Grants

Federal Pell Grant

A Pell grant is funded by the federal government and does not have to be repaid. The Pell Grant may only be awarded to undergraduate, degree-seeking students who have not already obtained a bachelor's degree. The award amount is based on a student's financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and enrollment status. Students' awards will be adjusted based on number of hours enrolled if less than full-time (12 hours). The U.S. Department of Education guarantees that eligible students will receive their awarded amount. Awards for the 2012-2013 academic year range from $603 to $5550, based on a students EFC and enrollment status. The Pell Grant may be available in the Summer semester if you did not attend full-time during the Fall AND Spring semester.

CHANGE EFFECTIVE WITH THE 2012-2013 ACADEMIC YEAR: An otherwise eligible student can receive the Federal Pell Grant until the earliest of a bachelors degree or until the student has received the Federal Pell Grant for an equivalent of 12 full-time semesters. This limitation includes the percentage of Federal Pell Grant the student has received from all post-secondary institutions. Given that receipt of a full Federal Pell Grant annual award is equivalent to 100%, fall/spring enrollment for 6 years equates to 12 full-time semesters or 600%. The following is applicable to MTSU:

• Each full-time semester (12 or more credits) that the students receives the Federal Pell Grant represents 50% of an annual award.

• Each three-quarter semester (9 to 11 credits) that the student receives the Federal Pell Grant represents 37.5 percent of an annual award.

• Each half-time semester (6 to 8 credits) that the student receives the Federal Pell Grant represents 25% of an annual award.

Students may vary in their enrollment status (and thus Federal Pell Grant eligibility) throughout their college experience. Depending upon the institution, the student might have been paid Federal Pell Grant based on a semester, trimester, or quarterly basis. During most recent award years, students were allowed to receive greater than 100% of an annual award during the same award year. Receiving a Federal Pell Grant greater than 100% of the annual award is no longer an option beginning with the 2011-12 award year.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

SEOG is a grant funded by the federal government for undergraduate, degree-seeking students with exceptional financial need. The amount of SEOG funds is limited. Priority is given to students who receive Federal Pell Grants, are in good academic standing, and meet MTSU's priority deadline. A SEOG grant does not have to be repaid. The average SEOG award is $600 per academic year. There is no guarantee that every eligible student will be able to receive a SEOG award.

Tennessee State Assistance Award (TSAA)

The Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) provides a need-based grant program for undergraduate students attending eligible Tennessee institutions. Recipients must be U.S. citizens, meet Tennessee residency requirements for state student aid, be enrolled in a degree-seeking program, and meet TSAC's need requirements based on the FAFSA. Awards vary based on need and enrollment status. Funds are awarded on a "first-come-first-serve" basis.

D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant Program

If you are a resident of the District of Columbia, you may qualify for a grant - not a loan - to attend public colleges and universities nationwide. This grant pays the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition. This means you pay the low in-state rate, or get $2,500 per year to go to private colleges and universities in the Washington metropolitan area.

D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant Website