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Grants

Grants are gifts of money that do not have to be earned or repaid. To apply for grants offered by the Office of Financial Aid, students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

The U.S. Department of Education website has additional information on grant programs.

Delaware State University encourages students to file the FAFSA as soon as possible after October 1 for the upcoming academic year.

Once a student is admitted to DSU, their FAFSA information is reviewed, and financial aid eligibility is determined. Students are considered for grants and scholarships before employment and loan opportunities.

Financial aid offers are made on a first-come, first-served basis. While students can apply for financial aid throughout the year, funding for some programs may be limited or depleted.

More detailed information about the financial aid application process is available on our Step-by-Step Process webpage. Students who file the FAFSA for the applicable academic year will automatically be considered for: Federal Pell Grant and Federal SEOG.

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is a need-based grant offered to students with the greatest financial need, as determined by the FAFSA. Only undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s degree are eligible.  

Award amounts vary each academic year based on factors such as:

  • Program funding
  • Enrollment status
  • Student Aid Index (SAI)

The Federal Pell Grant award maximum is $7,395 for the 2026-2027 award year. Students enrolled less than half-time may still qualify in certain circumstances.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

This federal need-based grant is offered to students with exceptional financial needs, determined by filing the FAFSA, and is offered on a first-come first-served basis. Only undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s degree are eligible. You must be enrolled at least half-time (six hours per semester) and may receive this grant for a maximum of eight semesters.