• Single Award Rule: Students may not receive Federal Pell Grant funds from more than one institution at a time. Concurrent enrollment and receipt of Pell funds from multiple schools are prohibited under federal regulations (34 CFR 690.11 / 20 USC 1070a).
• Determination of Grant Amount: The amount of Pell Grant awarded is based on the number of credit hours a student is enrolled in, referred to as "Enrollment Intensity," and the Student Aid Index (SAI) as of the Pell Recalculation Date (PRD).
• Repayment Obligations: Pell Grant funds do not require repayment unless a student drops courses or withdraws from the institution. These actions may affect eligibility and could result in a return of funds.

Determining Eligibility

Cost of Attendance:

The Cost of Attendance (COA) is an estimate of how much it will cost to attend Laredo College for an academic year and it is designed to ensure students plan for their education expenses. It includes two types of costs: Direct Costs, which are expenses paid directly to the school, like tuition and fees, and Indirect Costs, which are additional expenses not paid directly to the school, like transportation, books, personal needs, etc.

A student's COA depends on additional factors such as enrollment status, full-time vs. part-time, and the student's residency classification for tuition purposes. A detailed summary of the Cost of Attendance can be found on the Office of Financial Aid website.  

Student Aid Index (SAI): 

The U.S. Department of Education utilizes information submitted by the student and all contributors through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to calculate and generate a Student Aid Index (SAI).

It is a formula-based index number used by financial aid professionals when determining how much financial support a student may need and create a personalized financial aid offer. 

Student Aid Index (SAI) Chart: 

Credit Hours	Enrollment Category 2023-2024	Enrollment Intensity 2024-2025
12 (or more)	Full-Time	100%
11	Three-Quarter Time	92%
10		83%
9		75%
8	Half-Time	67%
7		58%
6		50%
5	Less-than-Half-Time	42%
4		33%
3		25%
2		17%
1		8%

For additional information or to learn how the SAI is calculated visit the Federal Student Aid website. 

Calculation of Financial Need for Federal Student Aid:

When applying for Federal Student Aid, the information provided on the FAFSA is utilized in a formula established by the U.S. Department of Education. This formula determines the Student Aid Index (SAI), which reflects the financial strength of the student and/or the student’s family. If the SAI falls below a certain threshold, eligibility for a Federal Pell Grant may be granted, provided all other eligibility criteria are met. There is no specific maximum SAI that determines eligibility for other financial aid programs. Instead, the SAI is used in the following equation to assess financial need:

Cost of Attendance (COA) - Student Aid Index (SAI) = Financial Need

To calculate unmet need for aid beyond the Federal Pell Grant, the formula is:

Cost of Attendance (COA) - Student Aid Index (SAI) - Pell Grant and any Other Financial Assistance (OFA) = Unmet Need

The financial need calculation is utilized Laredo College to determine eligibility for grants, scholarships, and work-study opportunities. The combination of financial aid from these sources is referred to as a financial aid package, which is designed to assist in meeting the student’s financial need.

Initial Pell Calculation

The Initial Pell Calculation offered to an eligible student is done based on the following factors: 

• Enrollment (awards offered are based on a full time enrollment status or 12 SCHs)
• SAI
• Cost of Attendance

Developmental courses are limited to 30 credit hours of funding over a student's academic career, and any attempts beyond that will not count toward enrollment status for Pell eligibility.

Year-Round Pell

Pell Grant-eligible students may receive up to 150% of their scheduled Pell award each year. For instance, if a student receives the full Pell Grant amount in the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semesters, they may qualify for additional Pell Grant funding in the Summer 2025 term, using Year-Round Pell eligibility.

Year-Round Pell vs. Summer Pell Grant

• Year-Round Pell: If a student is enrolled full-time and receives a full-time Pell Grant during the Fall and Spring semesters, they must register for the summer term to receive additional Pell funds for that year.
• Pell Grant Remainder: If a student is enrolled part-time during the Fall and/or Spring semesters, the remainder of the Pell Grant for that award year can be used for the summer term, assuming SAI and other eligibility requirements are met.
• Combination: A student enrolled part-time during the Fall or Spring semesters may receive a combination of the Pell Grant remainder and year-round Pell funds, as long as eligibility requirements are met.

Federal Pell Grant Under the Special Rule in HEA Section 401(c)

Beginning with the 2024-2025 award year, students who meet eligibility under the Special Rule in HEA Section 401(c), previously known as the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants and the Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act, will receive the maximum Pell Grant, regardless of their calculated SAI. Year-round Pell eligibility also applies to students receiving federal Pell grants under the Special Rule.

To receive a Pell Grant under the Special Rule, a student must meet the following conditions:

• The student must be the child of a parent or guardian who died in the line of duty while serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces on or after September 11, 2001, or while serving as a public safety officer.
• The student must be less than 33 years old as of January 1 prior to the award year for which they are applying.

