Federal Grants

Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is an entitlement program.  Students must demonstrate financial need to qualify. The student must complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to have financial need determined.

Purpose: The Federal Pell Grant is federally funded with the purpose of helping financially needy students meet the cost of post-secondary education. This program is centrally administered by the Federal Department of Education.

Determining Eligibility: Stanly Community College deems the Pell Grant as the foundation of a student’s financial aid package. A student requesting financial assistance must establish their Pell Grant eligibility before financial assistance is determined. Student eligibility is determined by using the Federal Methodology need analysis formula.

Students must submit a FAFSA by June 30th of the academic year, i.e. for the 2022-2023 academic year, the deadline in is June 30, 2023. No applications will be accepted by the Department of Education after the deadline.

Students who submit FAFSA’s after the end of an enrollment period for which the student has met all the necessary criteria, will receive a retroactive (late) award provided the students file is complete prior to the last day of classes for the academic year. Students will not receive a retroactive (late) award for classes that have been withdrawn or received a grade of “F”.

Year-Round Pell Grant:   Students may receive 150 percent of their annual award.  In other words a Pell eligible student may receive an additional semester award for the Summer Semester.  Students must be Pell eligible based on academic progress and lifetime eligibility and  be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours.   Students are encouraged to contact the SCC Financial Aid office with any questions.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

To receive a Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), a student must have financial need and must meet the general eligibility requirements of the Pell Grant. Students with the lowest EFCs who will also receive Pell Grants for the award year have primary consideration for an FSEOG. If, after giving FSEOG awards to all its Pell recipients, a school has FSEOG funds remaining, it can award those funds to eligible students with the lowest EFCs who will not receive Pell Grants.

Additionally, to receive an FSEOG, one must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as an undergraduate student and must not have previously earned a bachelor’s or first professional degree. A school must make FSEOG funds reasonably available (to the extent that funds remain) to all eligible students.

SEOG funds are limited and may be subject to reallocation if not disbursed.

Enrollment Status:  The semester enrollment status of a student is determined after the end of the drop/add period.  As a result, the financial aid award amounts will be based on the student’s class schedule as of the 10% point or census date of the semester.

OR if a student is only enrolled in late start classes (classes that begin after the 10% point of the semester) the enrollment status will be based on the start date of each class.

**The award will be reduced proportionally if enrolled for less than full-time, i.e.

Note:  Awards are recalculated when there is a change in the EFC, change in enrollment status and when the cost of attendance changes.

Disbursement dates are posted on the Financial Aid Calendar.  Students beginning classes before the 10% point or census date of the semester will have one disbursement date - about 30 days after the start of the semester. 

Students beginning all classes after the 10% point or census date of the semester may have multiple disbursement dates depending on when their classes begin.  Disbursements are typically 30 days after the start of classes.