How to Apply for a Federal Pell Grant

*AIMS Education is currently a Title IV eligible school for clock hour programs. An application for degree and credit-bearing programs is pending.

The financial aid information provided on the AIMS website is for informational purposes only. Federal student aid is currently not available for degree and credit-bearing programs. Please contact a financial aid advisor for additional information.

Federal Pell Grant Process

Students interested in applying for a Federal Pell Grant must complete the following steps:

How to apply for Your FSA ID

The FSA ID username and password has replaced the Federal Student Aid PIN and must be used to log in to certain U.S. Department of Education websites. Your FSA ID confirms your identity when you access your financial aid information and electronically sign Federal Student Aid documents. If you do not already have an FSA ID and would like to apply for one, select the "Create an FSA ID" tab on the FSA ID login page.

The FSA ID Application Process consists of the following 3 steps:

Step 1: Enter Login Information

  • Provide your email address, a unique username, a password, and confirm that you are 13 years of age or older.

Step 2: Enter Personal Information

  • Provide your personal information including name, social security number, and date of birth.
  • (Optional) Include your mailing address, email address, and language preference.
  • Provide five challenge questions and answers. This adds an extra level of security to your FSA ID. If you forget your username or password, you can retrieve your username or reset your password by providing answers to your challenge questions.

Step 3: Submit Your FSA ID Application

You must agree not to share your FSA ID with anyone. The security of your FSA ID is important because it can be used to electronically sign Federal Student Aid documents, access your personal records, and make binding legal obligations.

  • (Optional) Verify your email address. By verifying your email, you can use your email as your username when logging in to FSA applications.
  • Once verification with the SSA is completed (1 to 3 business days), you will be able to use your FSA ID to access your personal information on Federal Student Aid websites.

Complete the FAFSA

Once you have your FSA ID, the next step is to the complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can do this easily online by visiting the federal student aid website. If you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact an AIMS Financial Aid Advisor at 908-222-0002 ext. 555.

Pell Lifetime Eligibility Limit

The total amount of Federal Pell Grant funds that you are eligible for during your lifetime is limited by federal law. The maximum amount you can receive is the equivalent of six years of Pell Grant funding. Since the maximum amount for one year is equal to 100%, the six-year or lifetime equivalent is 600%.

The Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU) refers to the total amount of your Pell Grant funds that have been used. The U.S. Department of Education keeps track of your LEU by adding together the percentages of your Pell Grant scheduled awards for each year. You can access this information by logging in to your student aid account using your FSA ID. Your LEU can be found on the Financial Aid Review page. The LEU will include Pell Grant awards you have received for all schools, not just AIMS Education.

For more information regarding the Federal Pell Grant, please visit the Federal Student Aid website.

Eligibility Requirements

Students who apply for financial assistance including a Pell Grant must meet all of the necessary eligibility requirements.