<p>Is pell grant eligibility determined by the specific schools and how they determine FA eligibility or is it a pretty standardized determination? I did a net price calculator yesterday and found out (per that school anyway) that S is eligibile for Pell and SEOG (what is that?). What numbers could affect eligibility? Market value of biz, home equity, or is it just an income thing and number of dependents?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Pell grant is based on your FAFSA EFC which is based on your income, assets, number in family, number in college. Currently the maximum Pell grant is $5550 for a 0 EFC. As the EFC goes up, the amount of pell eligibility goes down until it reaches $0 at around an EFC of 5200 ish. A student should be eligible for the same pell at any school they attend.</p>
<p>The SEOG is quite different. It is what is called campus based aid. This means each school receives a very limited amount of SEOG funds and must determine themselves how best to award them. Once they have awarded the funds they have no more to award. Each school sets their own maximum SEOG and the criteria for awarding it. Most schools require a 0 EFC for the SEOG but still usually have insufficient SEOG funds for all who qualify. The maximums can vary hugely - my daughter’s school awards a maximum $2000, my son’s school the maximum was $200. So, the amounts awarded for SEOG will vary hugely from school to school, and even when eligible a student may not get it if the school has fully awarded all they have before they get to that student’s FA package.</p>
<p>Pell grants are based on a federal formula and the award will not vary by school, assuming the student is full-time at all schools. While SEOG is a federal award, it is a block of money given to the school which the school decides how to disperse so that award may vary by school and other financial aid being awarded. (Pell probably won’t vary by financial aid being awarded because it’s usually awarded first. The only exception would be if you are awarded such a big merit scholarship that you have no need.) </p>
<p>The federal formula depends on income, certain assets (money in the bank, real estate other than primary residence, investments, bonds-- but excludes retirement accounts and primary residence), family size, number of children attending college, age of oldest parent and student income/assets. While the federal formula is the only thing used to determine Pell awards, schools can use other formulas and ask for more information when using their own money. The most generous schools usually do ask for more information, either by asking you to fill out their forms, by asking you to fill out the College Board’s Profile form and/or by asking the non-custodial parent to fill out forms.</p>
<p>Thank you both for the info. This makes me optimistic 
(hoping for a QB match, which I think is somewhat dependent upon qualifying for a Pell Grant).</p>
<p>edit - just rechecked requirements and it says “full pell grant” eligibility. Nope, S doesn’t meet that.</p>
<p>Pell probably won’t vary by financial aid being awarded because it’s usually awarded first. The only exception would be if you are awarded such a big merit scholarship that you have no need</p>
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<p>Actually, a student could have a big merit scholarship and still get the full Pell for which he qualifies. Pell is the only need-based award that can be awarded in excess of COA. That is because it is an entitlement. So big merit award + Pell > COA is a-okay.</p>