Federal Pell Grant

This grant is awarded to students demonstrating the greatest financial need according to a federal eligibility formula. To be eligible, you must be an undergraduate student working toward your first bachelor’s degree. Award amounts typically change each academic year and range depending upon financial need, as determined by a federal formula, and are prorated based on hours enrolled as of the add/drop period.

If you would like to know your estimated Federal Pell Grant for full-time enrollment, it would be listed on your Student Aid Report (SAR) that you receive from the U.S. Department of Education after filing your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Once your eligibility is determined, you will receive an award notice from the Student Financial Aid office. Award amounts are subject to change based on your enrollment status and changes to your FAFSA.

Enrollment and Eligibility Requirements

In order to maintain eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant, students must participate in enrolled courses. If a student drops, withdraws from, or fails a course, those courses will be reviewed for participation in academically related activities. If we are not able to document participation, then the Federal Pell Grant will be subject to a reduction based on course enrollment in which the student participated.

Visit studentaid.gov for more information about the Federal Pell Grant.


Internet Access for Pell-Eligible Students

The Affordable Connectivity Program is offered by the Federal Communications Commission to help connect families and households struggling to afford internet service. Note: this program is separate from the Federal Pell Grant, but it is available to students receiving a Pell Grant.

Eligibility

A household is eligible if one member of the household meets at least one of these criteria:

  • Has an income that is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
  • Participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistace, SSI, WIC, or Lifeline
  • Participates in Tribal-specific programs, such as Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal TANF, or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
  • Is approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school break fast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision
  • Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year
  • Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating broadband provider’s existing low-income program
How to Enroll
  1. Go to acpbenefit.org to submit an application or print out a mail-in application
  2. Contact your preferred participating internet provider to select an eligible plan and have the discount applied to your bill. Some providers may have an alternative application that they will ask you to complete.

Eligible households must both apply for the program and contact a participating provider to select a service plan.

Learn more by calling 877-384-2575 or visiting fcc.gov/acp.

Important Dates

For the 2024-2025 academic year

Dec. 1, 2023 - Scholarship deadline for first-time college students

Feb. 1, 2024 - Scholarship deadline for current & transfer students

March 1, 2024 - MU's recommended FAFSA priority submission date

Apr. 1, 2024 - FAFSA submission deadline

More dates