Federal Pell Grants

Awarding

Federal Pell Grants are awarded to high need, undergraduate students who are pursuing their first undergraduate degree. The amount awarded is based on the following:

• Adjusted Gross Income, Federal Poverty Levels, and the Student Aid Index, in some cases
• Cost of Attendance (as determined by the institution)
• Enrollment Intensity (i.e., the number of credits you are enrolled in versus full-time, 12.0 credits)
• Additionally, students who indicate “yes” to question 16 on the FAFSA “Parent Killed in the Line of Duty”.

Students may not receive a Federal Pell Grant from more than one school during a given semester. The actual amount of Federal Pell Grant a student may receive is based on the student's SAI and student’s enrollment (as of the fixed enrollment date) each semester.

Additional Pell Grant Eligibility

Students who exhaust their annual Pell Grant eligibility (100%) may be eligible for additional Pell Grant during a subsequent semester within the same academic year.

Students may receive up to 50% of their annual Pell Grant eligibility in the subsequent semester (based on enrollment).

Maximum Pell Grant Eligibility for Dependents of Certain Deceased Servicemembers and Public Safety Officers

• Students who answered “Yes” to the question "Was the student’s parent or guardian killed in the line of duty while (1) serving on active duty as a member of the U.S. armed forces on or after September 11, 2001, or (2) performing official duties as a public safety officer?“ on the 2025-2026 FAFSA, may be eligible for the maximum Federal Pell Grant. Additional information can be found here: https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/pell/unique-circumstances.

Public Safety Officer Definition

A public safety officer typically includes the following:

• Law enforcement officer
• Firefighter
• Member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) employee
• Chaplain
• Others defined in Section 1204 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968

Supporting Documentation

The OSFAS is required to request supporting documentation from students to evaluate their eligibility for a Federal Pell Grant eligibility under the Special Rule in HEA Section 401(c).

Examples of acceptable supporting documentation include:

• A copy of the servicemember’s DD Form 1300 (Report of Casualty) which documents death in the line of duty.
• A copy of the servicemember’s DD Form 214 and death certificate, documenting that the date and cause of death occurred during and because of active duty.
• A copy of a Department of Veterans Affairs Death Narrative Document.
• A determination letter acknowledging eligibility for certain federal benefits under the Public Safety Officers Benefit (PSOB) program administered by the Department of Justice.
• A written letter of attestation or determination made by a state or local government official with supervisory or other relevant oversight authority of an individual who died in the line of duty while serving as a public safety officer.
• Documentation of the student qualifying for a state tuition or other state benefit accorded to the children or other family members of a public safety officer.
• Other documentation which describes or reports the circumstances of the death and the eligible occupation of the student’s parent or guardian.

Students can use Secure File Upload to submit their supporting documentation to OSFAS here: Submit Documents | Office of Student Financial Aid Services (uconn.edu)

Lifetime Eligibility Limit

The federal Department of Education has established a Lifetime Eligibility Limit for Federal Pell Grant recipients:

• Students can receive a cumulative Pell Grant up to the equivalent of 12 terms of FULL-TIME enrollment or 600%
• If a student is approaching their lifetime maximum, their Pell Grant will be prorated

For more information about the Federal Pell Grant, please visit the Federal Student Aid website.

Federal Pell Grant and UConn’s Fixed Enrollment Date

University policy requires that financial aid and scholarships are based on a fixed enrollment date (the tenth day of classes) each semester. The tenth day of classes is the last day on which a student is able to add/drop via the Student Administration System. A student’s Federal Pell Grant will be prorated based on final enrollment as of the tenth day of classes. Detailed information is available on the Fixed Enrollment Date section.

Academic Engagement and Federal Pell Grant Eligibility

A student’s Federal Pell Grant eligibility may be impacted by course grades of F, N, or U in combination with a date of attendance reported by faculty. For details, please review the Academic Engagement page.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG)

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG) are offered to eligible full-time undergraduate students with exceptional financial need (typically Federal Pell Grant recipients) whose FAFSA has been received by the federal processor on or before UConn’s on-time deadline.

• These funds are limited and are awarded on the basis of financial need and fund availability to students pursuing their first undergraduate degree.

These funds may be initially awarded as University Grant as part of your financial aid offer. For more information, please navigate to FSEOG section of the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid site.

Teacher Education Assistance for College Grants (TEACH)

A Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant is different from other federal student grants because it requires eligible students to complete a teaching service obligation as a condition for receiving the grant. If students do not complete the service obligation, the TEACH Grant will be converted into a loan that students must repay, with interest.

At the University of Connecticut, the TEACH grant is available to high-achieving Senior and Junior-level undergraduate students, and graduate students in selected high-need teacher preparation programs within the NEAG School of Education. Students who are interested in a TEACH Grant must contact the NEAG School of Education to determine if they meet eligibility criteria.  The OSFAS advises students on the application requirements. Students who are awarded a TEACH grant must satisfy the Agreement to Serve (ATS) criteria which includes:

The TEACH Grant Service Obligation

• Teaching full-time for at least four (4) years within eight (8) years of completing their program at Title I school serving low-income students in specified subject areas (mathematics, science, a foreign language, bilingual education, special education, as a reading specialist, and other “high need” fields)

If the Agreement to Serve criteria is not met, the grant must be repaid as Federal Direct Unsubsidized Student Loan, with interest from the date(s) of first disbursement.

For detailed information about the TEACH Grant, including award amounts and detailed eligibility requirements, please visit https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/teach

There are two different programs associated with the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship Program:

• Roberta B. Willis Need-Merit Scholarship Program– the CT Office of Higher Education selects the recipients for this award. If you are identified as a recipient, this award will be reflected on your University fee bill as the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship
• Roberta B. Willis Need-Based Grant Program – to be eligible for this award students must meet the following criteria:
  • Enrolled at least Full-Time (12 credits)
  • Pursuing their first undergraduate degree
  • FAFSA received by UConn’s on-time deadline
  • Meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards

These funds are limited and are awarded on the basis of financial need and fund availability. These funds must be used for education expenses: specifically, tuition, fees, and up to $1,200 for books and supplies.

These funds may be initially awarded as University Grant as part of your financial aid offer. If part of your University Grant is funded by the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship Grant (Need), your financial aid offer may be adjusted during the Fall/Spring semesters, and all or a portion of your University Grant may be replaced with the Roberta B. Willis Grant, as reflected on your fee bill.

More information about the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship Program can be found at the Connecticut Office of Higher Education's Fact About Student Aid page.