Fafsa, Pell grant, financial aid

[allvia]

<<No, I live in Tennessee. ASU said the cost is $520 per credit hour for online students. The $1700 pell grant amount per semester is if I go full time which I plan on doing. I currently work in a lab and I'd like to transfer to St.Jude or do some type of lab work for the state. I haven't made a solid plan yet so Biology was the safest degree to cover me wherever I decided to go.>>

That seems too low for the Pell.  The 2018-2019 Pell max is just at $6000 per year.  If you're doing 2 semesters only (not 3?) then it should be closer to $3000/semester.  Now, even if you got the full amount, at $520/credit, you'd have to take 12 credits which would be $6240 per semester, so there is no way the math works for THIS school using only Pell.  

But, to work it from the other direction, taking $6000 per year divided by 30 (credits in a year) gives you a "per credit" target of $200.  It will be VERY challenging to find a way to earn 300/400 level credit at a university that also already accepts your full associate's degree AND is in that price range.  More typical is a traditional instate college/uni which would be a bit closer to $250/credit but unlikely to take all of your associate's (because it is not from TN).  

I think you might want to start looking at the NM state universities that have articulation agreements with NMJC.  There might be hidden gems in there and they would be perfect transfer PLUS much closer to the target price point you're trying to hit.

Edit to add links:
Your NMJC degree is guaranteed full transfer here: http://www.nmjc.edu/assets/documents/Uni...0Basin.pdf

Just because a person is eligible for a Pell Grant does not mean they are eligible for the full (max) amount.  It is not a flat amount award, each person is awarded a different amount based on 'need' (which can vary upon numerous factors). The awarded amount isn't directly linked to the school or tuition cost. So a person would get a Pell grant amount that would generally just go farther at a CC than a 4yr University (which is what this OP has experienced)