Federal Grant Programs

Grants may be awarded if you show financial need based on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The grants listed here are administered by CCCC based on the guidelines set for each program by the Department of Education.

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is a need-based grant, funded by the federal government for undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or professional degree. A student's maximum Federal Pell Grant offer is determined each Academic Year by their Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) or Student Aid Index (SAI), and their enrollment status for each semester they attend. The FAFSA calculates the EFC/SAI. These grant funds are to be used toward education-related expenses.

The amount of Federal Pell Grant fund you may receive over your lifetime is limited by federal law to be the equivalent of six years. Each semester that you receive your full Pell Grant eligibility is considered 50%. Therefore a typical Academic Year (Fall/Spring) is considered 100%. The maximum percentage of Pell Grant a student can receive over their lifetime is 600%. 

Year-Round Pell Grant

An eligible student may receive a Federal Pell Grant for summer semesters even if the student received a full Federal Pell Grant during the previous Fall and Spring semesters.

  • If a Pell-Eligible Student was enrolled Full-Time (12 credit hours) in both the Fall and Spring semesters, they must be enrolled at least Half-Time (six credit hours) during the Summer semester to be eligible.
  • If NOT enrolled Full-Time (i.e. Three-Quarter-Time, Half-Time, Less Than Half Time) during both semesters, the student may have leftover Pell Grant eligibility available for the Summer semester that is not considered "additional" for the Academic Year.

This Summer Federal Pell Grant would allow an additional 50% of their annual Federal Pell Grant to be awarded for the Summer semester, making the total percentage of Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility Used 150% for the Academic Year. Please complete and submit a Summer Pell Notification Form and the Financial Aid Office will determine eligibility and post funds to the Student's Account approximately one week before the start of the Summer term.

FEDERAL PELL GRANT FUNDS MAY NOT BE RECEIVED AT MORE THAN ONE INSTITUTION PER SEMESTER.

Please visit the Federal Student Aid website for additional Federal Pell Grant information.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is for undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or professional degree and who have been identified as having exceptional need (students with the lowest EFC, typically a Zero EFC). These grant funds are to be used toward education-related expenses and award amounts will vary school-to-school.

Please visit the Federal Student Aid website for additional SEOG information.