Federal Student Aid eligibility requires that the student must be enrolled at least half time in an accredited program, and the program must lead to a degree or certificate.
In addition to the FSA requirements, the student must also either be an undergraduate or be enrolled in an eligible post-baccalaureate teaching credential program, and not be incarcerated in a federal or state prison.
The Federal regulations pertaining to Pell Grants define an undergraduate student as one who is enrolled in an undergraduate course of study and who has earned a baccalaureate or first professional degree. This is defined further as a course of study that does not exceed 4 or 5 academic years. It does not matter if the initial baccalaureate or professional degree was obtained from a school that is not accredited or a foreign school.
In very limited circumstances an enrollee in a post-baccalaureate program may be eligible for a Pell Grant. Post-baccalaureate teacher certification or licensure programs are eligible if the program is required by state law and does not lead to a Masters degree, the student is pursuing an initial teaching certificate, the school does not offer a bachelor's degree in education, the student is enrolled at least half time, and the program is designed as a post-baccalaureate program.
Students incarcerated in federal or state penal institutions are not eligible for Pell Grants. Students who are incarcerated in local penal institutions may be eligible. Halfway houses, home detention and weekend sentences are not considered incarceration.
The student must be able to demonstrate financial need. The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) formula is the guide used by schools to determine the financial need of a student. The EFC is calculated once a student completes a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The lower the EFC, the greater the financial need. The maximum Pell Grant is $4050, but can be reduced based on the EFC. When the EFC reaches $3850, the Pell Grant becomes $0.