Year-Round Pell and Summer Aid
The Federal Pell Grant program allows an eligible student to receive up to 150% of the student's Federal Pell Grant scheduled award. This is known as "Year-Round Pell." Year-Round Pell benefits a student that was enrolled full-time in the fall and spring terms by allowing them to receive up to an additional full Federal Pell Grant for the summer. Students may take advantage of this opportunity to earn their degree faster.
Previously, a Pell Grant-eligible student must have been enrolled at least half-time in a payment period during which they received more than 100% of their scheduled award. Beginning 2024-2025, Year-Round Pell no longer requires half-time enrollment, if you were previously enrolled full-time in the fall and spring semesters.
Note: The provisions of the law state that any Federal Pell Grant received will be included in determining the student's Federal Pell Grant duration of eligibility and Lifetime Eligibility Used.
Eligibility Requirements
- Student must be eligible to receive Federal Pell Grant for the payment period
- Student must be enrolled at least half-time
- Student must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
- Student must have utilized 100% of the Federal Pell Grant prior to receiving additional funds
Important Information
- Summer terms are shorter (8-10 weeks) –take a manageable caseload. Failure to complete courses and/or failure of courses can affect a student's eligibility (SAP)
- Only take courses that are required toward program of study
- Summer Federal Pell counts toward a student's Lifetime Eligibility Used
- Award amount cannot exceed the maximum award for one payment period
Calculating Lifetime Eligibility Used
| Enrollment Status | LEU Percentage PER Term |
|---|---|
| Full-time (12+ credit hours) | 50% |
| Three-quarter time (9-11 credit hours) | 37.5% |
| Half-time (6-8 credit hours) | 25% |
| Less than half-time (1-5 credit hours) | 12.5% |
Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU) is the amount of Federal Pell Grant funds a student can receive over their lifetime. LEU is limited by federal law to the equivalent of six years and/or 600%. For instance, if a student is disbursed for full-time enrollment status for the fall and spring terms their LEU equals 100% for the academic year. Another example: if a student is disbursed three-quarter time enrollment status for the fall (37.5% LEU) and full-time enrollment status for the spring (50% LEU) their LEU equals 87.5% for the Academic Year. A student may check their LEU percentage by logging into the Federal Student Aid Website using their FSA ID.
Examples for Year-Round Pell
Scenario A
A student was enrolled and disbursed full-time enrollment status for the fall and spring term. Due to the implementation of Year-Round Pell, the student has met the 100% during the fall and spring term and is eligible for an additional full-time disbursement for the summer.
| Fall | Spring | Summer | |
| Enrollment | Full-time (12+ credit hours) | Full-time (12+ credit hours) | Full-time (12+ credit hours) |
| Expected Family Contribution | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Federal Pell Award Amount | $2,960 | $2,960 | $2,960 |
| LEU Percentage | 50% | 50% | 50% |
Scenario B
A student was enrolled and disbursed full-time enrollment status for the fall and spring term. The student enrolls in half-time enrollment status for summer. Due to the implementation of Year-Round Pell, the student has met the 100% during the fall and spring term and is eligible for an additional half-time disbursement for the summer.
| Fall | Spring | Summer | |
| Enrollment | Full-time (12+ credit hours) | Full-time (12+ credit hours) | Half-time (6-8 credit hours) |
| Expected Family Contribution | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Federal Pell Award Amount | $2,960 | $2,960 | $1,480 |
| LEU Percentage | 50% | 50% | 25% |
Scenario C
A student was enrolled and disbursed full-time enrollment status for the fall and spring term. The student enrolls in less than half-time status for the summer term. The student is not eligible for Year-Round Pell because they did not meet the requirements to be enrolled in at-least half-time enrollment status.
| Fall | Spring | Summer | |
| Enrollment | Full-time (12+ credit hours) | Full-time (12+ credit hours) | Less than Half-time |
| Expected Family Contribution | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Federal Pell Award Amount | $2,960 | $2,960 | *Not Eligible |
| LEU Percentage | 50% | 50% | 0% |
Summer Aid
Students who are not enrolled full-time for the fall and spring term can still utilize their unused Federal Pell Grant. For the summer term, unused aid from fall and spring differs from the additional Year-Round Pell that was allotted by the U.S. Department of Education. Note: The North Carolina Community College and North Carolina Education Lottery Scholarship is not available for the summer term. Please see examples below:
Scenario A
A student was enrolled in three-quarter time enrollment for the fall and spring term. The student enrolls in half-time enrollment status for summer. The student is eligible for half-time disbursement for summer.
| Fall | Spring | Summer | |
| Enrollment | Three-quarter time (9-11 credit hours) | Three-quarter time (9-11 credit hours) | Half-time (6-8 credit hours) |
| Expected Family Contribution | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Federal Pell Award Amount | $2,200 | $2,200 | $1,480 |
| LEU Percentage | 37.5% | 37.5% | 25% |
Scenario B
A student was enrolled in half-time enrollment for the fall and spring term. The student enrolls in half-time enrollment status for summer. The student is eligible for half-time disbursement for summer.
| Fall | Spring | Summer | |
| Enrollment | Half-time (6-8 credit hours) | Half-time (6-8 credit hours) | Half-time (6-8 credit hours) |
| Expected Family Contribution | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Federal Pell Award Amount | $1,480 | $1,480 | $1,480 |
| LEU Percentage | 25% | 25% | 25% |