What are Pell Grants?

Under what conditions do I have to pay back my grants (Pell and SEOG)?

• I need to see a definitive, comprehensive answer from a reliable source. I've seen a ton of conflicting answers, so if you do not cite a source (preferably you will cite FAFSA or wherever it is that the grants are coming from). I need you to link me to something so that I can know absolutely and be 100% sure about this. Do I have to pay back my grants if I fail my classes? What if I drop them or just stop going? I need to know any and all conditions that could cause me to have to pay this money back. Sorry for being so picky about how you answer, but I cannot afford to be misinformed about this.

• Answer:

  Google your schools website for "SAP - Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy" and this will be your source. Without knowing your school, it's a bit hard to cite. A copy of your schools printed catalog will also have this info. Just keep in mind, Fin Aid has to be "EARNED". You earn it by attending classes, if you never attend, or stop attending before the semester is up, you don't EARN that aid and it will usually be returned to the Department of Education. When that happens, you end up with an unpaid balance at the school. THis means you not only owe the school money, you owe the Dept of Ed for your aid because you never earned it. All for a semester you never get any credits for. Stinks! There are many, many instances in which a student who gets grants would have to pay them back. The answers are different for everyone because everyone's school schedule and circumstances are different. This means that the ONLY people who will be able to give you ACCURATE information on if you will have to pay your grant back will be your schools fin aid office. this is the ONLY way you will be able to get accurate information. Every one is enrolled in a different number of credits, everyones semester start date is different, everyone's completion rate and GPA is different... This means that one person may be able to get away with flunking a few classes in a semester would never every have to worry about paying a grant back, while somone who was already in trouble would and then never be able to get aid again. See how ppl's confusion spreads and why you aren't getting the same answer? It's different for everyone. Without more info from you (like EVERYTHING i mentioned) no one here will be able to tell you wanything useful. a few things to remember. Failing is ALWAYS bad, but this alone is not grounds for having to repay grants. Dropping classes is always bad, but this one thing alone will not make you have to repay your grants. Stop attending classes) is ALWAYS bad, and this alone usually triggers you to repay your aid (not just grants). keep in mind, dropping too many classes will have your fin aid privledges taken away, keep in mind, not maintaining a high enough GPA will also have your fin aid privledges taken away... being a tent and "camping out at college" (the professional college student)... will also get your fin aid privledges taken away. Also keep in mind that LOANS are also considered fin aid. So if you get put on financial aid suspension for any of those reasons, you not only won't be able to get grants, you won't be able to get LOANS either.