Federal and State Grants
An education from Bronx Community College is an especially good value. At BCC, you will pay less than half of what you would pay at a four-year college, for the same quality education. The cost of tuition, books and supplies might seem a little scary, but there are many sources of financial aid available to make financing your education a little easier.
The FAFSA application is used for federal government grants. Bronx Community College School Code is 002692
Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
The EFC is the amount of money you and your family can reasonably be expected to use toward paying for a college education. The EFC is determined by a formula established by Congress. The EFC is used to calculate the amount of your Federal Pell Grant.
The EFC, which is expressed as a dollar figure, is calculated based on such factors as family income, taxable investment assets, college savings accounts, number of people in the household, marital status of the parents, number of students in college, etc.
Federal Pell Grant is money awarded by the federal government that can be used to pay a student’s tuition. If tuition is covered by other means, the Grant can be used to help to buy books and supplies or pay for transportation costs.
PELL is available only to students who have not earned a bachelor’s degree or professional certificate. Students must be in good satisfactory academic standing and make satisfactory academic progress towards completing a degree.
The amount of your Federal Pell Grant depends on your cost of attendance, expected family contribution, enrollment status and whether you attend school for a full academic year or less.
Using the PELL Award Chart
To use this chart, a student must know their Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and enrollment status.
- Log into CUNYfirst Self-Service Student Center to locate your enrollment status. Note:Your enrollment status may change based on remedial courses
- Locate your EFC on your paper or electronic SAR.
- On the new Pell Award Chart, look at the left-hand column labeled “EFC” and find the range of numbers containing your particular “EFC”. For 2022-2023 PELL Chart, click here
- Look at the columns to the right labeled with the different enrollment statuses. The appropriate PELL Grant award amounts for every EFC are printed for each enrollment status.
- Find the column for your enrollment status and move across the same row as your EFC until you find the award amount for your particular enrollment status.
For more information, contact the Financial Aid Office.
- Students may not be in default on a previous federal student loan or owe the federal government a refund of financial aid previously received.
- Students must be willing to verify the information provided on the FAFSA.
- If you are a male between 18 and 25 years of age you must register with Selective Service.
- Pell Grant program will be limited to a maximum of 12 full-time equivalent semesters or 600% (100% per academic year)of Pell Grant eligibility per student.
Remedial Courses
The federal government restricts the use of Pell Grants for students to take up to 30 hours of non-credit remedial coursework. After the student has reached the 30-hour limit on remedial coursework, the student may not receive PELL or other forms of federal student aid for any additional remedial hours.
Pell Advance Payments
Pell advance payments are available for eligible students at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. Pell advance payments are intended to give students a portion of their award at the beginning of the semester to help purchase books and supplies.
- In order to provide an advance payment, students must file early, finalize their FAFSA information and settle their semester tuition bill.
- Students may chose either the CUNY Scholar Support prepaid card or direct deposit methods to receive financial aid disbursements.
- Pell advance payments do not represent any additional financial aid. If a student receives an advance payment, the amount of this payment will be deducted from their regular Federal Pell Grant disbursement.
- Note: Students who receive a Pell Advance but do not begin attendance in classes, must return the payment immediately to the college.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
A Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is an award given to undergraduate students who show exceptional financial need.
Eligibility Requirements
- To receive FSEOG, students must meet the Student Eligibility requirements for federal financial aid.
- Students must enroll for and maintain enrollment status of half-time (6 credits or equated credits)
- Students who receive an FSEOG payment but do not begin attendance in classes must return the payment immediately to the college
- Apply for FSEOG by filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Students will receive an award letter from the college indicating whether or not FSEOG has been awarded. Check your award status by logging into CUNYfirst.
Note: CUNY automatically considers a student for this award if his/her FAFSA application indicates Federal Work-Study or Federal Perkins Loan assistance. File your FAFSA early. FSEOG college funding is limited.
The New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) helps eligible New York residents pay tuition at approved schools in New York State. Depending on the academic year in which you begin study, an annual TAP award can be up to $5,165. Because TAP is a grant, it does not have to be paid back. For information about TAP go to www.hesc.ny.gov