Pell Grants were once known as Basic Educational Opportunity Grants (BEOGs). According to ed.gov, “The Federal Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain postbaccalaureate students to promote access to postsecondary education. Students may use their grants at any one of approximately 5,400 participating postsecondary institutions. Grant amounts are dependent on: the student's expected family contribution (EFC); the cost of attendance (as determined by the institution); the student's enrollment status (full-time or part-time); and whether the student attends for a full academic year or less. Students may not receive Federal Pell Grant funds from more than one school at a time.

These grants are awarded directly to qualifying students through participating institutions. To qualify students must not yet have received their first bachelor's degree or they must be enrolled in certain postbaccalaureate programs that will qualify them for teaching positions. Sometimes the participating institutions pay the funds directly to the student, typically by check, sometimes they will credit the students institution account, and sometimes they will use a combination of both methods. The institutions are required to pay the students at least once per relavant term, depending on the institution's academic year (e.g. quarter, semester, or trimester). Students must be paid at least once per term (semester, trimester, or quarter). If the school does not have a formally specified academic year term, they must pay the student at least twice a year.

If you need assistance but don't qualify for a Pell Grant, you may seek a government loan by filling out the FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Almost everyone is eligible for some form of assistance. If you can't qualify for needs-based aid it is probable you may be able to get an unsubsidized Stafford Loan to help you get through college regardless of your income situation. You can get additional information about FAFSA on the Free Scholarships Wiki website. You may also want to check out the wealth of Service-Oriented Scholarships information detailed on that site.

There are many ways to approach getting help to go to college!

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