Federal Pell Grant

Geographic Scope: United States

Program Overview: The PELL Grant is a federally funded program for undergraduate students from low-income families. The amount of the award varies based on the expected family contribution Student Aid Index (SAI) as calculated by the FAFSA.

Eligibility

• Financial Need: Based on low-income families
• Student Type: Undergraduate students
• Enrollment Status: Varies
• Lifetime Limit: Students may only receive a Federal Pell Grant for 12 full-time semesters (or its equivalent)

Award Amount

• Varies based on Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation from FAFSA

How to Check Eligibility

• Students can check their lifetime PELL Grant eligibility by logging into studentaid.gov

Application

• Requires FAFSA application
• GCC School Code: 002264

Application Process

1. Complete FAFSA: File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online
2. Provide GCC School Code: Include GCC's school code (002264) on the FAFSA
3. Get FSA ID: Students must have a Federal Student Aid ID (login) to sign the electronic FAFSA. Get FSA ID at studentaid.gov
4. Submit: FAFSA for 2026-2027 available October 1, 2025 – GCC's priority filing deadline is April 1, 2026

Required Information

• Student and parent (if applicable) FSA ID
• Dependency Status information
• Financial information based on dependency status

After Submission

• Federal Processor sends FAFSA Submission Summary
• Summary estimates eligibility for Federal Pell Grant
• GCC Financial Aid Office will communicate additional requirements via GCC email