Grants | Types of Financial Aid

Federal and state grants can make college more affordable by helping you cover tuition and other educational expenses, without the need to repay them. You may be eligible for programs like the Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), or the Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant. Learn how to qualify, apply through the FAFSA, and when to expect your funds.

• Pell Grant

  A federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid. This grant may be applied to tuition, fees, and books. This grant is available to eligible undergraduate students enrolled in an eligible program (at least 16 credit hours) and demonstrating financial need. To determine your need, apply for financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each academic year. The amount of Federal Pell Grant a student may receive is dependent on financial need, cost of attendance, and enrollment level. The Pell Grant is prorated based on the actual credit hours the student attends. The Maximum Pell Grant indicates the maximum amount a student may receive by being enrolled full-time (12 credits) for two semesters. The maximum Federal Pell Grant for the 2025-2026 Year is $7,395. The maximum Federal Pell Grant for the previous academic year, 2024-2025, was also $7,395

  Students may not receive federal Pell Grant funds from more than one school during the same semester and must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen to qualify.

  Grants are disbursed around midterm of the semester. Allow one to two weeks after the disbursement date for payments to be applied to your student account. In the case of a credit balance, remaining funds will be applied to your selected refund preference with BankMobile. Students may request a Pell advancement in person with the Office of Financial Aid. To determine if an advancement is the student's best option, the student will be required to complete the request form and provide information on the academic expense to which the advancement will be applied.

• Year-Round Pell Grant

  The U.S. Department of Education has announced that students may be eligible to receive additional Pell Grant funding for the summer semester. This allows a student to receive federal Pell Grant funds up to 150 percent of the student's annual Pell Grant for an award year. To be eligible for additional Pell Grant funds:

  • Student must be otherwise eligible to receive Pell Grant funds for the payment period;
  • Student must be maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).

  Review the following examples to help with determining eligibility for an additional Pell Grant award.

  Scenario 1, Student enrolls for 12 hours in each of 3 semesters

  Scenario 1	Fall	Spring	Summer
  Enrollment	12 hours	12 hours	12 hours
  Pell Award	$3698 (50%)	$3697 (50%)	$3698 (50%)

  Scenario 2, Student enrolls for 12 hours in Fall and Spring and 6 hours in Summer

  Scenario 2	Fall	Spring	Summer
  Enrollment	12 hours	12 hours	6 hours
  Pell Award	$3698 (50%)	$3697 (50%)	$1849 (25%)

  Scenario 3, Student enrolls for 12 hours in Fall and Spring and 3 hours in Summer

  Scenario 3	Fall	Spring	Summer
  Enrollment	12 hours	12 hours	3 hours
  Pell Award	$3697 (50%)	$3697 (50%)	$924 (12.5%)

  Important Note: The amount of federal Pell Grant funds a student may receive over his or her lifetime is limited by federal law to 600 percent. If a student's lifetime eligibility used (LEU) equals or exceeds 600 percent, the student may no longer receive Pell Grant funding. Students can log on to view their Pell Grant LEU

• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

  The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) does not have to be repaid. This grant may be applied to tuition or fees. The grant is available to eligible undergraduate students enrolled in an eligible program (at least 16 credit hours) and demonstrating the most financial need. To determine your need, please apply for financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each academic year. The maximum amount of this award at MCC is $400 per award year. Funding for this program is limited and is awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis. Only U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens will qualify for FSEOG.

• Illinois Monetary Award Program Grant

  The Illinois Monetary Award Program Grant does not have to be repaid. This grant may be applied to tuition. The grant is available to students showing Illinois residency and are attending an Illinois school, enrolled in a minimum of 3 credit hours, and demonstrate financial need. To determine your need, please apply for financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each academic year. The maximum amount of this award at MCC is dependent on the student's eligibility and enrollment status. Funding for this program is limited and is awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis. Independent students must show they were an Illinois resident one full year prior to the first day of classes for fall term of the award year in question. Dependent student's parent(s) must show Illinois residency as of the date the student's FAFSA was filed.