Grants
There are grant options available for qualifying students, to make college even more affordable. Explore the details outlined on this page and reach out to our financial aid office for assistance.
Pell Grants
Federal Pell Grants are normally awarded if you have demonstrated financial need and have not earned a bachelor’s or professional degree. The U.S. Department of Education determines eligibility by reviewing the FAFSA information, which produces an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as indicated on the Student Aid Report (SAR) for the 2023-24 FAFSA. Terminology will change to Student Aid Index (SAI) and FAFSA Submission Summary for the 2024-25 FAFSA.
The Pell Grant amount you receive is based on your financial need, whether you are attending full time or part time, and whether you are attending for a full academic year or less. You may not receive Pell Grant funds from more than one school at the same time. Your Lifetime Pell Limit is restricted to 600 percent (for example 12 semesters of full-time attendance) at all colleges. For more information on Pell Grants, visit the Federal Student Aid website.
Read about the 2024-25 FAFSA changes.
Pell Grant Eligibility
To be eligible for a Pell Grant, a student must complete a FAFSA and meet all of the following criteria:
- Have a high school diploma or a GED/HiSET Certificate.
- Be enrolled as a degree-seeking student in an approved Title IV program.
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen.
- Meet satisfactory academic progress standards set by the institution.
- Not be in default on a federal student loan.
- Not owe money on a federal student grant made under Title IV, at any institution.
Pell Grant awards on the Financial Aid Offer Letter are based on full time enrollment. Students who are enrolled in less than 12 credit hours will have their awards prorated as shown below under Pell Grant Intensity.
Pell Grant Intensity
Beginning with the 2024-2025 aid year, the Pell Grant will no longer be based on enrollment status. Instead, Pell Grant disbursement amounts will now be calculated using Enrollment Intensity — which is a percentage value based on the number of credits a student is enrolled for during a term.
For federal student aid purposes, full-time enrollment is 12 credit hours.
The chart below illustrates enrollment intensity relative to full-time enrollment. Note that enrollment intensity cannot exceed 100% for purposes of Pell Grant proration.
| Credit Hours | Enrollment Category (OLD) 23-24 and prior | Enrollment Intensity (NEW) 24-25 |
|---|---|---|
| 12 (or more) | Full-Time | 100% |
| 11 | 92% | |
| 10 | Three-Quarter Time | 83% |
| 9 | 75% | |
| 8 | 67% | |
| 7 | Half-Time | 58% |
| 6 | 50% | |
| 5 | 42% | |
| 4 | 33% | |
| 3 | Less-Than-Half-Time | 25% |
| 2 | 17% | |
| 1 | 8% |
Summer Pell
Beginning with the 2017-2018 academic year you may now receive a full Federal Pell Grant for summer even if you received a full Federal Pell Grant during the Fall and Spring semesters. Year-round Pell allows you to receive up to 150 percent of a regular grant award over the course of the academic year so that you may continue taking classes in the summer and finish your degree faster.
To be eligible for additional Pell Grant funds:
- You must be enrolled at least half time (6 credit hours) during the summer.
- You must be otherwise eligible to receive Pell Grant funds.
- You must be maintaining satisfactory academic progress.
Disbursements
Initial payments can be expected by approximately the fifth to sixth week of the Fall and Spring semesters (approximately the third week of the Summer semester). Payments will be made weekly throughout the semester. Late applicants can expect payment in accordance with receipt and processing of their files. Payments are made to the student’s account in order to pay institutional expenses incurred. If the disbursed amount exceeds the student’s account balance, the student will receive a disbursement for the credit balance.
Financial Aid Freeze Dates
The dates for determining a student’s financial aid enrollment level for each term in the semester is the Financial Aid Freeze dates. Enrollment will be frozen on the freeze/census dates for the Full and A session, which normally occurs approximately 4 weeks into the semester. For students who are taking B session courses, enrollment will be recalculated. This freeze date occurs approximately one week following the no show process.
Students may expect Pell payments to begin approximately the fifth to sixth week of the semester for Fall and Spring with B session courses being paid after attendance verification is completed.
The summer semester at Three Rivers College is treated as a trailer to the academic year. Therefore, Pell and loan payments for the summer semester will only be for those students who are enrolled in Summer classes and have remaining eligibility from the current academic year. Students receiving Summer Pell and/or loan payments may expect payment to begin approximately one week following the no show process.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants
FSEOG grants are awarded to students with the lowest Expected Family Contribution as calculated through the FAFSA. Due to limited funding, not every eligible student will receive FSEOG. The annual award typically ranges from $200-$600 at Three Rivers. For more information on FSEOG grants, visit the Federal Student Aid website. The FAFSA is necessary to determine a student’s eligibility for FSEOG.
