Federal Grants

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant provides undergraduate students with assistance in meeting the cost of attendance at eligible public and private post-secondary institutions. It is funded through the Federal Government on the basis of need. The Pell Grant is money that does not have to be repaid.

Pell Grant Lifetime Limit

The amount of Federal Pell Grant funds you may receive over the course of your lifetime is limited by federal law. You may receive the Pell Grant for the equivalent of six years of full-time study. Each year of full-time study that you complete is equal to 100%. In certain situations, an eligible student can receive up to 150% of his or her scheduled Pell Grant for an award year. Because six years is the limit by federal law, students may receive 600% of their Pell Grant eligibility.

If you are approaching your lifetime limit for the Pell Grant, the financial aid office will calculate for you your remaining eligibility for each academic year. You are able to check your lifetime eligibility used (LEU) as well through “My Aid” on studentaid.gov. Additional information regarding the lifetime Pell Limit can be found on the Federal Student Aid website. 

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

The SEOG is a grant awarded to undergraduate students with the lowest EFC and gives priority to students who receive the Federal Pell Grant. The award can be up to $2,000 per year and priority is given to students who meet the FAFSA priority application deadline.

Please note that any changes to the FAFSA data may result in an adjustment to your SEOG, including but not limited to:

• Review of your FAFSA due to Verification.
• Enrollment less than half-time (6 credits undergraduate).
• Corrections made by staff due to conflicting university data.

TEACH Grant

The federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher  Education (TEACH) Grant provides up to $4,000* per year to eligible students who intend to teach full-time as a highly qualified teacher in specific high-need fields, in a low-income school. Aggregate maximums: $16,000* (undergraduates) and $8,000* (graduates). Failure to complete the required 4-year service requirement may permanently convert the TEACH Grant to an unsubsidized Direct loan.

*TEACH Grants first disbursed after March 1, 2013 will be reduced due to federal sequestration. 

Eligibility Requirements

• Meet basic eligibility requirements for federal student aid.
• Be admitted into a St. Cloud State University TEACH Grant-eligible major.
• Complete the SCSU TEACH Grant Application for each year you are applying for the TEACH Grant.
• Complete TEACH Grant initial and subsequent counseling and a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve or Repay for each year you are applying for the TEACH Grant.
• Meet academic requirements. In general, a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25/4.00 scale; a score above the 75th percentile on a college admission test (ACT, SAT, GRE); or a current teacher (graduate students only).
• CANNOT be working only on a K-12 teaching licensure or any of the following degrees: Bachelor of Elective Studies (BES), post-baccalaureate (second undergraduate), or doctoral.

Service Requirements

• Complete exit counseling once you leave school, or are no longer enrolled in coursework for an SCSU TEACH Grant-eligible program, or no longer meet the TEACH Grant academic requirement.
• Serve full-time for 4 years within 8 years of receiving the TEACH Grant. 
• Serve in a low-income school listed in the Teacher Cancellation Low Income (TCLI) Directory.
• Teach in a high-need field and fields on the U.S. Department of Education's Annual Teacher Shortage Area Nationwide Listing.