Federal Aid Programs
Federal Pell Grant (PELL)
PELL Grants are available to undergraduate students only. Students with a bachelor’s degree are not eligible, with the exception of those enrolled in the Educator Preparation Institute (alternative teacher certification program) at this College. Each year Congress establishes the maximum Pell Grant award based on a student's enrollment level and Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The following chart shows how PELL Grant awards are adjusted based on enrollment:
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6 to 8
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Half-time
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50%
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9 to 11
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Three-quarter-time
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75%
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12 or more
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Full-time
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100%
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Some students may be eligible to receive a PELL grant for enrollment in less than six credit hours. Aid recipients receive tentative award letters after eligibility has been determined for a particular award year. Beginning with the 2015-2016 award year, Ability to Benefit (ATB) students enrolled for the first time in specific career pathways programs will have a lower maximum annual Pell award, currently $4,860.
Lifetime Eligibility Used—The amount of Federal Pell Grant funds a student may receive over their lifetime is limited by federal law. The limit is the equivalent of six years of Pell Grant funding. Since the maximum amount of Pell Grant funding students may receive each year is equal to 100%, the six-year equivalent is 600%. There is no appeal of this federal limit. Current students and those who have previously attended college may view their personal Pell and loan information at www.nslds.ed.gov by using their federal Personal Identification Number (PIN).
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
FSEOG is a federal grant for undergraduates with exceptional financial need. Since these funds are limited, only Pensacola State College Pell Grant recipients with zero EFC will be awarded FSEOG funds. The award amount will vary per academic year based on federal funding levels. Awards are available during the Fall and Spring semesters only. A minimum enrollment of half-time each semester is required for a student to receive a partial award.
William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (FDLP)
Students who have exhausted all other resources may request a federal student loan. Direct Loans are limited to educational expenses and are either subsidized or unsubsidized. Additional student eligibility criteria apply. The student must accurately complete all required steps prior to the awarding of a loan. Students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid online at www.fafsa.gov as their first step. Students, and their families, must review the information at the United States Department of Education (USDOE) website, www.studentloans.gov, and in the Pensacola State College Guide to Federal Direct Loans on the Financial Aid page at www.pensacolastate.edu. Prior to submitting the loan request form to the Financial Aid/Veteran Services/Scholarships office for eligibility evaluation and processing, the student must complete Entrance Loan Counseling (ELC) and a Master Promissory note (MPN) which are both on the federal website listed previously. As a part of the college’s default prevention program a student must complete both of these steps prior to requesting a Direct Loan. Enrollment of half-time in required courses for the student's primary program of study at the College is required.
Note: The school may refuse to certify a loan or certify a loan for an amount less than the student requests. All students including transfer students are required to have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher and a completion rate of 67% in order to apply for a Direct Loan. As part of default prevention, loan limits apply based on level of earned credits in the students program of study at this college and total amount of funds previously borrowed. Loans are funds that must be repaid.
After the student receives notification via their PirateEmail account that their Direct Loan request has been processed, the student may process an online Deferment of Fees via their SpyGlass logon at the college website for that semester of enrollment. Direct Loans do not automatically pay for fees and can never be used to cover any other costs such as books and supplies.
Parent Plus Direct Loans
This is a loan program which enables credit worthy parents to borrow money for their dependent student's educational costs associated their student’s education at Pensacola State College. The dependent must be degree-seeking and enrolled at minimum half-time in courses required for their program of study. PLUS loans are limited in amount to the cost of attendance minus any other financial aid received by the student. The USDOE requires the student to complete the FAFSA and any required verification processes before the school may process a PLUS loan. Parents who are denied a Direct Loan after their credit has been checked by the USDOE, may appeal directly to the USDOE and/or may request to have credit worthy endorsers added to the loan.