Montana Pell Promise to help incoming Carroll College students

HELENA — College application season is now upon us, and it can be a stressful time for many prospective students.

Montana’s Pell Promise can help alleviate the stress and pressure of college finances.

To qualify, students must be from Montanans and have a 3.0 grade point average and meet certain financial need criteria.

This incoming class will be the first class of Carroll students to be eligible for this program.

The Pell Grant is a federal grant that helps students pay for college and is one of the largest federal student grant programs.

To apply, students must submit the FAFSA form, which opens on December 1.

Most Pell Grants go to students whose families earn less than $50,000 a year.

According to ApplyMontana, 82% of full-time college students in Montana receive financial aid for the first time.

“We support our Montana students who have financial need and are eligible for federal Pell Grants,” says Janet Riis, director of financial aid at Carroll College. “We will guarantee tuition and fees, fees will be paid to Carroll College, and it will be a combination of our merit scholarships, our other need-based scholarships from Carroll, and a subsidized Stafford loan.”

Beginning in fall 2025, Carroll College will cover remaining tuition for in-state first-time students enrolled in an undergraduate program who are federal Pell recipients.

This coverage will apply after subtracting your federal Pell Award, at least $3,500 in subsidized federal Stafford loans, and any additional institutional aid.

The award is renewable each year once the student submits the FAFSA, receives a federal Pell Grant, and meets GPA and credit score requirements.

To qualify, students and their families must obtain a Federal Student Aid ID to begin the FAFSA process on December 1.

There will be three FAFSA prep sessions at Carroll College in early November. More information about these dates can be found at carroll.edu.