Federal Pell Grants

Awarding

Federal Pell Grants are awarded to high need, undergraduate students who are pursuing their first undergraduate degree. The amount awarded is based on the following:

• Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
• Cost of Attendance (as determined by the institution)
• Student’s enrollment status (eg. Full-time, half-time)
• Students may not receive Pell Grant from more than one school during a given semester

The actual amount of Federal Pell Grant a student may receive is based on the EFC and student’s enrollment (as of the fixed enrollment date) each semester.

Additional Pell Grant Eligibility

Students who exhaust their annual Pell Grant eligibility (100%) may be eligible for additional Pell Grant during a subsequent semester within the same academic year.

• Student must be enrolled at least six (6) credits in the given semester
• Student must begin attendance in at least six (6) credits in the given semester

Students who meet these criteria may receive up to 50% of their annual Pell Grant eligibility in the subsequent semester (based on enrollment).

Lifetime Eligibility Limit

The federal Department of Education has established a Lifetime Eligibility Limit for Federal Pell Grant recipients:

• Students can receive a cumulative Pell Grant up to the equivalent of 12 terms of FULL-TIME enrollment or 600%
• If a student is approaching their lifetime maximum, their Pell Grant will be prorated

For more information about the Federal Pell Grant, please visit the Federal Student Aid website.

Federal Pell Grant and UConn’s Fixed Enrollment Date

University policy requires that financial aid and scholarships are based on a fixed enrollment date (the tenth day of classes) each semester. The tenth day of classes is the last day on which a student is able to add/drop via the Student Administration System. A student’s Federal Pell Grant will be prorated based on final enrollment as of the tenth day of classes. Detailed information is available on the Fixed Enrollment Date section.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG)

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG) are offered to eligible full-time undergraduate students with exceptional financial need (typically Federal Pell Grant recipients) whose FAFSA has been received by the federal processor on or before UConn’s on-time deadline.

• These funds are limited and are awarded on the basis of financial need and fund availability to students pursuing their first undergraduate degree.

These funds may be initially awarded as University Grant as part of your financial aid award. For more information, please navigate to FSEOG section of the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid site.

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant (IASG)

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant (IASG) may be offered to students whose parent or legal guardian died as a result of military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after 9/11/2001.
Students with these circumstances are eligible to receive this grant if they are under 24 years of age or were enrolled in post-secondary programming when their parent/guardian passed away and meet the following criteria:

• • Student is not eligible for Pell Grant based on their Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
  • Student does not have a Bachelor’s Degree
  • Student has the Comment Code #298 on their Student Aid Report (SAR)

For more information on IASG, please visit the Federal Student Aid website.

Teacher Education Assistance for College Grants (TEACH)

TEACH Grants at the University of Connecticut are available to high-achieving Senior-level, Junior-level, and graduate students in selected high-need teacher preparation programs within the NEAG school of Education. Students interested in a TEACH Grant must satisfy the Agreement to Serve (ATS) criteria which includes:

• Teaching full-time for at least four (4) years within eight (8) years of completing their program at Title I school serving low-income students in specified subject areas (mathematics, science, a foreign language, bilingual education, special education, as a reading specialist, and other “high need” fields)

If the Agreement to Serve criteria is not met, the grant must be repaid as an unsubsidized Direct Student Loan, with interest from the date(s) of first disbursement.

For detailed information about the TEACH Grant, including award amounts and detailed eligibility requirements, please visit the Federal Student Aid website.

There are two different programs associated with the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship Program:

• Roberta B. Willis Need-Merit Scholarship Program– the CT Office of Higher Education selects the recipients for this award. If you are identified as a recipient, this award will be reflected on your University fee bill as the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship
• Roberta B. Willis Need-Based Grant Program – to be eligible for this award students must meet the following criteria:
  • Enrolled at least Full-Time (12 credits)
  • Pursuing their first undergraduate degree
  • FAFSA received by UConn’s on-time deadline

These funds are limited, and are awarded on the basis of financial need and fund availability. These funds must be used for education expenses: specifically tuition, fees, and up to $1200 for books and supplies.

These funds may be initially awarded as University Grant as part of your financial aid award. If part of your University Grant is funded by the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship Grant (Need), your financial aid award may be adjusted during the Fall/Spring semesters, and all or a portion of your University Grant may be replaced with the Roberta B. Willis Grant, as reflected on your fee bill.

More information about the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship Program can be found at the Connecticut Office of Higher Education's Fact About Student Aid page.