation;

• The maximum Pell Grant amount established for the award year;

• The student’s enrollment intensity;

• The institution’s Pell Grant cost of attendance;

• The length and structure of the student’s academic program; and

• The student’s remaining lifetime eligibility.

For term-based programs, a student’s award is adjusted according to enrollment intensity. For example, a student enrolled part-time will generally receive a smaller award than an otherwise comparable student enrolled full-time.

Pell Grant funds may be applied to eligible educational expenses, including tuition, fees, books, supplies, and other costs associated with attendance.

Lifetime Eligibility

Federal law limits Pell Grant eligibility to the equivalent of approximately six years of full-time awards. This limit is referred to as Lifetime Eligibility Used, or LEU, and is expressed as a percentage.

Once a student reaches 600% LEU, the student is no longer eligible for additional Pell Grant funds. Part-time enrollment and partial-year attendance generally use a proportionate amount of the student’s lifetime eligibility.

Students can review their federal grant history through their account at StudentAid.gov.

How to Apply

Complete the FAFSA each award year to be considered automatically for a Federal Pell Grant. No separate Pell Grant application is required.

Students should submit the FAFSA and any requested documentation by applicable federal, state, and institutional deadlines. Although filing early does not increase the amount of a student’s Pell Grant, it may improve access to other financial aid programs that have limited funding.

USW will determine final eligibility after receiving the FAFSA and resolving any outstanding financial aid requirements.

Additional Financial Aid Opportunities

Federal Pell Grants are one component of the financial aid opportunities available at USW. Students are encouraged to explore available scholarships, grants, federal student loans, and other resources that may help with educational expenses.

Additional information about Federal Pell Grants is available through Federal Student Aid.

Additional grant information and USW financial aid policies are available in the academic catalog.