Office Hours:
Monday-Tuesday
8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Wednesday
10:00 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Thursday - Friday
8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Federal and State Grants

Federal Pell Grants
Federal Pell grants are awarded to undergraduate students – those who have not yet earned a bachelor's degree. Unlike a loan, repayment is not required. If you are eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, PSU will determine the amount for which you qualify. The Federal Pell Grant is determined by a formula called Federal Methodology established by Congress and based on resources reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The formula produces an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) used to determine aid eligibility.

Beginning with the 2009-10 academic school year, students are eligible to use Pell Grants year round. This means if students have been determined eligible for this grant, they have access to federal Pell grants funds for summer, fall, winterim, and spring semesters.

If corrections are required, we may need to receive an updated FAFSA correction from the Department of Education before we can finalize your award. The amount of your award is determined by the cost of attendance at the institution, your status of full-time or part-time, and whether you attend school for a full academic year or less. You may not receive Federal Pell Grant funds from more than one school at a time.

Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) and Federal Smart Grants (Two new federal grants for Federal Pell eligible students)

For more information on these two new federal grants, click here

Note: A student is eligible to receive a National SMART Grant if the student enrolls in the courses necessary to complete the degree program and to fulfill the requirements of the intended eligible major.

That is, an otherwise eligible student can receive a National SMART Grant for a payment period only if the student is enrolled in at least one course that meets the specific requirements of the student's National SMART Grant-eligible major and it is not necessary that the course be offered by the academic department that confers the degree in the eligible major. For example, a student majoring in biology is eligible to receive a National SMART Grant during a semester in which he or she is enrolled in a physics course if the physics course is required for the major even if the student is not enrolled in any biology courses.

A student who is taking general education courses or electives that satisfy general degree requirements for the student's National SMART Grant-eligible program, but who is not taking at least one course specific to and required for the National SMART Grant-eligible major, is not eligible for a National SMART Grant payment for that payment period. For example, the biology student described above may be taking courses during a semester in the humanities, the arts, and physical education in order to fulfill the general education requirements of the degree program or major. However, to be eligible for a National SMART Grant the student must also be enrolled in at least one course required for the student's National SMART Grant major. If the student were enrolled only in courses that satisfy the general education requirements of the National SMART Grant-eligible program, but not in any courses that are specific to the major, he or she would not be eligible for a National SMART Grant payment for the semester.

Federal Supplemental Equal Opportunity Grants (SEOG)
A Federal SEOG is for undergraduates with exceptional financial need—that is, students with the lowest EFC's as deemed by the data you report on your FAFSA. Priority is given to students who also receive Federal Pell Grants and file by PSU's priority deadline of March 1. A Federal SEOG does not have to be paid back. Please note that every eligible student might not receive a Federal SEOG because awards are based upon the funding availability at PSU. Expected academic year Federal SEOG awards range from $200 to $700.

Federal TEACH Grant Program (TEACH)
The PSU Financial Aid Team would like to announce that we will be participating in the TEACH Grant Program for the 2009-2010 academic year. Students who are in their junior or senior year of their Education program are eligible to be considered based on criteria established by the federal government.

The College Cost Reduction and Access Act created the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant Program. This program will be effective beginning with the 2009-2010 Award Year and provides up to $4,000 a year in grant assistance to undergraduate students who plan on becoming a teacher and meet certain specified requirements. If a student who receives a TEACH Grant does not complete the required years of teaching within the prescribed eight years after graduation, the grant must be repaid as a Direct Unsubsidized Loan under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program.

Please note, given the newness of this program, we do not expect to identify and award the TEACH Grant until after the Fall 2009 semester has begun. We will continue to update you as more information becomes available. For the most up to date information on the TEACH Grant Program, please click here. Additional information about what you need to know before you apply for a TEACH GRANT can be found here.

STATE GRANTS are available to help needy undergraduate students. Many states in New England have grants available for their exceptionally needy students. Each state determines the amount of the award based on the Expected Family Contribution as determined through the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Some states require an additional application be submitted to them. Please visit your state's web site for more information.

Connecticut
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire*
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Vermont

Note: Grants and Scholarships (Federal Pell, Federal SEOG, Federal ACG, Federal SMART, PSU Scholarship/Grants and state grants) make up the gift level awarded by PSU and IF ANY federal/state awards change, there normally is an adjustment in PSU's University Grant award (up or down).

*New Hampshire residents who complete their FAFSA by the priority deadline may be eligible to receive grant funds awarded by PSU and administered through the University System of New Hampshire. These awards are:

ACE - Affordable College Effort Grant – Beginning in 2006-07, this grant was established to assist New Hampshire needy students who graduated from a NH high school and began enrollment within one calendar year of high school graduation. FAFSA EFC's range must be $0-$1,000. Funds are to be used to pay direct billed PSU costs (tuition, fees, room and board). Grants may be renewable in future years pending funding availability. Priority deadline is March 1 of the preceding academic year.
NH Unique Annual Grant -NH grant program (funded by earnings from NH College 529 Savings Plan) provides a grant of $1,300 in 2009-10 to any New Hampshire student eligible to receive aid under the federal Title IV programs, whose 09-10 FAFSA is filed by December 31, 2009 with an EFC ranging from $0-1,000. Grants are available for four full-time academic years and renewable pending funding availability.
NH Unique Endowed Grant - NH grant program funded by endowment earnings from NH College 529 Savings Plan. Grants may be renewable in future years pending funding availability. Priority deadline is March 1 of the preceding academic year. Recipients are selected by PSU.