Understanding Summer Pell Grants
May 22, 2024
The Federal Pell grant has it's own unique eligibility criteria in the summer that is based on how much Pell a student received in the fall/spring and their summer enrollment. Learn more about which way you can qualify for Pell this summer in the guidelines below.
Eligibility
"Year Round Pell"
"Year Round Pell" is the option referred to when you have received your maximum offered Pell grant for the fall and spring, based on the fact that you were enrolled full-time in at least 24 credit hours combined in fall and spring.
To tap into additional Pell eligibility for the summer, you must maintain summer enrollment in at least 6 credit hours. Year-Round Pell will pay out at the full offered amount for 12 credit hours of summer enrollment, and at a prorated (calculated reduced) amount if you are in 6-11 hours of summer enrollment. You will not receive Pell if you are taking only 5 or less credit hours.
"Residual Pell"
"Residual Pell" is the option referred to if you did not receive your maximum offered Pell grant for the fall and spring, based on the fact that you were enrolled less than full-time in 24 credit hours combined in fall and spring, or had another circumstance that affected your fall or spring eligibility.
The offered summer Pell amount will be based on how much Pell was left unused from the fall and spring. Residual Pell will pay out at the full award amount for 12 credit hours of summer enrollment, and at a prorated (calculated reduced) amount if you are in 1-11 hours of summer enrollment. You can receive Pell even if you are taking just 1 credit hour.
Q&A's
When will I be offered financial aid for summer?
Offers for summer financial aid have started to post to student's accounts.
Students with a 2023-2024 FAFSA on file who meet the eligibility criteria will automatically be awarded any applicable grant aid within a week of registering for summer 2024 courses. Check your ACES account for your awards being posted.
When will I be paid my summer financial aid?
Summer financial aid will be applied to your student tuition and fees balance on the set payment dates for each summer term you are enrolled in such as Summer I, Summer II, Summer 10, etc.
If your summer credit hours are split up over two or more summer terms, your financial aid will likely have split payments on each terms payment date or may be delayed up to the latest scheduled payment date.
Is there a full list of Pell eligibility requirements?
Yes, these requirements apply any semester Pell is offered:
- Must be making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) by the end of the spring semester
- There is no Financial Aid Appeal in summer for students that are put on suspension for not meeting SAP.
- Must have a qualifying Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as determined by your FAFSA.
- Must be enrolled in courses that count towards your program of study, known as CPOS.
- Must not have already earned a bachelor’s degree or higher.
- Must not have received a Pell grant for more than six years or the equivalent of 12 semesters at full-time enrollment.
- Must complete all requested documents, including verification, if selected.
What if I am not eligible for summer Pell?
You may still be eligible for other summer aid such as:
- The Summer Momentum Plan, learn more about this "last dollar" scholarship at the Summer Momentum Plan page.
- Federal Work Study, learn more at the College Work Study page.
- Federal Direct Loans, learn more at the Federal Direct Loan page.
Applicants who do not qualify for any summer awards will need to make payment arrangements for tuition and fees, or risk being dropped.
Questions?
Send an email to dst-sfs@alamo.edu.