Basic Student Eligibility Criteria

Student basic eligibility requirements are that you must:

Demonstrate financial need for need-based federal student aid programs
Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen
Have a valid Social Security number
Provide consent and approval to have your federal tax information transferred directly into your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®)
Sign the certification statement on the FAFSA form stating that you’re not in default on a federal student loan, you do not owe money on a federal student grant, and you’ll only use federal student aid for educational purposes
Admitted and currently working toward an eligible PCC degree or certificate
- Have a high school diploma or a state-recognized equivalent such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate
- Completed a high school education in a homeschool setting approved under state law
- Admitted into an eligible career pathway program and meeting one of the ability-to-benefit alternatives
Have not reached your lifetime limit for the Pell Grant
Be enrolled for the minimum credit hours required based on the type of financial aid awarded
Meet PCC's satisfactory academic progress policy
Not receiving federal student aid at another institution within the same payment period