• Demonstrate financial need by submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA);
• Be a U.S.citizen, U.S national or eligible non-citizen;
• Have a valid Social Security Number;
• Have a high school diploma or General Education Development (GED) certificate OR demonstrate “ability to benefit” by passing an approved test;
• Meet satisfactory academic progress;
• Be enrolled in an eligible post-secondary school;
• Be working toward a first undergraduate degree or teaching credential;
• Certify that the funds will be used only for educational purposes; and
• Be registered with the Selective Service if you are a male between the ages of 18 and 25.

• during the academic period for which it was intended; and
• for tuition, fees or other educational expenses.

If you plan to use your Pell Grant in the future, the Grant can only be excluded during the month that you received the grant. Thereafter, the Grant will be treated as an asset.

If you are an eligible non-citizen, you must be a:

• U.S. permanent resident (has Alien Registration Card or I-551);
• Conditional permanent resident (has I-551C Card);
• Refugee;
• Asylum grantee;
• Parolee; or
• Cuban-Haitian entrant with an Arrival Departure Record (I-94) from the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).

To apply for a Pell Grant you will need to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You need the following information in order to complete your FAFSA:

• Actual or estimated tax returns;
• W-2 Forms and other records of earnings;
• Records of untaxed income (e.g. Social Security, CalWORKs and veteran’s benefits records)
• Investment records;
• Bank statements;
• Mortgage information;
• Business and farm records;
• Driver’s license; and
• Social Security Number.

For married or dependent students family financial information will be needed as well.