Federal grants are aid from the Federal government that generally does not need to be repaid. The FAFSA must be completed each year to determine eligibility of any grant or other aid programs. Information in this section is limited to Federal grants.
Pell Grants
Federal Pell Grants are awarded only to undergraduate matriculated students who display exceptional financial need and have not earned a bachelor's, graduate, or professional degree. Students can be enrolled full-time or part-time to receive Pell grant. Funds can be used to cover direct and indirect costs related to the cost of attendance. The FAFSA Simplification Act expands the Federal Pell Grant to more students and will be based on family size and Federal poverty level. The grant amount varies based on the Student Aid Index (SAI) determined by the FAFSA data and the number of credits taken.
Beginning with the 2024-25 academic year, the Pell grant is determined based on the student's credits compared to previously used enrollment status. Pell Grant Eligibility is calculated by Enrollment Intensity, the percentage of full-time enrollment at which a student is enrolled and rounded to the nearest whole percent. If full-time enrollment is 12 credit hours and the student is enrolled in 7 credit hours, the enrollment intensity would be 7 ÷ 12 × 100% = 58.3% (round to 58%). For example, if a student's full-time Pell grant award is $1000/term and they are enrolled in 7 credits, the award will be $580 (58% x $1000). Please see the chart below of the percentage calculations based upon credit hour enrollments.
Units Enrolled |
Enrollment Level (Old) |
Enrollment Level (New) - % of Pell |
| 12 or more | Full Time | 100% |
| 11 | 3/4 Time | 92% |
| 10 | 83% | |
| 9 | 75% | |
| 8 | 1/2 Time | 67% |
| 7 | 58% | |
| 6 | 50% | |
| 5 | Less than 1/2 Time | 42% |
| 4 | 33% | |
| 3 | 25% | |
| 2 | 17% | |
| 1 | 8% |
Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU)
The Pell grant can be received for 12 semesters or 6 years of full-time study or the equivalent. Click here for more information.
Year-Round Pell Grant can assist to Pay for Summer Courses!
The Year-Round Pell Grant can provide up to 150 percent of your maximum Pell grant award for the academic year. If eligible, the funds can assist to partially pay for Summer courses and allow you to stay on track for graduation or even to complete your bachelor's degree early. To learn more visit: Summer Pell
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
SEOG is a grant program for matriculated students who are eligible for a Pell award and demonstrate financial need. Funds are allocated by CUNY based on availability and priority is given to students who apply by January 31st of each year. Grants are awarded in the fall and spring semesters only. Students must be enrolled for a minimum of six equated credits.
Note:
- Students must attend class in each course for which they receive aid. Students must repay aid for any course in which there was no attendance.
- You should be aware of the Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress Guidelines.
If your financial situation has changed since you filed your FAFSA or if you believe that you have an unusual circumstance, you may ask a financial aid advisor to review your situation. The financial aid advisor at the college may be able to make adjustments that more closely reflect your circumstances. It is your responsibility to notify the Financial Aid Office of any special or unusual circumstances or changes in your financial status that may affect your ability to pay for college. We encourage you to visit the financial aid office to speak with a financial aid advisor if you have any questions about your financial aid awards. All Special Circumstances requests are considered by the Financial Aid Review Committee.
If the application is approved, financial aid eligibility is re-evaluated for federal need based aid and does not change or affect New York State financial aid eligibility. Special Circumstances applications are valid for one year and are not a commitment to future financial aid adjustments.
For additional information or to request consideration of a special or unusual circumstance, please contact Financialaid@csi.cuny.edu or call 718-982-2030.
Special Circumstances
The Financial Aid Administrator may use Professional Judgment (PJ) on a case-by-case basis to adjust the components of a student's cost of attendance or data used to calculate their Student Aid Index (SAI).
Eligible Circumstances
- Change in employment status, income, or assets
- Change in marital status (e.g., legal separation, divorce, or death of a parent or spouse)
- Tuition expenses at an elementary or secondary school
- Additional family members enrolled in college
- Medical, dental, or nursing home expenses not covered by insurance
- Child or dependent care expenses
- Severe disability of the student or other member of the student’s household
- Other changes or adjustments that impact the student’s costs or ability to pay for college
The Financial Aid Office cannot consider financial aid appeals in regards to: consumer indebtedness, discretionary personal expenses, relocation, or consumer debt.
Unusual Circumstances (Dependency Override)
The FAFSA Simplification Act incorporated additional unusual circumstances to consider when a student is unable to contact a parent or where contact with parents poses a risk to such student.
Eligible Circumstances
- Human trafficking, as described in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.)
- Legally granted refugee or asylum status
- Parental abandonment or estrangement
- Student or parental incarceration
- Documented case of abuse or unsafe living environment
- Homelessness
Unusual circumstances do not include:
- Parents refuse to contribute to the student’s education
- Parents will not provide information for the FAFSA or verification
- Parents do not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes
- Student demonstrates total self-sufficiency.
Dependency override requests should be discussed with a financial aid advisor and documentation must be submitted for determination of independence within 60 days of the request.