CMI is eligible as an Institution of Higher Education and as a Postsecondary Vocational Institution (legally authorized by the USDOE, accredited by ACCJC, and with acceptable admissions policies) to participate in the federal Pell grant program.
Pell is available for undergraduate students from moderate to low income families. It is a grant that does not need to be repaid. Award amounts range up to a maximum of $6495.00 for the $0 EFC full-time student for the award year. The award amount is determined using the student’s EFC (from a valid ISIR) and a payment chart issued by USDE. The award for each term is based on the student’s official enrollment status on the finalized enrollment report received from the Registrar’s Office and published award eligibility date (withdrawal/recalculation date). No adjustments will be made on Pell Grants after these dates. CMI-FAO has no discretion regarding the award amount. Students who are selected for verification will be afforded additional time on a case-by-case basis. At no time will a student be awarded beyond the deadline to receive disbursement from the Department of Education.
Students who were enrolled as a full time (taking 12 credits or more) status during both Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 should be enrolled as a full time (taking 6 credits or more) during the Summer 2022 to be eligible for additional Pell grant.
Federal Pell Grants are awarded by the U.S. Department of Education, and do not have to be repaid. It is usually awarded to students who have not earned a bachelor’s degree or higher. You are not eligible to receive Pell Grant if you are incarcerated or are submit to an involuntary civil commitment upon completion of a period of incarceration for a forcible or non-forcible sex offense.
It can be used to pay for all educational costs such as tuition, books, living expenses, and child care.
For students to be eligible for Pell Grant, you must be a citizen of the U.S., RMI, FSM, and Palau. It will be based on financial need, cost of attendance, the number of financial aid eligible credits enrolled, and how long you plan to attend college. The maximum years a student can use Pell Grant is up to six years (12 credits full-time semester or the equivalent), or 600%.
To apply, submit the FAFSA every year to see if you qualify for Federal Pell Grant. The amount of other student aid you qualify for does not affect the amount of your Federal Pell Grant.
Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility Use (LEU)
The amount of Federal Pell Grant funds a student may receive over his or her lifetime is limited to the equivalent of six years of Pell Grant funding. Since the maximum amount of Pell Grant funding a student can receive each year is equal to 100%, the six-year equivalent is 600%.
Note: Students who have reached 600% of Pell LEU will no longer be eligible for Pell Grant. They will be advised to seek other means of funding.
Students who are required to take remedial courses should be aware that their financial aid eligibility is limited. Students may only receive Pell Grant for 30 credit hours of developmental coursework. Students may resume their Pell Grant eligibility once they reach credit-level coursework
Basic Eligibility Requirements for Financial Aid
Students generally must meet the following criteria prior to establishing US federal financial aid eligibility:
Citizenship
Students must be in one of the following categories:
- A US Citizen or national.
- A permanent resident of the US.
- A Citizen of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau.
Enrollment as a Regular Student in an Eligible Program
In order to be enrolled in a program, a student must complete the registration process and pay, or make arrangements to pay, any fees or charges which are due. Eligible programs at CMI are available as long as the program requires at least 16 credits of coursework in order to receive a certificate and is a minimum of 15 weeks long.
Ability to Benefit/High School Diploma
In order to be eligible for Federal Financial Aid, a student must have a high school diploma, a GED or equivalency. CMI reserves the right to evaluate High School diploma(s). Applicants are required to submit official transcripts as part of the admissions process. The Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs (“VPASA”) or his/her designee may, at any time, request a copy of a high school transcript or other documentation to validate the authenticity of the High School diploma. The decision of the VPASA or his/her designee is final and cannot be appealed. CMI reserves the right to evaluate foreign and domestic transcripts.
Enrollment Status
Generally, a student must be enrolled at least half-time (6 credits per semester) in order to receive student aid. For students who show exceptional financial need, Pell Grant funds may be available for less than half-time enrollment (less than 6 credits).
Academic programs offered at CMI are calculated in credits and measured by semesters. CMI’s academic year consists of two 16-week semesters (fall and spring) and one 7-week summer session. This meets the federal minimum academic year definition (30 weeks of instruction minimum). For financial aid purposes, this definition is important because it affects how payment periods are calculated.
In addition to the academic programs highlighted above, CMI also offers an Accelerated Program during the Summer Semester for 8 weeks, and an Intensive Program during a regular semester for 16 weeks.
Enrollment Status Calculations
A student’s enrollment status is based on the number of credits in which he/she is enrolled and in which semester. For the Fall and Spring semester the following criteria will be used:
Full time = 12 or more credits
Three-quarter-time = 9.0 credits–11.9 credits
Half-time = 6.0 credits–8.9 credits
Less than half-time= .1 credit–5.9 credits
For students attending the summer session, the following enrollment status is used:
Full time = 6 or more credits
Three-quarter-time = 4.5 credits–5.9 credits
Half-time = 3.0 credits–4.49 credits
Less than half-time= .1 credits–2.9 credits
