Pell Grant

Students must annually complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid ("FAFSA") to apply for all federal financial aid programs. This includes the Federal Pell Grant Program.

NOTE:   The United States Congress is currently debating how to fund federal programs for the 2013 Fiscal Year.

Effective with the 2011-2012 academic year, Congress has revoked the provisions in the law that went into effect last year that allowed a student to receive "two" Pell Grants in one award year.

Annual Maximum Awards

The maximum amount can change each award year and depends on program funding. The amount you get, though, will depend not only on your financial need, but also on your costs to attend school, your status as a full-time or part-time student, and your plans to attend school for a full academic year or less.

  • The maximum scheduled Pell Grant award for the 2013-2014 award year will be $5,645 
  • The maximum scheduled Pell Grant award for the 2012-2013  award year - is $5,550 for students enrolled on a full-time basis 
    • The maximum scheduled Pell Grant award for the 2011-2012  award year - is $5,550 for students enrolled on a full-time basis 
    • The maximum scheduled Pell Grant award for the 2010-2011  award year is $5,550 for students enrolled on a full-time basis 
    • The maximum annual Pell Grant award for the 2009-2010 year was $5,350
    • The maximum annual Pell Grant award for the 2008-2009 year was $4,731.

Key concepts and definitions

The first critical concept revolves around the definition of an academic year.

For purposes of federal financial aid programs at Loyola University New Orleans , an academic year is a period of time  (normally a minimum of 30 weeks or fall plus spring semester) during which a full -time undergraduate student is expected to complete a minimum of 24 credit hours.

Annual grant limits are tied to the completion of an academic year.

Award year refers to the specific enrollment period. The "normal" award year at Loyola is the fall and spring semesters ( currently the 2011-2012 year).  Award years  run from July 1 to June 30.

A "Cross -Over Payment Period" is any period that includes both June 30th and July 1 . For the purposes of federal financial aid programs, this period must be assigned to a specific financial aid award year. These years begin each July1.

CHANGE EFFECTIVE WITH THE 2011-2012 ACADEMIC YEAR:  Eligibility for Pell Grants will be reduced from 18 to 12 full-time semesters. As before, semesters are counted based on the portion of a full-time equivalent, so that half-time enrollment is counted as half a semester toward the 12-semester limit.

Students who receive their first Pell Grant on or after July 1, 2008 may receive Pell Grants for as many as 12 semesters (or the equivalent).

Special Adjustments for children of deceased service members

 The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 grants an automatic zero EFC for the Pell Grant Program ONLY to  Pell Grant eligible students whose parent or guardian was a member of the Armed Forces and died in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001.  For more information, go to Programs for dependents of Veterans.

Eligibility Exclusions

Effective July 1, 2009, an individual subject to involuntary civil confinement or civil commitment upon completion of a period of incarceration for a forcible or non-forcible sexual crime is ineligible for a Pell Grant.

We are awaiting further implementation guidance from the Department of Education on this new regulation.

The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators ("NASFAA") contacted the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and that organization indicated that, to their knowledge, 20 states had such programs: Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

We understand that Louisiana Law does not allow for the involuntary civil confinement or civil commitment of an individual upon completion of a period of incarceration for a forcible or non-forcible sexual crime.

In the State of Louisiana convicted sex offenders must register with the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections. Information concerning offenders registered may be disclosed to any person requesting information on a specific individual in accordance with the law. The following Louisiana State Police website has further information and requests for information can be submitted electronically: http://www.lsp.org/socpr/default.html

Sex Offender Registries from neighboring states:

 

 

 

Updated February 11, 2013