Pell Grants: The government’s free money for college

The Pell Grant is the most used money in the United States to pay for school. The Pell Grant was originally named for a U.S. Senator named Claiborne Pell and it was originally called the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant program. The Pell Grant was awarded based on financial need and was decided upon by the U.S. Congress using information that’s found on the Free Application For Student Aid (FAFSA).

The current amount of the Pell Grant was raised to $5,800 (with students getting the maximum of $4,050) through 2011. The Pell Grant money was to be applied towards books, fees, and supplies used for school. Students that have the greater need will get more where students with less need will get less money. The Pell Grant is to be increased to $5,400 by 2012 that means students who utilize the Pell Grant since they will not pay for graduate school, but will only pay for an undergraduate degree or trade school program certificates.

Many students who are not educated to the proper use of a Pell Grant will be out of luck when they can’t complete their education because they wasted the money. The Pell Grant can be revoked if a student doesn’t maintain a C average in school which is required of students to maintain their GPA while in school to keep their money.

No country in the world offers this kind of incentive to college and university students. This explains why it’s hard to get the Pell Grant each year with so many students applying for the money. It’s helpful to have when you don’t want to take out loans to pay for classes and it cuts costs especially for students who are in community and junior colleges to take their classes and to graduate or transfer to a 4 year school.

Four-year colleges and universities will drain the Pell Grant up in one single year and sometimes it’s not enough since tuition at colleges and universities go up every year by one per cent which can drive costs up pretty high for books, tuition, and room and board for those who are living in a dormitory setting. This money should be used wisely and not wasted because Pell Grant money once used and exhausted you can’t get it again as an undergrad getting a bachelor’s degree since they pay only up to 4 years.

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