Hi everyone, had a quick question maybe one of you can answer.
When I run net price calculators through college websites, it gives me a figure for my total aid they expect to offer. Does this figure include the Pell Grant from the federal government or only the school based financial aid itself?
Thanks in advance!
NPCs may or may not include the Pell Grant. In the case where they only show the institutional aid (school-based grants), part of that may be replaced by the Pell Grant later. In other words, you can’t stack the Pell Grant on top of that school grant.
I would say that in most situations it includes the Pell grant.
You can always ask the school’s financial aid office. I found they are quite responsive to questions about their NPCs. To get a general idea of your eligibility for a Pell Grant, and just an fairly good indicator of what any particular school will consider your “Need,” you can try this College Board’s Expected Family Contribution website:
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/paying-your-share/expected-family-contribution-calculator
Some schools say they will “meet 100% of need” but others do not. Some are “need blind” and but most are not. It’s good to know what your “need” is.
Good luck!
In most cases, it includes the Pell Grant under the institutional grants (those coming from the school). Any amount of Pell Grant you ultimately receive will just replace that portion of the institutional grant aid. So if you take the total tuition + room/board and subtract the grants, you should get the amount you’re expected to pay through family contribution, work study, and loans.