Need-Based Grants
In addition to scholarships and loans, filing the FAFSA may qualify eligible students to receive grant funding based on financial need.
Federal Pell Grant
Pell Grants are awarded to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s or a professional degree. Pell Grants are considered a foundation of federal financial aid, to which aid from other federal and nonfederal sources might be added.
The maximum Pell Grant award for the 2020-21 award year (July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021) was $6,345. The maximum changes each award year and depends on program funding. The amount you receive, though, will depend not only on your financial need calculated by filing the (FAFSA) Free Application for Federal Student Aid, but also on your costs to attend school, your status as a full-time or part-time student, and your plans to attend school for a full academic year or less.
Approximately 40% of Monmouth students qualify for and receive funding through the Federal Pell Grant.
Federal SEOG Grant
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) program is for undergraduates with exceptional financial need. Pell Grant recipients with the lowest expected family contributions (EFCs) will be considered first for a FSEOG.
Federal TEACH Grant
TEACH Grants are awarded to eligible students annually. Please go to studentaid.gov to complete the TEACH grant counseling and the Agreement to Serve (ATS).
In exchange for receiving a TEACH Grant, a student must agree to serve as a full-time teacher in a high-need field in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves low-income students and must teach for at least four academic years within eight calendar years of completing the program of study for which you received a TEACH Grant. IMPORTANT: If a student fails to complete this service obligation, all amounts of TEACH Grants that you received will be converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan. For more detailed information, please visit: TEACH Grant Program
State of Illinois (MAP) Monetary Award Program Grant
The Monetary Award Program (MAP) provides grants to Illinois residents who attend approved Illinois colleges and demonstrate financial need, based on the information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You are not required to submit high school grades or test scores when applying for a MAP grant.
Approximately 50% of Monmouth students qualify for and receive funding through the Illinois MAP Grant program.
State of IL RISE Act
The Retention of Illinois Students and Equity (RISE) Act allows eligible undocumented and transgendered students who are disqualified from federal financial aid to apply for and receive MAP grant funding to attend college in Illinois. Qualified students should complete the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid.
Monmouth College Grants
In addition to the state or federally funded grant programs, Monmouth offers millions of dollars of grant funding to our students each year. The amount of the grants vary from student to student and are based on a student’s entire academic and financial profile. Currently, 99% of our students receive grants and/or scholarships from the College. Monmouth grants are available to all students, including those not eligible for federal financial aid.
Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) Funding
Monmouth College has signed and returned to the Department of Education, the Certification and Agreement Form required and has received $1,069,404 in federal CARES Act funding. No less than 50% of this funding ($534,702) must be used to provide emergency grants directly to students in recognition of the additional expense they will incur as a result of COVID-19, the disruption of the Spring 2020 term and their relocation home. The remaining 50% of the CARES funding may be used by the institution to offset additional expenses incurred directly by the institution as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was determined that approximately 830 students met the requirements of the federal government and were eligible to be considered for the CARES funding in the spring of 2020. Ultimately, with the formula used by the college, we distributed funds to just over 727 students. As of July 20, 2020, we had distributed $865,167.
Monmouth College did not elect to utilize a lengthy application nor review process. Rather, we utilized the current financial aid records and need analysis already used by the Student Financial Planning Office in conjunction with the costs incurred by each individual student for such things housing and food and developed a formula to automate the determination and proration of funding for each student. Amounts disbursed varied depending on the individual student’s costs and financial assistance.
Per federal guidance, International students and DACA students were not included in the distribution of CARES funding and were instead provided funding directly from Monmouth College in the amount of $21,627. Commuter students were omitted from this process as they incurred no disruption/relocation nor additional expenses for food and/or housing. Students who were unable to return home and remained on campus throughout the spring semester, were omitted from consideration. All other Title IV eligible students were considered for a portion of the emergency grants.
Funding was disbursed through the Student Financial Planning Office directly to student accounts for tracking purposes. However, funds were disbursed directly to students by check or direct deposit bypassing any existing past due balance on student accounts. This enabled Monmouth College to get these federal CARES Act funds into the hands of students/families quickly.