2023-2024 Pell Grant Max: $7395 (Options to use this)

[bjcheung77]

For myself, I do not have tuition assistance or reimbursement, I do have a small stipend at work for learning (specific Business or IT exams too), so I like to take some courses here and there for enjoyment and to fill in some learning gaps I think I may have in these subjects. I'm taking Business or IT related courses I can get my hands on, even if there is no reimbursement, it's for learning or professional growth purposes.

Depending on the amount of Federal Pell Grant award you get, along with any subsidized or non-subsidized loans, your education budget/fund saved, you can pretty much get an undergrad degree without any debt at all with the recommended institutions we have degree plans for on the WIKI. You have choices from the Big 3 (COSC, Excelsior, TESU) to Competency Based Education options such as PUG, TAMUC, UMPI, WGU and several more such as SNHU, or ones that we on the WIKI that aren't as recommended as a whole.

PUG, if you take 3 terms to finish your degree after maxing your 90 credit transfer, it'll be $7500 plus any extra fees.  You would take the total from these and subtract your Pell Grant to reach your total out of pocket fees.  Pretend the subtotal for PUG is $7500, Pell Max Award $7395, in total out of pocket would be $105 (plus cost for the alternative transfer credits) for a Bachelors!
PUG Tuition Reference: https://www.purdueglobal.edu/tuition-fin...-and-fees/

Excelsior, if you take the minimum 7 credits with them, it'll be close $4K alone for the credits and fees combined.  You'll have left over a bit over 3K for other expenses you may have related to the 113 credits you transfer in. In essence, the entire degree plus the fees you paid for those 113 credits are paid for with this Pell Grant. You may want to get the Associates on route to that Bachelors with the extra money you saved.

UMPI, 3 sessions at $1500 each will only cost you $4500.  You have close to 3K as well for any expenses you needed to transfer the max of 90 credits from ACE sources such as Sophia.org/Study.com or whatever provider you wanted to take courses from.  This would be a great option to double major in something, such as BA Accounting & BA English or BA History & BABA Project Management/Info Systems and max the Pell Grant.

TESU, 15x545=$8175. You can go for a dual degree such as BACS/BABA CIS and add in a couple certs and/or Associates on route to that degree.  You'll be paying a little under 1 grand out of pocket if you get the max Pell, but in the end, you have two Bachelors of your choice.  If you go for two flat rate terms, it'll be $8598, and you can take the Bachelors to Masters option for graduate credits instead.  It depends on you...

WGU, an option here is the Accelerated Bachelors $3985/Masters degree $3,940 combo for $7925.  You're are paying out of pocket a few hundred dollars but you're getting both the Bachelors and Masters in IT/ITM from WGU.  I really like this option if you can and want to take this combo degree, certs are included so you're working on the trifecta - Certs, Degree, Experience.

Amounts can change yearly. The maximum Federal Pell Grant award is $7,395 for the 2023–24 award year (July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024).
Reference: https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/pell

[allvia]

Pell Grants only apply to undergraduate degrees (they stop once your 1st bachelor is awarded - or you max out)

In order to receive your full Pell Grant award you need to be a Full-Time Student (12 credit min) for the term/semester, and is based on a full year.  You can receive a partial amount if you are at least half-time (6 min). The money is distributed on a prorated annual basis (it is not an all or nothing award).

So, unfortunately it doesn't work in all the examples that bjcheung77 posted; not for the EU (7 credits taken in same term would be 25% award*), for for WGU (50%* because once the bachelor is awarded after a single term, the grant ends), Not for TESU because the 15 credits would need to be taken in one term (semester) to be considered full-time (again that is only 50% award*).  The other examples seem plausible as options based on how I read them. As far as graduating without any debt at all - yes that is possible, but if you graduate and you have any subsidized or non-subsidized loans - that is debt (don't think you can use your Pell Grant to pay your student loan, that is a plan set to fail).

