By Will Geiger

Will Geiger is the co-founder of Scholarships360 and has a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. He is a former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Kenyon College where he personally reviewed 10,000 admissions applications and essays. Will also managed the Kenyon College merit scholarship program and served on the financial aid appeals committee. He has also worked as an Associate Director of College Counseling at a high school in New Haven, Connecticut. Will earned his master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania and received his undergraduate degree in history from Wake Forest University.

Updated: August 17th, 2021

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, or Federal SEOG awards, are financial grants that help financially disadvantaged students pay for college. These grants do not need to be repaid so they are very valuable financial aid options for students. In this guide we’ll talk about the following:

• What are Federal Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) Awards?
• Who is eligible for FSEOG Awards?
• How much money could I be granted?
• Can I qualify for both a Pell Grant and a FSEOG Grant?

Keep on reading to learn more about how you can apply for and secure an SEOG grant!

What are Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) awards?

The FSEOG Grant program is administered by individual colleges and universities as opposed to the Federal Government. Not all colleges offer the FSEOG Awards so you should check with your college’s financial office to see if the grant is available.

Who is eligible for FSEOG awards?

Assuming that your college offers the Federal SEOG Award, you will have to be eligible according to your demonstrated financial need. Your demonstrated need is assessed by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA.

This means that you must apply for financial aid using the FAFSA to be eligible for FSEOG awards. Students can only use these awards for an undergraduate degree and can’t have previously received a bachelor’s degree.

Remember, the FAFSA opens up on October 1st of each year and you need to renew it each year you are in college.

Recommended: How to complete the FAFSA (a step-by-step guide)

How much money could I get?

Students who are eligible for Federal SEOG grants can receive between $100 and $4,000 per year. 

The amount of money awarded  depends on your financial need, but also can depend on when you apply, other financial aid, and the availability of aid at your college or university.

In order to receive your grant award, your college will do one of the following:

1. Credit your student financial account
2. Pay you directly
3. A combination of the above

You can expect to receive your award at least once per term (which is defined as a semester, trimester, or quarter). If you attend a college that has an alternative term schedule, you will receive your award at least twice per academic year.

Applicants who are interested in need-based financial aid can receive an estimate of need-based aid (and in some cases merit scholarships) through the Net Price Calculator. This is a free tool that every college must have on their website. It will provide an estimate of financial aid.

Can I qualify for both a Pell Grant and a FSEOG Grant?

Yes! You might qualify for both of these need-based grants. While the FSEOG Grant is awarded by individual educational institutions, the Pell Grant is awarded by the Federal Government. Both types of grants are dependent on your financial need as assessed by the FAFSA, so it is imperative that students complete the FAFSA as soon as possible.

Some colleges may also require the CSS Profile, an additional financial aid application. While this is not required for the Pell Grant or FSEOG Grant, but may be necessary for other types of financial aid.