Pell Grant
Annual Amount: Up to $6,345 (2020-21 award year)
Deadlines & Application: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Description: Pell Grants are given to both in-state and out-of-state undergraduates with financial need. To qualify, you must also have a high school diploma or GED certificate and be enrolled as a student at the university in a degree-seeking program. Check for other specific qualifications in The Student Guide, Financial Aid, from the U.S. Department of Education. The Financial Aid Office has copies, or you can find it also online.
To be considered for a Pell Grant, as well as other federal financial aid, you must submit the FAFSA. Your eligibility is determined by your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Early registration and enrollment will help the Financial Aid Office determine what your expected Pell Grant award will be. You will be notified of the amount when you receive your financial aid package, usually in June.
Federal Pell Grants do not have to be paid back. Students with the greatest need receive Pell Grants. The maximum amount depends on what the Department of Education authorizes for the year, the cost of tuition and fees and other expenses at Highlands and the number of hours you take (grants are prorated based on enrollment status, i.e. less than full-time enrollment is adjusted downward; three-quarter time will receive 75%, half-time – 50%, etc.). Recently (2018-19 AY), the annual maximum amount has been increased to $6,095 for full-time students (12 or more hours) enrolled for both semesters. To continue to receive Pell Grant, recipients must demonstrate satisfactory academic performance (SAP), with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 for all grade levels (freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors). There is also other criteria that is taken into account and it is best check with your financial aid advisor to see if you meet the remaining eligibility requirements.
Your Pell Grant is part of your financial aid package. In the third week of the semester, the grant amount is applied to what you owe in your student account in the Business Office.
Federal Pell Grant Recalculation Policy
The Financial Aid office disburses Pell Grant funds on an incremental basis based on your enrollment status throughout a term. Pell Grant census date for New Mexico Highlands University is the drop/add date of the latest starting course. If all courses start on the same date, it is the drop/add date of the longest course end date.
The final recalculation is based on your enrollment status at the close of the drop/add period for the latest starting class that you are enrolled or expected to enroll. If all of your classes begin on the same date, the calculation is based on the drop/add period for the course with the longest weeks of instruction.
If a course is assigned a “W” withdrawn prior to or on the close of the drop/add period of your latest starting class, the course is treated as if you were not enrolled in the course.
You must be enrolled as a student at least half time (6-8 credit hours) at the start of your semester block to be eligible for an award of campus-based Aid (SEOG and Federal Work Study). The award is canceled if you are enrolled less than half time.