Eligible students will self-identify potential eligibility on the FAFSA, and Laredo College will verify eligibility by collecting supporting documentation. The college will report Special Rule eligibility to the U.S. Department of Education, and students will be awarded the maximum Pell Grant, regardless of their SAI.

Students who were previously eligible for and received funds under the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant (IASG) or the Children of Fallen Heroes (CFH) eligibility criteria during the 2023-24 award year but do not meet the new eligibility criteria under the Special Rule for 2024-25 will continue to receive Pell Grant funds under prior IASG or CFH criteria.

In addition to these requirements, the student must meet the following eligibility criteria established by the U.S. Department of Education:

• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Have a valid Social Security Number
• Possess a high school diploma or General Education Development (GED) certificate
• Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a degree or certificate program at Laredo College
• Comply with the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy

Laredo College adheres to the same monitoring requirements for students receiving assistance under the Special Rule as those receiving Federal Pell Grant funds. This ensures that all students meet the necessary eligibility criteria and maintain compliance with institutional, state, and federal regulations.

Pell Lifetime Eligibility Used (PLEU)

Effective July 1, 2012, students are limited to receiving the Pell Grant for the equivalent of six years of full-time enrollment (12 semesters or 600%). This change applies to all students, regardless of when the first Pell Grant was awarded. The maximum annual Pell Grant award is 100% of a student's scheduled Pell amount or 150% for students eligible for Year-Round Pell.

Pell Recalculation

Each term, the Office of Financial Aid will establish a single Pell Recalculation Date (PRD).

The Pell Recalculation Date (PRD) is the final date by which a student's enrollment status can affect the amount of Pell Grant received.

At Laredo College, the PRD will occur after the census date of the 16-week courses and the first 8-week courses, but prior to the withdrawal deadline for the first 8-week courses.

The student's enrollment intensity will be recorded at the end of the PRD. After this date, Pell Grant eligibility will remain unchanged, even if there are subsequent additions or drops in course enrollment, except in cases where an initial Pell calculation has not been established or a mandatory recalculation is required.

Exceptions:

1. Initial Pell Calculation After PRD: If the initial Pell Grant calculation is performed after the PRD because the student was not enrolled in any classes at the time, the enrollment intensity from the initial Pell Grant calculation will be used, regardless of the PRD. Once the initial Pell Grant calculation is established, no further adjustments will be made for subsequent changes in enrollment intensity.

Example: If a student enrolls in 10 credit hours after the PRD and the institution receives the student’s Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) and performs the initial Pell Grant calculation, the grant will be based on the 10 credit hours. The student will receive Pell Grant funds based on an enrollment intensity of 10/12 (83%). If the student subsequently adds or drops credit hours, no further adjustments will be made to the Pell Grant award.

2. Mandatory Pell Recalculation: A recalculation of Pell Grant eligibility is required if:

• A student is considered to have withdrawn from courses. (officially or unofficially)
• A student did not begin attendance in one or more enrolled courses.

Initial Pell Calculation Before PRD: According to guidance from the U.S. Department of Education, a student is not considered to have 'zero enrollment' status on the PRD, even if not enrolled in any classes at that time.  In such cases, Pell Grant may be awarded based on the initial calculation, provided the student begins attendance in classes upon which the enrollment intensity is based, during a second part of term, for instance. 

Example: A student who is originally awarded a full-time Pell Grant for both fall and spring terms (with the initial Pell calculation performed before the academic year began) and enrolls full-time in the fall semester (receives a full-time Pell Grant for the Fall semester) but does not enroll in any courses during the 16-week term or the first 8-week term of the Spring semester, but later enrolls in two 3-credit courses for the second 8-week term, results in an enrollment intensity of 6/12 (50%) after the PRD for the Spring semester.

In this scenario, although the student shows zero credit hours on the PRD of the Spring semester, the institution may use the six credit hours from the second 8-week term to calculate the Pell Grant. The student will not receive a full-time Pell Grant for the Spring semester, but they are eligible for a grant based on 6/12 (50%) enrollment intensity. Once the Pell Grant is calculated based on the enrollment intensity as of the PRD, the institution's recalculation policy will apply, and no further adjustments will be made for subsequent changes in the student’s enrollment status.

Pell Grant Payment for Students with No Enrollment on the Pell Recalculation Date (PRD)

If a student is not enrolled in any classes on the PRD, the Pell Grant may still be disbursed based on the initial Pell Grant calculation, if calculated before the PRD, provided that the student enrolls in later courses within the term.

If a student is not enrolled in any classes on the PRD, the Pell Grant will not be disbursed, provided that the student never enrolls in courses within the term. 

Note: Students' continued enrollment during the semester impacts eligibility. If a student withdraws or does not earn at least one passing grade, a repayment of awarded funds may be required.