Grants

Federal Pell Grant is money given to eligible students based upon the government's financial need formula. Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online to begin the financial aid process. Jackson State will receive the results of your FAFSA application, and will send you a letter in the mail asking for any additional documents that we may need. For priority consideration of limited funds for which you may be eligible, it is recommended that you submit the FAFSA by February 15th each year.

Limit on Federal Pell Grant Eligibility: Effective with the 2012-2013 award year, there is a new federal policy that limits the total number of years a student may receive Federal Pell Grant to the equivalent of six years. This limit may be referred to as “Lifetime Eligibility Used” or LEU. The calculation for LEU will include all years in which a Federal Pell Grant (or Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant – SEOG) was received. Since the maximum amount of Pell Grant funding a student can receive each year is equal to 100%, the six year equivalent is 600%. Once all past Pell Grant usage is totaled, any student whose LEU equals or exceeds 600% may not receive additional Pell Grant funds. The Department of Education will track and notify students when they near the maximum, and when they reach the 600% maximum. For example, a student who has attended full-time for a full year will have received 100% of his scheduled award for that year. If this student receives payments for half-time attendance for the next full academic year (e.g., two semesters), he will have received 50% of his scheduled award. At the end of the two years, this student’s “Lifetime Eligibility Used” is 150%. For additional information on how the Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility Used is calculated, refer to the following link: https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/pell/calculate-eligibility.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is federal gift aid awarded by JSCC Financial Aid Services. Awards are made, as funds allow, to financial aid applicants who meet the March 15th priority filing deadline. According to federal regulations, only Pell Grant recipients are eligible for these awards.

Unusual Enrollment History: If the Department of Education determines that you have received federal aid at multiple schools within a short period of time, JSCC will be required to review your academic transcripts to confirm that you earned credit hours while you were receiving federal aid.

You may be asked to submit a college transcript from each school you have attended, even if it is not required by the Admissions or Records Office. If we confirm that you did not earn credits at one or more schools, you may be required to submit an appeal that includes and explanation and supporting documentation.

CARES/HEERF funds are no longer available.  This section is for reporting purposes only.

The HEERF Emergency Grant Application (Covid Relief) is now available for the Spring 2023 term.  Applications can be submitted until January 20, 2023.  Recipients will be notified by February 15, 2023 via campus email only.  

The U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) released guidance related to HEERF emergency grant funding to higher education institutions to assist students with any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or child care. Students may complete and submit this form to request consideration for special emergency grant funding. 

Please note:  You will NOT request a specific amount on this grant application.  The grant amounts will be determined after the deadline passes and the funds are divided according to the number of qualified applicants.  Students receiving Federal Pell grant funds will be given priority in the funding formula established by the state of Tennessee.   

When you select this "Apply Now" link you will be directed to your secure sign on page to complete the application.