Around two-thirds of the college students in America receive financial aid to help with college fees and Pell grants are one the most significant of them all. Pell grants are government funding for those who fail to pay off their college fees for their undergraduate and post graduate courses. In these uncertain and trying economic times, and sky-rocketing college  fees not helping anyone one tiny bit, students belonging to the lower income groups are increasingly finding college education a Gordian Knot that college grants aim to cut through. These grants are free money from the Government or other non-profit organization, in a manner of speaking. However, that they are called free money only because they need not to be repaid. Even Pell grants are free money. The maximum amount awarded through a Pell grant is $5500, offered on the basis of a few eligibility criteria. Here they are:

• Must not hold a bachelor’s degree
• Must either be an U.S citizen or an eligible non-citizen
• Must have a high school diploma or GED
• Last but not least, show the capacity to benefit from the grant program.

So if you think you qualify for Pell grants, follow the application procedure.

To apply for Federal Pell grant or any other government or state funded grant first of all you will be required to fill out a Free Application for Federal Students Aid or FAFSA form. You can fill this form over the internet at www.fafsa.ed.gov. You can also go to government grants to gain access to Pell grants. Remember to apply for this grant on or after 1st July of every year – not before. You can find self-explanatory guidelines at the “fill out an FAFSA” section of the form. Just follow the guidelines and filling the form will be a breeze. If corrections are needed, you can easily do that at step three of the application where you can find the section stated “Make Corrections to a Processed FAFSA”.

After filling up the FAFSA, the student must respond to a questionnaire to qualify for the Pell grants. After the initial Pell grant application, you will be informed by email or postal delivery, about your qualification. However, you must check with your chosen college or educational institution about the deadline for filling out your FAFSA form. It’s here that most folks lose out on a juicy Pell Grant “fee” lunch.