Federal Pell Grant program to provide funding for summer courses

Federal Pell Grant program to provide funding for summer courses

In an effort to help college students earn their degrees more quickly, the government has extended the Federal Pell Grant program to individuals who are planning to enroll in campus-based or online courses over the summer, the Victoria Advocate reports.

As part of the 2008 Higher Education Opportunity Act, students who are planning to continue pursuing a degree over the summer this year may be eligible to receive Pell Grant funding as long as they are enrolled in at least six credit hours per semester. In fact, these ambitious individuals may be able to receive more funding than they would for an average semester.

The maximum amount Pell Grant recipients can collect for a summer term is $5,350, which is the most a student can receive for the fall and spring terms combined, according to the news source. The amount of each applicant's award is determined by financial need, the cost of tuition at the candidate's school, part- or full-time status and whether or not the student plans to enroll for the entire academic year.

The average Pell Grant award covers 42 percent of a college student's educational expenses, according to the Pell Grant Information Website.

By Stefanie Hughes