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PELL Grant Maximums

Eligibity maximums for PELL grants.

The U.S. Department of Education has established a limit on the number of credit hours a student can attempt and still remain eligible for Federal student Aid. This limit is based on 150% of the credit hours needed to complete the degree for which the student is pursuing.

This will allow for curriculum changes, repeats, and enrichment coursework that may be required for the field of degree.

Examples:

  • A One-Year Certificate, may be 30 credit hours x 150% = 45
  • A Two-Year Associate's may be 60 credit hours x 150% = 90
  • A Four-Year Bachelor's may be 128 credits x 150% = 192
  • A Two-Year Master's may be 36 credit hours x 150% = 54

This includes all attempted Oglala Lakota College courses as well as all transfer credit hours. In addition, this includes all semesters at Oglala Lakota College with or without financial assistance.

Academic Progress toward the degree/certificate program will be measured at the end of each semester. The student will receive an update as to the amount of financial aid left, with a satisfactory progress letter at the end of each semester.

If at any time, it becomes mathematically impossible for a student to complete their program with the number of credits left in their 150% timeframe, the student is no longer making Satisfactory Academic Progress and is not eligible for Title IV aid.

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PELL Grant Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU)

The amount of Federal Pell Grant funds a student may receive over his or her lifetime is limited by a new federal law to be the equivalent of six years of Pell Grant funding. Since the maximum amount of Pell Grant funding a student can receive each year is equal to 100%, the six-year equivalent is 600%. This is in effect as of the academic year 2012-2013.

This includes all past Pell Grant awards each student received and the awards coming in the future semesters.

Therefore, if a student received a reset in their Pell hours for their current major and they have exceeded the 600%, they are no longer Pell Eligible as the LEU overrides the reset.

Transfer Credits

Transfer credits earned at another institution that are accepted at Oglala Lakota College toward the degree/certificate a student is currently pursuing shall be used in computing the total credits attempted and earned.

Once a student earns a bachelor's Degree, they are no longer eligible for a Federal PELL Grant.