I can not emphasis this enough...your Pell Grant award eligibility ends the moment you are granted ANY bachelor.  I have seen a few posts here where people work towards gaining a general bachelor (BLS - for example) and plan to return for a specific field degree (BSBA, or BS/BACS - for example) and they are under the impression they will still have Pell Grant money available. I can only assume this is because they had not (needed to) max out their award dollars/years to earn that first bachelor, and didn't understand the overall rules.  On the upside, there used to be a time that you couldn't actually use the Pell Grant year round (it was Fall/Spring only), but now many schools have it set up for year round availability (again prorated by FT/PT and term/semester). As bjcheung77 mentioned the award year is not calendar, it is July 1 - June 30.

Additionally, it is very common that companies who offer tuition reimbursement/assistance will only pay for costs above and beyond any Financial Aid awarded (meaning grants or scholarships - loans don't count). So you can't get paid/reimbursed twice for the same educational costs. Meaning, if your Pell Grant covered your UMPI tuition fully, don't be looking for your employer to reimburse you for your UMPI tuition as well.

*approx max, could vary on school's prorating method.

[staceydiane]

For myself, I do not have tuition assistance or reimbursement, I do have a small stipend at work for learning (specific Business or IT exams too), so I like to take some courses here and there for enjoyment and to fill in some learning gaps I think I may have in these subjects. I'm taking Business or IT related courses I can get my hands on, even if there is no reimbursement, it's for learning or professional growth purposes.

Depending on the amount of Federal Pell Grant award you get, along with any subsidized or non-subsidized loans, your education budget/fund saved, you can pretty much get an undergrad degree without any debt at all with the recommended institutions we have degree plans for on the WIKI. You have choices from the Big 3 (COSC, Excelsior, TESU) to Competency Based Education options such as PUG, TAMUC, UMPI, WGU and several more such as SNHU, or ones that we on the WIKI that aren't as recommended as a whole.

PUG, if you take 3 terms to finish your degree after maxing your 90 credit transfer, it'll be $7500 plus any extra fees.  You would take the total from these and subtract your Pell Grant to reach your total out of pocket fees.  Pretend the subtotal for PUG is $7500, Pell Max Award $7395, in total out of pocket would be $105 (plus cost for the alternative transfer credits) for a Bachelors!
PUG Tuition Reference: https://www.purdueglobal.edu/tuition-fin...-and-fees/

Excelsior, if you take the minimum 7 credits with them, it'll be close $4K alone for the credits and fees combined.  You'll have left over a bit over 3K for other expenses you may have related to the 113 credits you transfer in. In essence, the entire degree plus the fees you paid for those 113 credits are paid for with this Pell Grant. You may want to get the Associates on route to that Bachelors with the extra money you saved.

UMPI, 3 sessions at $1500 each will only cost you $4500.  You have close to 3K as well for any expenses you needed to transfer the max of 90 credits from ACE sources such as Sophia.org/Study.com or whatever provider you wanted to take courses from.  This would be a great option to double major in something, such as BA Accounting & BA English or BA History & BABA Project Management/Info Systems and max the Pell Grant.

TESU, 15x545=$8175. You can go for a dual degree such as BACS/BABA CIS and add in a couple certs and/or Associates on route to that degree.  You'll be paying a little under 1 grand out of pocket if you get the max Pell, but in the end, you have two Bachelors of your choice.  If you go for two flat rate terms, it'll be $8598, and you can take the Bachelors to Masters option for graduate credits instead.  It depends on you...

WGU, an option here is the Accelerated Bachelors $3985/Masters degree $3,940 combo for $7925.  You're are paying out of pocket a few hundred dollars but you're getting both the Bachelors and Masters in IT/ITM from WGU.  I really like this option if you can and want to take this combo degree, certs are included so you're working on the trifecta - Certs, Degree, Experience.

Amounts can change yearly. The maximum Federal Pell Grant award is $7,395 for the 2023–24 award year (July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024).
Reference: https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/pell

This amount is good to know.  I got my financial aid sorted out so I will be able to use it for my Bachelor's degree once I decide what I am doing.

[ss20ts]

PUG, if you take 3 terms to finish your degree after maxing your 90 credit transfer, it'll be $7500 plus any extra fees.  You would take the total from these and subtract your Pell Grant to reach your total out of pocket fees.  Pretend the subtotal for PUG is $7500, Pell Max Award $7395, in total out of pocket would be $105 (plus cost for the alternative transfer credits) for a Bachelors!
PUG Tuition Reference: https://www.purdueglobal.edu/tuition-fin...-and-fees/


UMPI, 3 sessions at $1500 each will only cost you $4500.  You have close to 3K as well for any expenses you needed to transfer the max of 90 credits from ACE sources such as Sophia.org/Study.com or whatever provider you wanted to take courses from.  This would be a great option to double major in something, such as BA Accounting & BA English or BA History & BABA Project Management/Info Systems and max the Pell Grant.


