Was that the only time you withdrew from class? Have you failed any classes? The reason I ask is that in order to receive federal financial aid you have to make sure you have SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress).

The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, requires institutions of higher education to establish and apply standards of academic progress that must be met by all students in order to qualify and remain eligible for assistance from the Title IV student financial aid programs, of which Pell Grant is a part.

There are three areas: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Maximum Time Frame. Qualitative is maintaining a specific GPA for your grade level, Quantitative is completing at least a minimum percentage of all hours for which you have registered, and Maximum Time Frame is the point for which you should have completed your program of study.

So if you were failing SAP in one or more of those three areas, then the financial aid office could have put that stipulation in place – that you have to pay for school by yourself for a specific period and passed your classes then you could apply for aid again.

You do not have to be enrolled full time in order to receive a Pell Grant. But keep in mind that it is reduced if you go less than full time. The lower your EFC (Expected Family Contribution) the more Pell Grant you can receive even if attending less than half time (if you have a 0EFC then you could receive a Pell Grant of $4310/year going full time or $1078/year going less than half. The highest EFC you can have to receive a Pell Grant is 4110 to receive $400/year going full time, but you would get $0 going less than half time. The highest EFC you can have in order to get a Pell Grant for going less than half time is 3500).

If you will be attending the same school, then you have to follow their stipulations in order to receive the Pell grant again.

Talk to a financial aid officer at your school for more information. If your questions/concerns are not answered, then see about talking to an Associate/Assistant Director or the Director him/herself. Good luck!

Mistake on their part. A student who already holds a bachelor’s degree is ineligible for all of the Federal Student Aid program’s grants – not just the Pell, but the TEACH, the ACG, the FSEOG and the SMART, as well. Your only aid eligibility is some possible remaining Stafford money (but that’s not likely). When your school has verified your financial aid history with the NSLDS (National Student Loan Data System), they’ll realize that they can’t qualify you for grant money. Just advice, but I wouldn’t take any money that they mistakenly offer you – when and if the Department of Education catches on, they’ll require you repay any overpayments that you were ineligible for. Good luck to you.

throw caution to the wind and just apply, who knows they may just accept you and you may save yourself thousands!

Good Luck!