r/UCCS • u/Cass72 • Jul 09 '26

Question FAFSA

Hello!! I just finished orientation and went to the financial aid office who let me know that my full Pell grant would get split in two and only cover half (tuition estimated 7.3k/semester so FAFSA would cover only 3.6k/semester). However when I went to pikes peak the tuition was ~3.2k and I would get back the rest of the Pell grant ~3.6k, each semester. Was the financial office wrong? Anyone else get the full Pell grant (my SAI is -1500) and they still have to pay? Please help!

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3

u/Major-Ad3616 Jul 09 '26

Tuition is cheaper at Pikes Peak since it is a community/state college.

1

u/Cass72 Jul 09 '26

Yes I know, what I’m saying is I got the full 7.4k a semester (half to tuition half in my pockets) so why would my FAFSA not work the same at UCCS and just all go to tuition?

3

u/TurboG16 Jul 09 '26

You can thank the federal government (and the voters who decided that funding higher education is not in the public interest) for the small amount of money you get from a Pell grant. That said, the maximum you can get from a Pell grant per year at this time is approximately 7.4 k, so what you are seeing is currently accurate.

1

u/liminalenergy Jul 09 '26

Make sure you are receiving any scholarships that should be awarded to transfer students. I transfered from DU and they forgot to give me the Chancellor's award, I emailed them and I got a huge refund. Sometimes just making sure you got all your scholarships will put your bill at $0 or get you a refund.

1

u/Cass72 Jul 09 '26

When I went into the office they said the only I can do right now is a loan pretty much since everything is closed for the 26-27 year :(

1

u/ShakeInitial3678 Jul 09 '26

What about the COF? That can change it too. 

1

u/Cass72 Jul 09 '26

That’s with the COF applied :(

1

u/Smart_Leadership_522 Jul 10 '26

It all sounds right truthfully. That grant maxes out at 7.4k a year split half for spring and fall. CC typically end up with more left over for free spending whereas UCCS you still owe some lol. Interesting what you said you were getting that each semester, wonder if there was more aid than it seemed to be? (Like other grants PPCC was giving you)

1

u/Available-Result-220 Jul 11 '26

i don't know the exact answer to this, the amount I am getting for the pell grant is different then what you said. I will say financial aid is notoriously wrong. Call them again see if you can get a different peson or speak to different people on the FAFSA help number.

1

u/InfoSugar_baby 17d ago

I’m on my second year at UCCS and this is how my Pell Grant has always worked. I only get half of it each semester. I get about $3,000-$3,500 from my Pell Grant each semester totaling for $6,000-$7,000 a year. (I don’t remember the each number but it’s been consistent each semester.) I’ve never received the full grant during one semester, it’s always been split into 2.