Federal Grants

There are four types of federal grants available to eligible students who complete the FAFSA and demonstrate financial need.

Federal Pell Grant

The Pell Grant is a federally funded grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Education.

Apply by completing the FAFSA.
- Pell Grant eligibility is evaluated annually with the FAFSA application and eligibility for one academic year does not necessarily indicate eligibility for future years.
The Pell Grant is awarded to students who display exceptional financial need (as determined on the FAFSA). Eligibility and awards are determined by Student Aid Index (SAI), enrollment status, and NIU's cost of attendance (COA). Students must be maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress to be eligible for Pell Grant funding.
- For the majority of students, the Pell Grant does not need to be repaid as it is considered gift aid. For some students repayment may be necessary: When You May Have to Repay a Grant
Annual awards vary for full-time undergraduates.
- For the 2024-2025 academic year the maximum Pell Grant award is $7,395.
- For the 2025-2026 academic year the maximum Pell Grant award is $7,395.
Awards are offered based on full-time enrollment (12 or more credit hours) and will be reduced for enrollment in fewer than 12 credit hours.
Available to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's degree or professional degree.
Students may receive up to three full-time semesters of Pell per year.
Students can receive up to the equivalent of 12 full-time semesters of funding, per federal law. Usage is prorated if you attend a semester less than full time.

Federal Pell Grant Recalculation Date (PRD)

The Pell Recalculation Date (sometimes referred to as the census date) is a date in the semester when the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office is required to evaluate a student’s Federal Pell Grant eligibility based on their current enrollment status. The Financial Aid and Scholarship Office has a single PRD, which is the last date of the university add/drop period (the end of week two of the payment period), after which no Federal Pell Grant recalculations occur due to enrollment status adjustments made by the student.

Any enrollment changes recorded after the PRD for these students will not translate into any changes to their already awarded Federal Pell Grant. Students can still see changes to other types of aid in their awards (MAP, Merit, Direct Loans, etc.).

Pell eligibility may still be recalculated by the institution if required due to an EFC change, or non-attendance

Students Who Are Packaged After the PRD

Federal Pell Grant recipients who are packaged after the PRD would be awarded based on actual enrollment hours at the time of packaging. Some things to consider:

All withdrawn courses (grade of W) would not be counted towards Federal Pell Grant eligibility
All courses that resulted in a failing grade (F) must verify student’s attendance prior to factoring it towards Pell eligibility
All audit courses would not be counted
If the student was initially packaged prior to the PRD but the award was later cancelled, this would be considered as a “reinstatement” of award. The reinstated award would take precedence over the recalculation.
For students who are appealing their SAP status for Title IV eligibility, any previously established award will also take precedence over a recalculated one. If the student was never packaged, then only actual enrollment would be considered.

Calculating the Number of Years You Can Receive a Pell Grant

You may receive a Pell Grant for the equivalent of six years. If you are near or over the limit, we encourage you to meet with an academic advisor and set up a course plan for graduation. It is important to take the lifetime limit of the Pell Grant into consideration when changing majors and/or scheduling classes. Plan your degree progress carefully to graduate in a timely manner.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

The FSEOG is a federally funded grant awarded by the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office.

Apply by completing the FAFSA.
Priority given to students with the lowest Student Aid Indexes (SAI) and who are also Pell Grant recipients.
Awards amounts vary.
Students must be enrolled at least nine hours.
Available to eligible undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's degree or professional degree.
Funding is limited; not all eligible students will receive an award.

Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant

The TEACH Grant Program provides up to $4,000 a year in grant assistance to junior and senior undergraduates and graduate students who agree to serve for at least four years as full-time “highly qualified” teachers in high-need fields in public or private elementary or secondary schools that serve students from low-income families.

The Financial Aid and Scholarship Office recommends you consider this possible source of funds only if you are committed to teaching a high-need subject in a designated low-income school upon graduation should. This teaching obligation must be completed in a public or nonprofit elementary or secondary school that is eligible for Title I assistance.

If you do not meet the four-year teaching obligation within eight years of graduation, the grant will convert to an unsubsidized loan, which will have to be repaid with interest calculated back to the date the funds were disbursed.

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant

You may be eligible for an Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant if your parent or guardian died as a result of military service in Iraq or Afghanistan. The maximum award amount is equal to the amount of a maximum Federal Pell Grant for the award year but cannot exceed your cost of attendance for that year. For the 2025-2026 award year (July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026), the maximum award amount is $7,395. For the 2024-2025 award year (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025), the maximum award amount is $7,395. For additional eligibility guidelines and award information, visit the Federal Student Aid website.