Federal Grants & Need Based Aid

Federal Pell Grant

Federal grant awarded to high need students.  The maximum award is $6,895 per year for the 2022-2023 academic year.  Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to be evaluated for Federal Pell Grant eligibility.

Federal Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility (LEU)

Beginning in Fall 2012 (as a result of the consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012), students are now limited to 12 semesters, which is the equivalent of six years, (or 600%) of Federal Pell Grant eligibility during their lifetime. Since the maximum amount of Pell Grant funding a student can receive each year is equal to 100%, the six-year equivalent is 600%.  This change affects all students regardless of when or where they received their first Federal Pell Grant. Students that are receiving the Federal Pell Grant in the current academic year and have already used 600% of their Federal Pell Grant eligibility will no longer be eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant.  If LEU is more than 500% but less than 600%, only partial eligibility for the next award year as outlined below:

  • LEU of 500% or Less: A student with an LEU of 500% or less is eligible to receive up to 100 percent of the full Scheduled Award for the award year, since the student has at least 100% LEU remaining. 
  • LEU of 600% or More: A student whose Pell LEU is 600% or more may not receive additional Pell Grant funds.
  • LEU of Greater Than 500% But Less Than 600%: A student with an LEU of greater than 500% but less than 600% is not eligible to receive a full Scheduled Award but may receive a partial Pell Grant award of the difference between 600% and the student’s LEU.

“How do you know if this affects you?”

  • Information provided to National Student Loan Data System (NLSDS) and displays on the webpage: NSLDS Student Access.
  • If you have attended college for 4 years or longer and received the Federal Pell Grant each semester of attendance, you are likely to exhaust or have already exhausted your lifetime limit of 12 semesters of Federal Pell Grant eligibility.
  • If you have attended college for 3 years or less and received the Federal Pell Grant each semester of attendance, you will likely not surpass the lifetime limit during the current school year.  However, the institution will calculate an award based on remaining Pell Grant eligibility.   

For more information please visit Student Aid on the Web.

Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH)

A Federal TEACH Grant can help you pay for college if you plan to become a teacher in a high-need field in a low-income area.

"Up to $4,000 per year" for those originated and disbursed after 10-01-17, (award amounts are subject to change based on federal funding due to sequestration) non-need Federal grant awarded to U.S. citizens majoring in education who intend to teach in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families. Students must be formally accepted into the Carroll College Education Program. In exchange for receiving a TEACH Grant, students must teach for at least four academic years within eight calendar years of completing the program of study.  Failure to complete the four year teaching requirement will result in TEACH Grant funds being converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan.  Students must have and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher to be eligible.  

View the Carroll College TEACH Grant Fact Sheet for additional information, including high-demand fields and low-income schools.  For additional information please visit Student Aid on the Web. View Teacher Shortage Areas here.

Students who meet the eligibility requirements will receive a letter from the Financial Aid Office.  Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to be evaluated for TEACH Grant eligibility.

In order to be eligible for TEACH Grants, students must be formally accepted into the Education Program at Carroll College for their junior and/or senior academic year (see the Carroll College Education Department regarding specifics program guidelines).

The following steps need to be completed before receiving a TEACH Grant:

  1. TEACH Grant Initial Counseling (First-year recipients)
  2. Agreement to Serve (First-year recipients)
  3. TEACH Grant Subsequent Counseling (Second-year recipients)
  4. TEACH Grant Exit Counseling

Once the initial or subsequent counseling and Agreement to Serve have been completed an official award offer will be sent.  This award will need to be accepted on-line to receive disbursement of the grant. For more information please visit Student Aid on the Web.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

Federal grant with priority given to Federal Pell Grant eligible students.  Average awards are $400 per year (award amounts are subject to change based on federal funding due to sequestration).  Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to be evaluated for Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) eligibility. For more information please visit Student Aid on the Web.

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant

A student whose parent or guardian was a member of the U.S. Armed Forces and died as a result of service performed in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001 may be eligible to receive the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant.  Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to be evaluated for Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant eligibility.

Additional Student Eligibility Requirements

  • Must be ineligible for a Federal Pell Grant due only to having less financial need than is required to receive Pell funds, and
  • Be under 24 years old, or
  • Enrolled in college at least part-time at the time of the parent's or guardian's death.

Award amounts are subject to change based on federal funding due to sequestration. For more information please visit Student Aid on the Web.

Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act

Under this scholarship, beginning with the 2018-2019 award year, a Pell-eligible student whose parent or guardian died in the line of duty while performing as a public safety officer is eligible to receive a maximum Pell Grant for the award year for which the determination of eligibility is made.  To qualify for this scholarship, a student must be Pell-eligible and have a Pell-eligible EFC, and be less than 24 years of age or enrolled at an institution of higher education at the time of his or her parent's or guardian's death.  In subsequent award years, the student continues to be eligible for the scholarship, as long as the student has a Pell-eligible EFC and continues to be an eligible student.
All Title IV aid awarded to such eligible students must be based on an EFC of zero without regard to the student's calculated EFC.  Thus, the student is eligible for the maximum Pell Grant for his or her enrollment status and cost of attendance.  In addition, the student's eligibility for Direct Loans or Campus-Based program aid must be based on an EFC of zero.
For purposes of the Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship, a public safety officer is:

  • As defined in section 1204 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C.3796b); or
  • A fire police officer, defined as an individual who is serving in accordance with State or local law as an officially recognized or designated member of a legally organized public safety agency and provides scene security or directs traffic in response to any fire drill, fire call, or other fire, rescue, or police emergency, or at a planned special event.

Documents that schools may consider to determine eligibility include:

  • A determination letter acknowledging eligibility for certain federal benefits under the Public Safety Officers Benefit (PSOB) program administered by the Department of Justice;
  • A written letter of attestation or determination made by a state or local government official with supervisory or other relevant oversight authority of an individual who died in the line of duty while serving as a public safety officer as defined above;
  • Documentation of the student qualifying for a state tuition or other state benefit accorded to the children or other family members of a public safety office consistent with the definition in 42 U.S.C. 3796b, or as a fire police officer as noted above; or
  • Other documentation the school determines to be from a credible source that describes or reports the circumstances of death and the occupation of the parent or guardian.

Download Application

Need Based Financial Aid

Need-based financial aid is aid that is awarded based on the family's demonstrated financial need. A processed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required to receive Carroll and/or Federal Need-Based Aid.  In some cases, the Financial Aid Office will re-evaluate financial aid based on special circumstances.  If you or your family have special needs or have recently experienced unusual financial circumstances, please contact the Financial Aid Office.  A Special Circumstance form is available on the financial aid forms bank on the Carroll College website.

Federal Need Based Grants

Two types of grants are available:

  1. Federal Pell Grant - Federal Grant awarded to high need students. The maximum award is $6,895.
  2. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) - Federal Grant with priority given to Federal Pell Grant eligible students. Average award is $400 per year, award amounts are subject to change based on federal funding.

For more information please visit  Student Aid on the Web. Grants do not need to be repaid and are awarded to students with the greatest financial need. To be eligible, you must be an undergraduate pursuing your first baccalaureate degree.

Federal Financial Assistance

To be considered for need-based Federal aid, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) after October 1st each year. Also, the FAFSA is required so that eligibility for additional need-based Carroll College aid can be determined.

Carroll Need Based Aid

Carroll College offers need-based grants and scholarships. Priority consideration is given to students who are admitted to Carroll and have submitted their FAFSA by December 1st.

Questions?

Please contact us at fao@carroll.edu.