Eligibility for the following programs is based upon receipt and evaluation of the Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR), which is the result of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To be guaranteed the maximum award for which the student is eligible, the FAFSA must be completed by Southwestern's priority date of March 1. Students are automatically considered for all grants for which they may be eligible.
Federal Pell Grant
This is a federally funded grant available to undergraduate students enrolled in a program leading to a degree. Federal Pell Grants usually are awarded only to undergraduate students who display exceptional financial need and have not earned a bachelor's, graduate, or professional degree. The actual award for each student is determined by the U.S. Department of Education through the evaluation of the FAFSA. The annual award ranges from $750 to $7,395. Students may receive a lifetime limit of the equivalent of 6 years of undergraduate studies for a baccalaureate degree. Students who receive Pell Grants may have funds available to them for books during the first week of classes each semester. The student may either choose to charge the cost of their books to their student account through the University-sponsored bookstore or, if their aid results in a credit on their account, funds will be given to the student to purchase their books. In certain situations, an eligible student can receive up to 150 percent of his or her scheduled Pell Grant award for an award year. Students may not receive Federal Pell Grant funds from more than one school at a time.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
This grant is funded through a combination of federal and University funds and is dependent on funding levels approved by the federal government. Annual awards at Southwestern range from $100 to $1,500 and are awarded to students who are also eligible for Federal Pell Grant.
Students must complete the FAFSA by January 15 to be guaranteed receipt of this award.
TEACH Grant
This is a non-need based program that provides up to $4,000 per year to students enrolled in an eligible program and who agree to teach as a highly qualified teacher in a high-need field, at a low-income elementary or secondary school for at least 4 years within 8 years of completing the program for which the TEACH Grant was awarded. Failure to complete the required teaching service results in conversion of the TEACH Grant to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan with interest accruing from the date the grant was disbursed. A student may receive up to $4,000 per year with an aggregate limit of $16,000. Applicants must complete a FAFSA, sign an Agreement to Serve, complete TEACH counseling every year, and be completing coursework necessary to begin a career in teaching. A minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA is required. Southwestern will award a TEACH Grant only after the student has been accepted to the Education Program.