Grants
Grants are a form of need-based aid that do not have to be repaid, unless you fail to maintain your eligibility. Federal Pell Grants are the most common, but there are also other grants you could qualify for, including state grants.
If you receive a grant, it will automatically post to your account, with no further acceptance process required.
If you have questions about grants or other forms of financial aid at EFSC, please contact the Financial Aid Office.
How to Apply for a Grant
When you complete the FAFSA, EFSC will automatically consider you for any grants that you're eligible for. Review the accordion below to get an idea about the various types of grants you might qualify for. Grant funding is limited, and many awards are first-come, first-served — so be sure to apply as early as possible!
Because your financial situation can change, you must reapply for financial aid each academic year.
Types of Grants Available Through EFSC
The Workforce Pell Grant program, established by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (effective July 1, 2025, with full implementation by July 1, 2026), expands Pell Grant eligibility to students enrolled in short-term, career-focused training programs. This initiative aims to help students rapidly gain practical skills for high-demand jobs, enabling a quicker transition into the workforce and helping to address pressing labor shortages nationwide.
Eligibility and Program Requirements
To qualify for Workforce Pell Grants, training programs must meet strict standards for quality and relevance, including:
- Last at least 8 weeks and fewer than 15 weeks
- Include 150-599 hours of instruction
- Be state-approved by governors to align with in-demand jobs
- Have been offered for at least one year
- Be state-approved or accredited
- Offer portable, stackable credentials or prepare students for entry-level employment, with coursework that counts toward academic credit.
Remedial, non-credit, or recreational courses are not eligible for Workforce Pell Grants.
Benefits
- Expands access to in-demand job training for non-traditional students.
- Supports economic recovery and workforce development.
- Helps employers fill critical skill gaps.
Student Outcome Requirements
- Programs must also demonstrate strong student outcomes, as monitored by the U.S. Department of Education. These requirements include:
- A verified completion rate of at least 70%
- A verified job placement rate of 70% within 180 days of completion
- The program’s cost cannot exceed the value-added earnings of students who completed three years prior.
The U.S. Department of Education will collect and publicly report key outcomes—such as completion rates, job placement rates, and post-graduation earnings—on the College Scorecard to ensure transparency and accountability.
The Education Department will collect and publicly report these outcomes—completion
rates, job placements, and earnings—on the College Scorecard to ensure transparency
and accountability.
Approved Programs
On September 28, 2026, Eastern Florida State College (EFSC) became the first college in Florida to receive Workforce Pell approval from the U.S. Department of Education, making Florida the sixth state in the nation with an approved institution. The following EFSC programs have received approval:
- Basic Correction Officer – Starting Fall 2026
- Crossover from Law Enforcement to Correction Officer – Starting Fall 2026
- Firefighter (Full-Time Cohort) – Started Spring 2027
- EMT – Starting Summer 2027 (Currently available in summer terms only due to program restrictions)
Financial Aid Requirement
- A Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 2026–2027 must be on file.
- Students must be admitted to one of the approved programs listed above.
Important Information
As additional short-term programs are reviewed and approved for Workforce Pell funding, updates will be posted to our website.
The Pell Grant is a federally funded program for undergraduates that is based on financial need. You're eligible to receive this grant for the equivalent of 12 semesters over the course of your studies, with eligibility determined annually based on the results of your FAFSA. Be sure to submit your FAFSA early!
Your Pell Grant may have multiple disbursement dates, depending on which parts of term you enroll in. Funds for full-term classes, for example, will disburse earlier than funds for Minimester B courses, which begin several weeks into the term. Learn more about receiving your aid.
Regulatory changes that impact Pell Grants are scheduled to take effect July 1, 2026 so visit the custom frequently asked question section to familiarize yourself with the details.
Award Amount and Enrollment Status
Pell amounts are prorated according to your enrollment intensity. Pell Grant amounts can change yearly.
For each term, your enrollment status is determined on a specific Pell Census date, sometimes called the Pell Recalculation date. If you have submitted the FAFSA and are registered for any part of the term (including summer terms), your enrollment status will be automatically calculated on this date.
Pell recalculation for Fall Term 2025 will occur on September 22, 2025. Prior to this date, students financial aid will automatically adjust based on their new enrollment. Updates should occur within two business days. After this date, adjustments to enrollment will be a manual process and changes in aid may take 3-5 business days to update. Please keep this in mind when registering for different parts of terms and pay close attention to the fee due dates affiliated with those terms. If you have any questions on this process, please reach out to the Financial Aid Office.
Pell Census (Recalculation) Dates
Summer Pell Grants
If you qualify for a Pell Grant throughout the year, you may have additional eligibility for a summer Pell Grant. To be eligible for summer Pell funds, you must enroll at least 1/2-time (6 credit hours or more) during the summer and not have exceeded the 600% maximum.
The Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a federally funded grant program directly administered by EFSC’s Financial Aid Office. It is designed for students with exceptional need, who have not previously earned a bachelor’s degree.
Your eligibility for the FSEOG is determined annually based on the results of your FAFSA. Be sure to submit your FAFSA early, as we are unable to award additional FSEOG funds once we have distributed our full federal allotment for the year.
The Florida Student Assistance Grant (FSAG) is available to degree-seeking, resident, undergraduate students enrolled at EFSC, who demonstrate substantial financial need. This grant is funded by the Office of State Financial Assistance (OSFA) and disbursed by the EFSC Financial Aid Office.
To be eligible for the FSAG, you must:
- Have been a Florida resident for at least one year
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
- Register for a minimum of 6 credit hours per term (or the equivalent) in an associate degree program (A.A. or A.S.)
- Not have previously earned a bachelor’s degree
- Not owe a repayment or be in default under any state or federal grant, loan, or scholarship programs (unless satisfactory repayment arrangements have been made)
- Meet Florida’s general eligibility requirements for the receipt of state aid
Your eligibility for the FSAG is determined annually based on the results of your FAFSA. Be sure to submit your FAFSA early, as FSAG funds are limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Florida Public Post-Secondary Career Education Student Assistance Grant (FSAG-CE) is available to resident undergraduate students enrolled in certificate programs at EFSC, who demonstrate substantial financial need. This grant is funded by the Office of State Financial Assistance (OSFA) and disbursed by the EFSC Financial Aid Office.
We prorate awards based on your final enrollment status following the add/drop period.
To be eligible for the FSAG-CE, you must:
- Have been a Florida resident for at least one year
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
- Register for a minimum of 180 clock-hours (or the equivalent of 6 credits) in a certificate program
- Not have previously earned a bachelor’s degree
- Not owe a repayment or be in default under any state or federal grant, loan, or scholarship programs (unless satisfactory repayment arrangements have been made)
- Meet Florida’s general eligibility requirements for the receipt of state aid
Your eligibility for the FSAG-CE is determined annually based on the results of your FAFSA. Be sure to submit your FAFSA early, as FSAG-CE funds are limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Funding is very limited for this state grant for first-generation students.