Federal Grants and Loans

The Federal Pell Grant is a need-based federal grant awarded to undergraduate students who have not yet earned a bachelor’s, graduate, or professional degree. It is designed for students with exceptional financial need and does not need to be repaid.

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How Eligibility is Determined

The Pell Grant amount is based on financial need, the number of credits taken each term, and whether the student qualifies for the maximum, minimum, or a Student Aid Index (SAI)–calculated award.

• Maximum Pell Grant: Some students automatically qualify for the full annual amount based on family income, household size, tax filing status, and state of residence. If a student qualifies under these rules, the SAI is not used.
• SAI-calculated Pell Grant: If a student does not qualify for the maximum, the Pell amount is calculated by subtracting the SAI (a number determined from the FAFSA) from the maximum award. The lower the SAI, the more Pell Grant the student may receive.
• Minimum Pell Grant: Even if the calculated Pell amount is low or the SAI is high, a student may still qualify for a small award under special federal rules.

Pell Grant Amounts for 2025–2026

• Maximum annual award: $7,395
• Minimum annual award: $740

These amounts are set by the federal government and are adjusted based on enrollment intensity (the number of credits taken).

How Enrollment Affects Pell Grant Amounts

The Pell Grant amount is prorated based on enrollment intensity. The fewer credits a student takes, the smaller the grant.

• 12 or more credits:  100%
• 11 credits: 92%
• 10 credits:  83%
• 9 credits: 75%
• 8 credits: 67%
• 7 credits: 58%
• 6 credits: 50%
• 5 credits: 42%
• 4 credits: 33%
• 3 credits: 25%
• 2 credits: 17%
• 1 credit: 8%

Other Important Notes

• Pell Grant funds may be received for up to the equivalent of 12 full-time semesters (approximately six years).
• A student cannot receive Pell Grant funds from more than one college at the same time.
• If eligible and meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress, a student may receive Pell Grant funds for all terms in the academic year, including the Summer Semester.

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a campus-based federal grant awarded to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. Unlike the Pell Grant, FSEOG funding is limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Priority is given to students who meet published application deadlines and have a Student Aid Index (SAI) of -1500.

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How FSEOG Recipients Are Selected

Federal regulations require schools to prioritize students with the lowest SAIs who are also receiving a Federal Pell Grant during the award year. At Massasoit, FSEOG awards are made in the following order:

First Priority Group:

Students who:

• Meet the published priority application deadlines
• Have an SAI of -1500 on the FAFSA
• Are receiving a Federal Pell Grant in the Fall and/or Spring semesters

This applies to all students, regardless of program, dependency status, or enrollment status.

Second Priority Group:

If funds remain after awarding the first group, FSEOG may be awarded to:

• Students with an SAI of -1500 who did not meet the published priority deadlines but are receiving a Federal Pell Grant

Third Priority Group:

If funding is still available, additional awards may be made to:

• Pell-eligible students with the next lowest SAIs, regardless of whether they met the priority deadline