Federal Grants

For more information on Federal Grants, please visit Federal Grants and Scholarships and St. John Fisher University Scholarship and Grant Information.

Federal Pell Grant

The student must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Federal Pell Grants usually are awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s or a professional degree. The amount awarded is dependent upon the student’s financial need (EFC), cost of attendance, status as a full-time or part-time student, and plans to attend school for a full academic year or less. A student can only receive the Federal Pell Grant for no more than 12 semesters. To receive the grant in successive years, the student must make satisfactory progress towards a degree, complete the FAFSA application and meet eligibility requirements.

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

The student must file the FAFSA. SEOG is awarded to Federal Pell Grant recipients who have demonstrated the highest calculated need. The average award is $1,000. Funds are limited and subject to availability. To receive the grant in successive years, the student must make satisfactory progress towards a degree, complete the FAFSA application and meet eligibility requirements.

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant

The student must file the FAFSA. Student may be eligible for the Iraq & Afghanistan Service Grant if they are not eligible for a Federal Pell Grant on the basis of their EFC, but meet the remaining Federal Pell Grant eligibility requirements, and the student’s parent or guardian was a member of the U.S. armed forces and died as a result of military service performed in Iraq or Afghanistan after the events of 9/11, and the student was under 24 years old or enrolled in college at least part-time at the time of the parent’s or guardian’s death. To receive the grant in successive years, the student must make satisfactory progress towards a degree, complete the FAFSA application and meet eligibility requirements.

Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant

The student must file the FAFSA and complete the St. John Fisher University TEACH Grant application. The student must be enrolled in a TEACH-Grant-eligible program as an undergraduate, meet certain academic achievement requirements, receive TEACH Grant counseling and sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve. To receive the grant in successive years, the student must make satisfactory progress towards a degree, complete the FAFSA application, receive TEACH Grant counseling, sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve, and meet eligibility requirements. Academic achievement requirements are reviewed prior to the receipt of the grant each semester.

Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 included an amendment to Section 473(b) of the Higher Education Act, authorizing the Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship. Beginning with the 2018-2019 award year, a Pell-eligible student whose parent or guardian died in the line of duty while performing as a public safety officer is eligible to receive a maximum Pell Grant for the award year for which the determination of eligibility is made. To qualify for this scholarship, a student must be Pell-eligible and have a Pell-eligible EFC, and be less than 24 years of age or enrolled at an institution of higher education at the time of his or her parent or guardian’s death. In subsequent award years, the student continues to be eligible for the scholarship, as long as the student has a Pell-eligible EFC and continues to be an eligible student. The student must annually file the FAFSA and contact the Office of Student Financial Services to request review of their eligibility for the scholarship.

For purposes of the Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship, a public safety officer is:

  • As defined in section 1204 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796b); or
  • A fire police officer, defined as an individual who is serving in accordance with State or local law as an officially recognized or designated member of a legally organized public safety agency and provides scene security or directs traffic in response to any fire drill, fire call, or other fire, rescue, or police emergency, or at a planned special event.

The University is required to determine and document, in collaboration with the student, that the student was less than 24 years of age or enrolled at an institution of higher education at the time of his or her parent’s or guardian’s death. Some documents that the University may consider:

  • A determination letter acknowledging eligibility for certain federal benefits under the Public Safety Officers Benefit (PSOB) program administered by the Department of Justice;
  • A written letter of attestation or determination made by a state or local government official with supervisory or other relevant oversight authority of an individual who died in the line of duty while serving as a public safety officer as defined above;
  • Documentation of the student qualifying for a state tuition or other state benefit accorded to the children or other family members of a public safety officer consistent with the definition in 42 U.S.C. 3796b, or as a fire police officer as noted above; or
  • Other documentation the school determines to be from a credible source that describes or reports the circumstances of the death and the occupation of the parent or guardian.