FREE MONEY
A Pell Grant is a form of federal financial aid that provides free money for college—meaning it does not need to be repaid. It is awarded to undergraduate students who demonstrate significant financial need, helping make higher education more affordable. Pell Grants can be used to cover tuition, fees, and other educational expenses.
- Based on Financial Need.
- Do Not Have to be Repaid.
- Completed FAFSA® Form Required.
BORROWED MONEY
A Federal Student Loans is money you borrow to help pay for college and must be paid back, usually with interest. These loans are provided by the federal government at low, fixed interest rates and offer flexible repayment plans. Eligibility is based on financial need and enrollment status, making them a reliable financial resource when grants, scholarships, and personal funds aren’t enough.
- Loans provided by the government that you must pay back.
- Completed FAFSA® Form Required.
- You can choose to accept all, part or none of the loan offered.
Eligibility for Federal aid and many other scholarship opportunities begins with filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA®.
Basic Eligibility Requirements
U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizen status.
Valid Social Security number (Uploaded on BYUI Profile).
High school diploma or its equivalent.
Enrollment or acceptance in an eligible degree program.
Maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP).
No defaults on federal student loans.
Commonly Asked Questions
Wait until you have all the information needed to complete your FAFSA®. Estimating or guessing can cause issues with processing and may significantly delay your financial aid. Even if you do not meet ...
You may receive the remainder of your loans in your personal bank account after they have processed and applied to any charges on your student account (tuition, books, etc.) To find out how to set up ...
The FAFSA® Federal Deadline is the last day you can submit the FAFSA® for that award year. The deadline is based on your last day of attendance for the academic year. So if the Winter semester is your...
You can receive Pell Grants for up to 36 credits in an academic year, which is equivalent to receiving a full-time Pell Grant for three semesters at BYU–Idaho. The number of credits you take each seme...