Obtaining a college degree is critical to success in life & finding a higher paying job in America. While a college degree gives you a competitive edge over other people applying for the same job, the cost of university or college has gone through the roof. In order to make schooling more affordable, the US federal government has put forth the Federal Pell Grant & other scholarships/grants to help college students pay for their fees. Because Pell grants are not to be repaid, there are strict criteria on who qualifies for Pell grants so that only need-based college students have access to it. Below are some criteria that are used to determine eligibility & requirements for obtaining a Pell Grant.

i) Financial Need

This is the most important criteria, you must demonstrate financial need. The grant is specifically catered for those low-income & needy undergraduate students who would otherwise not be able to afford college education without government help. The level of need will be determined by the student's college expenses minus expected family contributions. In general, grants are awarded to students whose family incomes are less than $20,000 a year which is at or below the poverty line. We have seen other students with family incomes of less than $35,000 also awarded, Your level of financial need is reduced if you win scholarships from other organizations & sources.

ii) Dependency Status

A student's dependent status also affects his level of financial need. As an example, a student who has applied as independent will be considered differently than one who is dependent upon his parents. Since independent students do not rely on anyone but themselves for financial support, they would have to show proof of their assets/net income & debts. If a student is independent, then his assets & income is factored. However is a student is dependent on parents, then the income/assets of his parents are also factored.

iii) High School Education

Candidates applying for Grant must have a high school diploma or show that they will significantly benefit from the training course at university. This is done when first year students who are fresh from high school apply for college & are set to attend their first year in college.

iv) Academic Performance

The student must have & maintain a good academic record to be eligible to receive a grant. The student must have at least a C (or 2.0) grade point average by the end of the second year if the degree is longer than two years, or prove the equivalent for shorter courses.

v) Citizenship

Recipients must be citizens of the United States, permanent residents or legally allowed to attend school in America. Citizenship is normally proven by providing one of the two documents below;

* US Permanent Citizen (Alien Registration Card or I-551)
* Conditional Permanent Citizen (I-551C)

Learn to get free Pell grants from the US Department of Education including Pell grant application & eligibility criteria. The maximum limit for 2011 school year is $5,500 and applications are free.

There are many scholarships available to students who excel in their chosen career & education paths. There is also the federal Pell Grant available for need-based undergraduate students who would otherwise not be able to afford a college education. The maximum Pell Grant limit for 2010 - 2011 school year is $5,500. While you might work hard to earn your scholarships & qualify for the Pell grant, what happens if you quit school in the middle of the year & not complete your required courses for which you were paid the Pell grant? In such a scenario, it is best to know your options & courses of action if such an event happens to you.

The federal Pell grant is awarded by the US Federal government, however it is distributed by individual schools in which the students are enrolled in. For instance if you were enrolled in first year at University of California, you would apply for the Grant using the Free Student Aid (FAFSA) website. In the application form, they ask which school you are enrolled in and your student number. The federal government would then distribute those funds directly to University of California to pay for your college tuition fees. Normally the funds that are left over after paying all your course & enrollment fees are paid to you once per term. If you quit university after completing the first term, you would simply not get the grant awarded to you for the 2nd term.

In most cases, students do NOT have to return their Pell Grant money for courses they attended in the previous term. And if you do NOT enroll for the next term, you simply will not receive the funds for that term. If a student quits school forever, then he automatically becomes ineligible to apply for the Grant. However, most students leave school for shorter periods of time (1-2 semesters) before they return. In such a case, be sure to speak to your school's financial awards office on how to set up an arrangement such that when you return in 1-2 semesters, you can apply for the federal Pell grant again.

Be aware that the rules we have outlined above are general in nature and NOT specific to your situation. It is best to speak to a financial advisor or counsellor at your university's campus for more information about your grant & your eligibility for Grants. A counselor is usually available at your school's financial aid office or you can phone in & book an appointment. Their staff will be able to guide you on your options for obtaining & keeping a grant & any money that you might need to pay back to the federal government if you drop out of school.

If you were awarded a grant, consider yourself very fortunate for receiving such assistance. Do so by trying to stay in college & completing your required courses or Degree. Dropping out from college can have a negative impact on your future & career so be aware of what you are doing. If you have dependents and have to work full time to support them, consider taking night classes & saturday morning classes to get your credit hours. This way, you can work full time & maintain your award.

Learn to get free Pell grants from the US Department of Education including Pell grant application & eligibility criteria. The maximum limit for 2011 school year is $5,500 and applications are free.