SEOG Questions & Answers

What is a SEOG (Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant)?
A federal grant for undergraduates with exceptional financial need. Priority is given to the students who receive the Federal Pell Grant and have the lowest EFCs.

How does a student apply for SEOG?
File the FAFSA.

What is the difference between SEOG and Pell?
Every student with a FAFSA is evaluated for eligibility for the Pell grant and automatically awarded. A student must be eligible for Pell to be awarded SEOG. Due to limited funds, not every student may receive an SEOG award.

What is Hofstra’s criteria for awarding SEOG?
A student must have a zero EFC and be Pell eligible.

What is the maximum SEOG award?
Each college sets its own guidelines but the federal minimum is $100 and the federal maximum is $4,000 in an academic year. At Hofstra, the maximum is approximately $1,000 for the academic year.

Why is the Hofstra maximum only $1,000 when the federal guidelines say the maximum can be up to $4,000 a year?
Because we receive a very small pool of money and to make sure we award it to as many eligible students as possible, we must limit the award per student.

When will my SEOG grant disburse?
SEOG Grants usually disburse to your account on or about 10 days prior to the start of each term. For the Fall semester, the SEOG Grant will pay on or after September 1. Please note: disbursement may not occur if you have not completed all the requirements and/or submitted all the required documentation.