Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

Understanding the FSEOG

The FSEOG assists low-income undergraduate students who need a lot of financial aid to help pay for college. Awards can range from $100 to $4,000 a year, depending on the amount of other aid you receive and the availability of grant funds at the school you’re attending.^{footnote 1}

To get an FSEOG, you must first complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). This lets your college determine how much financial need you qualify for.

Complete and submit the FAFSA as soon as possible beginning in December because each participating school receives a limited amount of FSEOG funds each year. Once they've been awarded, that's it. No additional funds are available. Check your school's website or contact their financial aid office for specific deadlines. You can also visit the official FSEOG website.

FSEOG eligibility

Eligibility is based on your answers on the FAFSA. Undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need and have a low Student Aid Index number are eligible. Your SAI is an index number that colleges use to determine how much financial aid you're eligible to receive.

Students who are going to receive Federal Pell Grants and have the most financial need will receive FSEOGs first. The FSEOG doesn’t need to be repaid, except under certain circumstances.^{footnote 1}

Each participating school receives a certain amount of FSEOG funds each year from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid. Once all of the school’s FSEOG funds have been awarded to students, no more FSEOG awards can be made for that year. This is different from the Federal Pell Grant Program, which provides funds to every student who’s eligible.

See more FSEOG eligibility information.