Why is only one of my two children eligible for a Pell Grant?

by Pat
(Collegeville, PA)

I have twins who are entering their third year of college. For the previous two years only one of my children has been awarded a Pell Grant. After completing the FAFSA for the coming school year, it again appears that only one will be eligible for a Pell Grant. How can this be the case when the financial information is the same for both?

Answer:

The family contribution should be split evenly among all siblings in college. So, both your children should have the same EFC number. Look on their student aid reports (SARs) and see if this is the case. If it is not, there is something wrong. Contact the school's financial aid office and get help with correcting their FAFSAs.

If their EFC number is the same, and one sibling got a Pell grant and one didn't, the cause must be that their costs of attendance are different- Are they going to different schools? The Pell grant is not awarded only based on the family's financial information. Individual college costs are also evaluated. If they are going to different schools, and the estimated (by the school) costs for the child with the grant are higher, this would explain it.