​Federal Pell Grant (FPELL)

​The Pell Grant program is the largest federal grant program for undergraduate college students. Awards are based on the Student Aid Index (SAI), previously known as (EFC) and enrollment intensity at the time of census each semester.

You can check your estimated SAI using this free financial aid calculator.

How to Apply

Apply for the Federal Pell Grant by completing the FAFSA at: www.fafsa.gov

  • The 2024-2025 FAFSA covers Summer 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025

Federal Pell Grant Eligibility 

Eligible award amounts for Pell Grant are determined by enrollment intensity, also known as active enrollment, at the time of census each semester. Enrollment intensity is calculated as a percentage of Full-Time enrollment (12 academic units) rounded to the nearest whole percent.

Example: A student is enrolled in 7 academic units

The enrollment intensity would be 7 / 12 x 100% = 58%

Eligibility for the Pell Grant is determined by information submitted on the FAFSA. All students must be a high school graduate or have received the equivalent to a high school diploma to be eligible to receive this grant.

Maximum Award Amounts

Pell Grant award amounts are based on enrollment intensity. To receive the full award amount posted to your "Award Letter" you must be registered as a full-time (12 or more units) student for the entire semester.

2024-25: Maximum PELL Grant $11,092 

  • Based on an SAI between -1500 and 0 from the FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS).
  • Based on Full-Time Enrollment (12  or more units) for Summer 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Less than Full-Time enrollment will decrease the amount you are eligible to receive.

Payments may be adjusted to reflect your current enrollment intensity

If you add or drop units during the semester past and future disbursements may be adjusted or cancelled. Depending on the number of units dropped, it is possible that you may even owe back an overpayment of Pell Grant.

If you have received Pell grant disbursements and withdraw from all of your courses, you may be subject to repay a portion of the funds disbursed due to the Return to Title IV regulations.

Please reach out to our office if you have questions about how adjusting your enrollment may affect your financial aid.

​Please be aware that awards are progressive and posted as eligibility is determined

While we make every effort to package accurate awards based on your cost of attendance and need evaluation, we reserve the right to adjust your award notification at any time. Awards may be adjusted for reasons such as change in units, additional awar​ds, funds availability or Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Limitations

As of July 1, 2012, students are unable to receive Pell Grant for more than 12 full-time semesters, or roughly 6 years. It is important to be aware of this if you are planning on pursuing a Bachelor's degree. View more on Lifetime eligibility of Pell grant at the Calculating Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility Used | Federal Student Aid website.

For more information Pell grant, please visit the Federal Pell Grants | Federal Student Aid website.

Disbursement

Pell Grant is disbursed in four disbursements in a standard semester at 25% of your total semester award eligibility per disbursement. The amount disbursed is dependent upon enrollment intensity at the time of the disbursement. Enrollment intensity is locked in at census each semester.  If your enrollment intensity changes after the census date, you will continue to receive the same disbursement amount based on the enrollment intensity at the time of census. View census dates at: Dates & Deadlines

If your financial aid is processed late and you miss a standard disbursement, your funds will be released at the next disbursement date and will include any missed disbursements. For more information visit our Disbursement Schedule webpage.​

Overpayment

Students who have been overpaid Pell Grant for any reason will be responsible for returning the overpaid funds to the school. While we make every effort to cause the least amount of error. Overpayments, regardless of the cause, will be the responsibility of the student.

Students may only receive Pell Grant payments from one institution at a time. In some instances, due to attendance during summer terms or transferring from another school, some students may incidentally receive payments from two institutions at once due to a delay in reporting from the prior school. When this occurs, the student will be required to return any overpayment of Pell Grant funds.

In some cases, if you are attending two schools during one semester, we may be able to consider your enrollment at another school towards your enrollment status at Shasta College. 

If you are attending at least 6 units at Shasta College and you are taking courses at another school that are applicable to your Shasta College major, please see our Consortium Agreement as you may be eligible to receive additional funding. 

Contact Us

If you have been funded in error or submitted your FAFSA with information that later was verified to be false, you will have to repay any funds received if you were deemed ineligible. Please contact our office right away if you have received an overpayment notice by calling (530) 242-7650 or emailing financialaid@shastacollege.edu.