As a student, you may be wondering how you can access funds for your Lionel University education. One of the most popular ways is through a Pell Grant, which is money for college that you don’t have to pay back. Applying for a Pell Grant requires filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Let’s explore why these two are important to your financial aid package.

What Is a Pell Grant? 
A Pell Grant is money for college that doesn’t need to be paid back. It’s based on your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is determined by information provided on the FAFSA form. The amount of money you receive depends on your financial need, costs to attend school, status as a full-time or part-time student, and plans to attend school for a full academic year or less. Generally speaking, the maximum annual award is $6,895 per student in 2022-2023 as long as they meet eligibility criteria. 

How Do I Apply? 
To apply for a Pell Grant and other types of federal student aid, you must fill out the FAFSA form online at studentaid.gov each school year starting October 1st. You will need your Social Security Number, driver’s license number, tax information or records, records of any untaxed income received, bank statements, investment records, and information about any assets owned such as real estate or stocks and bonds. Additionally, if applicable, you will need your parent’s Social Security Number(s), driver’s license number(s) if not U.S. citizens/nationals, and their tax information/records if they have filed taxes during the past two years. 
  
Once submitted, it takes up to five days before the Department of Education processes your application and sends it to schools listed on your FAFSA form so they can determine what type of federal aid you are eligible for including grants like a Pell Grant! If approved, students may use their award amounts toward tuition and fees. 

Conclusion
Applying for a Pell grant through FAFSA can help make college more affordable for many students who otherwise would not have been able to pursue higher education opportunities due to financial constraints. Understanding what type of funding opportunities exist can greatly reduce stress related to financing educational expenses and provide an avenue towards achieving personal goals! So take some time today and look into applying for federal aid by filling out the FAFSA form.

Knowing what financial aid options are available to you makes earning your exercise science degree even more of a possibility. And there are so many fitness job opportunities that you’ll be able to explore once you have a degree in exercise science. This is the case for all of our degree programs. In fact, earning an associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or master’s degree, will all put you in demand for jobs. Regardless of which degree you are pursuing, at Lionel, you earn multiple certifications and specializations along the way. This means you can start working as a fitness professional even before graduation day! 

Check out our programs and contact Lionel today!