Amounts can change yearly. The maximum Federal Pell Grant award is $7,395 for the 2023–24 award year (July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024).
Reference: https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/pell

PUG has fees in addition to their tuition. The Capstone also doesn't fall under the term tuition and is instead their per credit + fees tuition.

Most people are finishing UMPI is 2 or less sessions so they're not going to receive the full Pell Grant and get a huge refund. Even with people taking 3 sessions, it depends on where in the academic calendar they are taken if you'll get the full grant. Summer sessions aren't calculated the same for whatever reason. 

Please don't enroll at any school and assume that you will have thousands of Pell Grant refunded to you. Yes, a few students have received a refund, but for most students you do not receive a refund because you're not a full time student for the fall and spring semesters.

[staceydiane]

PUG, if you take 3 terms to finish your degree after maxing your 90 credit transfer, it'll be $7500 plus any extra fees.  You would take the total from these and subtract your Pell Grant to reach your total out of pocket fees.  Pretend the subtotal for PUG is $7500, Pell Max Award $7395, in total out of pocket would be $105 (plus cost for the alternative transfer credits) for a Bachelors!
PUG Tuition Reference: https://www.purdueglobal.edu/tuition-fin...-and-fees/


UMPI, 3 sessions at $1500 each will only cost you $4500.  You have close to 3K as well for any expenses you needed to transfer the max of 90 credits from ACE sources such as Sophia.org/Study.com or whatever provider you wanted to take courses from.  This would be a great option to double major in something, such as BA Accounting & BA English or BA History & BABA Project Management/Info Systems and max the Pell Grant.


Amounts can change yearly. The maximum Federal Pell Grant award is $7,395 for the 2023–24 award year (July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024).
Reference: https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/pell

PUG has fees in addition to their tuition. The Capstone also doesn't fall under the term tuition and is instead their per credit + fees tuition.

Most people are finishing UMPI is 2 or less sessions so they're not going to receive the full Pell Grant and get a huge refund. Even with people taking 3 sessions, it depends on where in the academic calendar they are taken if you'll get the full grant. Summer sessions aren't calculated the same for whatever reason. 

Please don't enroll at any school and assume that you will have thousands of Pell Grant refunded to you. Yes, a few students have received a refund, but for most students you do not receive a refund because you're not a full time student for the fall and spring semesters.

I am not worried about refunds.  I just want to pay for school.

[ss20ts]

I am not worried about refunds.  I just want to pay for school.

That's you. I have seen several people on here want to get a refund - basically get paid to go to school. I have had people message me wanting to know how that works. People should never select a school or program because they may be able to get a refund. More often than not, there is no refund and they have out of pocket costs.

[LevelUP]

Today, at least 47% of employers off tuition reimbursement, which usually is up to around $5000 per year.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/5540...-benefits/

Starting wage of a college grad is around $50,000. A college degree can pay off very quickly.

[midnite123]

I am not worried about refunds.  I just want to pay for school.

That's you. I have seen several people on here want to get a refund - basically get paid to go to school. I have had people message me wanting to know how that works. People should never select a school or program because they may be able to get a refund. More often than not, there is no refund and they have out of pocket costs.

Hi,

You seem very knowledgeable about financial aid!

How would one go about getting a refund or excess $$$,
after paying for college?
I am saying including Pell grants ,
plus federal student  loans.
This extra money could be used towards housing expenses.
I know loans have to be paid back later,
but $$$ now is sometimes a good thing.

Would someone  achieve this by attending a cheap community college?

THANK YOU!!!

[bjcheung77]

@midnite123, basically, state regulations/rules slightly differ. I usually recommend going to the community college and use whatever inexpensive credits you can get, then ladder to the 4 year college/university. For example, you're in NJ state, you already have free community college, if you go for 3 years free. Your financial aid will already get you the 4th year for an extremely low price, if not free or close to free...