Grants are funds that typically do not have to be repaid if you attend your classes throughout the semester. Grants are typically based on need, with your eligibility being determined by your FAFSA results.
It’s very important to apply early for grants, as earlier applications can take priority in certain circumstances. Grant funding can come from federal or state sources. Grants are a great option as you don't have to pay back the grant money you get when you're done with college. For exceptions please see the Federal Funds Return Policy. The following federal and state programs are available after successfully completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For more information about the FAFSA, visit the Financial Aid (FAFSA) page.
As an NTC student, you may be eligible for the following grants.
Federal Grants
The Federal Pell Grant is a grant based on a student’s Student Aid Index (SAI) provided to eligible students by the Department of Education and one of the three instances listed below.
A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid, except under certain circumstances. Find out why you might have to repay all or part of a federal grant. Federal Pell Grants are usually awarded only to undergraduate students who are pursuing their first bachelor’s degree.
- Maximum Pell Grant: Applicants may qualify for a Maximum Pell Grant based on family size, adjusted gross income (AGI), and poverty guidelines. Students qualifying for a Maximum Pell Grant will have an SAI between negative (-1,500) and 0. For the 2026–27 award year, the maximum Pell Grant award remains fixed at $7,395.
- Student Aid Index (SAI): Applicants who do not qualify for a Maximum Pell Grant may still qualify if their calculated SAI is less than the Maximum Pell Grant award for the award year. The applicant’s Federal Pell Grant award will be equal to the Maximum Pell Grant for the award year minus their SAI. The Federal Pell Grant will be adjusted if an applicant enrolls in less than 100% enrollment intensity, or if the applicant’s Cost of Attendance (COA) is less than the calculated Federal Pell Grant award.
- Minimum Pell Grant: Applicants whose SAI is greater than the Maximum Pell Grant award for the award year may still qualify for a Minimum Pell Grant, determination is based on family size, AGI, and poverty guidelines. The minimum Pell Grant award is 10% of the maximum award amount for the award year. Therefore, the Pell Grant minimum award amount for 2026–27 is $740.
Pell Grants and Enrollment Intensity
Your enrollment status, or the number of credits you take, significantly determines your eligibility for financial aid. Starting with the 2024-2025 award year, the calculation of Pell Grant eligibility changed. Instead of using enrollment level categories like "full-time," "three-quarter time," "half-time," and "less-than-half-time," Pell Grant awards are now determined based on a student’s enrollment intensity, which refers to the percentage of credits you are taking.
For Title IV purposes, full-time enrollment for programs offered in standard terms must comprise at least 12 credit hours. Below is a chart of enrollment intensity relative to full time (defined as 12 credit hours for financial aid purposes).
| Credit Hours | Enrollment Intensity Formula | Enrollment Intensity | Enrollment Status Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 (or more) | 12 ÷ 12 = 1.0 | 100% | Full-Time |
| 11 | 11 ÷ 12 = 0.917 | 92% | Three-Quarter Time |
| 10 | 10 ÷ 12 = 0.833 | 83% | Three-Quarter Time |
| 9 | 9 ÷ 12 = 0.75 | 75% | Three-Quarter Time |
| 8 | 8 ÷ 12 = 0.667 | 67% | Half-Time |
| 7 | 7 ÷ 12 = 0.583 | 58% | Half-Time |
| 6 | 6 ÷ 12 = 0.50 | 50% | Half-Time |
| 5 | 5 ÷ 12 = 0.417 | 42% | Less-than-Half-Time |
| 4 | 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 | 33% | Less-than-Half-Time |
| 3 | 3 ÷ 12 = 0.25 | 25% | Less-than-Half-Time |
| 2 | 2 ÷ 12 = .0167 | 17% | Less-than-Half-Time |
| 1 | 1 ÷ 12 = 0.083 | 8% | Less-than-Half-Time |
Note: Enrollment intensity cannot exceed 100% for purposes of Pell Grant proration.
Lifetime Limit for Receiving the Federal Pell Grant
Students can receive a Pell Grant for a maximum of six years, which is equal to 12 full-time semesters, including semesters used at other colleges and summer terms. The amount of a scheduled Pell Grant award you can receive each award year is 100% for full-time enrollment, so the six-year equivalent is 600%.
Find More Information About Pell Lifetime Eligibility
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
The FSEOG is awarded to students with exceptional financial need, and gives priority to those who received Federal Pell Grants. The maximum award is $500 per academic year ($250 fall and $250 spring), and you must be enrolled in at least six credits. There is a limited amount of funding for the FSEOG.
Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant
Available to students whose parent or guardian died as a result of U.S. military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001. The student must have been less than 24 years old or enrolled at an institution of higher education at the time of the parent or guardian’s death. The Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant is awarded to students meeting these criteria who are not Pell Grant eligible. The amount of this grant is the same as the maximum Pell Grant awarded for the year.
Find additional information regarding Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants
Wisconsin State Grants
Many grants are available through the state of Wisconsin. Below are some of the options most commonly used by NTC students. You can learn more about these grants through the State of Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board.
Wisconsin Grant
Wisconsin Grant is a program providing need-based grant assistance to in-state undergraduates enrolled at least half time in degree programs at Wisconsin colleges and Tribal institutions. Eligibility cannot exceed 10 semesters.
Talent Incentive Program (TIP)
Talent Incentive Program (TIP) provides assistance to financially needy and educationally disadvantaged Wisconsin students attending Wisconsin colleges and universities. Wisconsin Educational Opportunity Programs (WEOP) counselors nominate first-time freshmen for this grant. Contact your high school counselor, NTC’s Financial Aid Office or your regional WEOP coordinator for more information.
Hearing and Visually Handicapped Student Grant
Hearing and Visually Handicapped Student Grant was established to provide funding for undergraduate Wisconsin residents, enrolled at in-state or eligible out-of-state public or independent institutions that show financial need and have a severe or profound hearing or visual impairment. Students are eligible to receive the grant for up to ten semesters. Find the application at the HEAB website.