Grants
What Are Grants?
Grants are financial aid that generally does not have to be repaid. The grants described on this page are based on financial need, not academic merit.
Need-based aid considers your financial circumstances and the information on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Merit-based aid is awarded for things such as grades, achievements, talents, or other accomplishments.
To be considered for grants at CCC, start by completing the FAFSA. Submit your FAFSA by CCC’s Priority Deadline to receive first consideration for aid with limited funding.
How Do Grants work?
- How much money will I get?
Every student is different. Grant amounts generally depend on your enrollment, or how many eligible credit hours you are taking. It also depends on your financial need and what grants you are eligible for. Your financial aid offer will tell you what grants you qualify for.
If you add or drop classes, the amount of grant aid you qualify for may go up or down. For Pell Grants, CCC uses a Pell Recalculation Date each semester to determine when enrollment changes can affect your award.
Before adding or dropping a class, check how the change could affect your financial aid.
- Will grants cover my whole balance?
Your grant amount and the amount you owe CCC are two different things.
Financial aid is first applied to your tuition, fees, and other allowable charges. If your grants and other financial aid are less than the amount you owe, you are responsible for the remaining balance.
If your financial aid is more than the amount you owe, the remaining amount may be sent to you as a financial aid refund after your aid is disbursed.
- When will my grant show on my account?
Grant aid appears with CCC’s charge cycle, when tuition and fee charges are posted to your student account.
Because your grant amount can depend on your enrollment, the amount shown on your account may change as your enrollment changes.
It is important to double-check your account after making changes to your class schedule to make sure you understand how much money you will receive.
Types of Grants
Federal Pell Grant
- What is a Federal Pell Grant?
The Federal Pell Grant is need-based financial aid from the federal government for eligible undergraduate students. It generally does not have to be repaid. Your eligibility is determined using information from your FAFSA, and the amount you receive can change based on how many eligible credits you take. If you have already graduated with a bachelor’s degree, you can’t get any more.
- How is my eligibility decided?
Factors used to determine your Pell Grant include:
- Information provided on your FAFSA;
- Your financial need and Student Aid Index (SAI);
- CCC’s Cost of Attendance; and
- Your enrollment intensity, or the number of eligible credits you are taking.
Your Student Aid Index (SAI) is a number calculated from information on your FAFSA that colleges use when determining your eligibility for financial aid. It is not the amount you or your family are expected to pay for college.
Learn More about the Student Aid Index
Learn More about the Cost of Attendance - How much money can I get?
Pell Grant amounts are set by the federal government and can change from year to year. For the 2026–27 award year, the maximum annual Federal Pell Grant for a full-time student is $7,395. The federal minimum scheduled Pell Grant is $740. Your actual Pell Grant depends on your individual eligibility and enrollment. This means that if you are eligible for the Pell Grant, you may get somewhere between $740 and $7,395 a year. Remember, every student is different. Pell Grants are only given to those with significant financial need. This means not every student will get a Pell Grant. You can see how much Pell Grant money to expect by viewing your offer letter in your myCCC portal.
- Does it matter how many classes I take?
Yes. Your Pell Grant is adjusted based on your enrollment intensity. You do not necessarily have to attend full-time to receive a Pell Grant, but the fewer classes you take results in a smaller Pell Grant for that term. Adding or dropping classes can also change your award, depending on when the enrollment change occurs.
- Do I ever need to repay a Pell Grant?
Grants generally do not have to be repaid. However, you may have to repay part of a federal grant in certain situations, such as withdrawing from all of your classes or not beginning attendance.
- I already have a bachelor's degree. Can I still get a Pell Grant?
No. Pell Grants are generally for undergraduate students who have not already earned a bachelor’s, graduate, or professional degree. Students with degrees may potentially be eligible for student loans, not grants, to pursue a second bachelor’s degree. Contact Financial Aid to talk about your specific situation.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
- What is the FSEOG?
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a federal grant for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. It generally does not have to be repaid.
Unlike the Pell Grant, FSEOG funds are limited. CCC receives a set amount of FSEOG funding each year, so not every student who qualifies will receive an award.
- How is my eligibility decided?
