Financial Aid Grants
Grants do not have to be repaid as long as you complete the courses you were paid to attend. If you do not start or complete your course(s) you may have to pay some or all of these funds back. All grants are awarded based on your FAFSA information.
- Federal Pell Grants usually are awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or a professional degree.
- In some cases, a student enrolled in a post baccalaureate teacher certification program can receive a Federal Pell Grant.
- Awards are prorated depending on level of need as determined by the Department of Education. Award amounts (2023-2024 Pell Grant tables) will also vary depending on the number of credits the recipient is enrolled in.
- You can receive the Pell grant for no more than 12 full-time semesters or roughly 6 years (600% Pell Lifetime Eligibility). PCC will notify you when you are getting close to this limit. The PCC Financial Aid Office will determine your eligibility. No additional applications are necessary.
- Students may be eligible for summer funding as long as all other eligibility criteria are met.
- You may decline your Pell Grant if you determine that you would not like to use it for the semester or academic year by completing the Federal Aid Cancellation/Reduction Form.
Federal SEOG (Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant)
The FSEOG is awarded to undergraduate students who have exceptional financial need and meet the same federal general eligibility requirements as that of a Pell Grant recipient, which includes but is not limited to all financial aid requirements to be complete and the file to be certified. Expected Family Contribution (EFC) or the Student Aid Index (SAI) determines the student’s financial need and is calculated from the information provided on the FAFSA.
Due to the limited amount of FSEOG funding Pima Community College receives, primary consideration for this grant is provided to students who file the FAFSA early and who demonstrate exceptional financial need which is based on the EFC/SAI calculation. The selection process is completed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Additionally, students may only be eligible for one supplemental or special grant program per academic year; this would include but not limited to the Arizona Leveraging Education Aid Partnership (AzLEAP) Grant.
As this is a grant, funds do not need to be repaid. Students who are enrolled full-time (12 credit hours or more) the funding amount could be as much as $1,000 per award year. If a student is enrolled less than full-time the award will be prorated down based on these enrollment levels: ¾ time, halftime, and less than halftime.
No additional applications are necessary. Funds are extremely limited so we suggest you complete your FAFSA early.
Learn more about Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants.
Arizona Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (AzLEAP) Grant
The Arizona Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (AzLEAP) establishes a state and institutional partnership to provide student financial assistance in the form of need-based grants to low-income, undergraduate, Arizona resident students who have demonstrated substantial financial need. The AzLEAP funding differs amongst approved institutions and is awarded by each participating institution. The maximum AzLEAP award for the academic year for a fulltime student is $1,000.
Qualifications:
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Must be a U.S. Citizen or an eligible noncitizen
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Must be a resident of Arizona
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Must be enrolled at least half-time as an undergraduate student in a regionally or nationally accredited Arizona postsecondary institution
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Must have substantial financial need (be eligible for the Federal Pell Grant) as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
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Must maintain satisfactory academic progress as determined by the institution
Due to the limited amount of AZ LEAP funding Pima Community College receives, primary consideration for this grant is provided to students who file the FAFSA early and who demonstrate exceptional financial need which is based on the EFC/SAI calculation. The selection process is completed on a first-come, first-served basis. Students who are offered an AZ LEAP Grant must meet the same criteria as Pell grant recipients which includes but is not limited to all financial aid requirements to be complete and the file to be certified..
Additionally, students may only be eligible for one supplemental or special grant program per academic year; this would include but not limited to the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG).
As this is a grant, funds do not need to be repaid. Students who are enrolled full-time (12 credit hours or more) the funding amount could be as much as $1,000 per award year. If a student is enrolled less than full-time the award will be prorated down based on these enrollment levels: ¾ time, and halftime.
No additional applications are necessary. Funds are extremely limited so we suggest you complete your FAFSA early.
Learn more about AZ Leveraging Educational Aid Partnership Grants.
- Arizona has two educational support programs for foster youth.
- The Arizona Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program is a federally-funded, state-administered program which can provide youth who are or were in U.S. foster care up to $5,000 a year for qualified school-related expenses.
- The Arizona Tuition Waiver is available to foster youth and former foster youth attending Arizona public community colleges and four-year colleges and universities. The amount awarded is based on the school’s tuition rate.