CCC uses information from your FAFSA to determine your eligibility. Priority is given to students with the greatest financial need who are also eligible for a Federal Pell Grant.
At CCC, you must also meet the college’s FSEOG requirements, including:
- Have a Student Aid Index (SAI) of 0 or lower;
- Your SAI is a number calculated from information on your FAFSA that colleges use when determining your eligibility for financial aid. It is not the amount you or your family are expected to pay for college.
- Be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours per term;
- Be enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program;
- Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements; and
- Meet the other federal financial aid eligibility requirements.
Because FSEOG funding is limited, meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee that you will receive an award. Applying by CCC’s Priority Deadline gives you the best opportunity to be considered.
- Have a Student Aid Index (SAI) of 0 or lower;
- How much money can I get?
Federal rules allow FSEOG awards of $100 to $4,000 per year in most circumstances. Your actual award depends on your financial need, when you apply, the amount of other financial aid you receive, and how much FSEOG funding CCC has available.
Because CCC receives limited FSEOG funds, the amount you receive may be different from another student’s award.
- Do I ever need to repay a FSEOG?
Usually, no. FSEOG is a grant, not a loan.
There are circumstances when you may have to repay some or all of a federal grant. For example, this can happen if you withdraw from school before completing the enrollment period or receive grant funds you were not eligible to receive. CCC includes FSEOG in its Return of Title IV Funds process.
- Does it matter how many classes I take?
Yes. At CCC, you must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours per term to receive FSEOG. Unlike the Pell Grant, taking more than 6 credits does not automatically mean you will receive a larger FSEOG award. FSEOG amounts are based on factors such as financial need, other financial aid, when you apply, and available funding.
If you are thinking about dropping a class, contact Financial Aid first to find out how the change could affect your aid.
- I already have a bachelor's degree. Can I still get FSEOG?
No. FSEOG is for undergraduate students who have not already earned a bachelor’s or first professional degree.
Other needs-based support at CCC
- What is the Comet Promise?
The Comet Promise is a CCC tuition support program that can help eligible students from Coconino County with tuition costs not covered by other financial aid. Pell Grants, other grants, and scholarships are applied first, and Comet Promise may then help with remaining eligible tuition costs. Awards depend on eligibility and available funding.
- How is my eligibility decided?
Your eligibility is based on several factors, including your connection to Coconino County, financial aid application status, income or qualifying circumstances, enrollment level, and academic progress. To qualify, you generally must:
- Be a Coconino County resident or have graduated from a Coconino County high school, homeschool program, or earned a GED/HSE while living in Coconino County.
- Submit a FAFSA or the CCC Alternative Aid Application.
- Meet the program’s financial eligibility requirements, or qualify through an approved exception category.
- Be enrolled in at least 6 credits in a degree or certificate program.
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) at CCC.
[Learn more about the Comet Promise Link]
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does everyone get grant money?
No. Grants are based on eligibility, and not every student will qualify. Your eligibility can depend on factors such as your financial need, FAFSA information, enrollment, and the specific requirements of each grant.
Some grants, such as FSEOG, also have limited funding, so meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee that you will receive an award.
- I qualified for grants last year. Why didn’t I get one this year?
Grant eligibility can change from year to year. Changes to your FAFSA information, Student Aid Index (SAI), enrollment, program, or other eligibility requirements can affect whether you qualify and how much you receive.
Some grants also have limited funding, so receiving an award one year does not guarantee you will receive the same grant the next year. If your aid changed and you are not sure why, contact CCC Financial Aid for help reviewing your award.
- Are grants available in the summer?
Yes. If you qualify for a Federal Pell Grant, you may also be able to receive Pell Grant money for summer classes—even if you already received Pell Grant funds during the fall and spring.
Year-Round Pell allows eligible students to receive up to 150% of their regular yearly Pell Grant amount so they can continue taking classes in the summer.
To qualify for additional summer Pell Grant funds, you must:
- Be eligible for a Pell Grant;
- Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements; and
- Take at least 6 credit hours in the summer if you already received a full-time Pell Grant for both fall and spring.
You do not have to take a full-time summer course load. Because summer courses cover the same material in fewer weeks, the workload can be more intensive. Talk with your Academic Advisor about a schedule that is manageable for you.
