do you have to pay back pell grants 
grants like scholarships generally represent money that doesn t have to be repaid however there are circumstances when you might have to repay some or all of your pell grant those include dropping out of the program of study for which you were awarded the grant changing your attendance from full time to part time or receiving other scholarships or grants that reduce your eligibility for federal aid if any of this happens the school should let you know how much you owe and how to repay it 16who was pell pell grants are named for the late u s senator claiborne de borda pell of rhode island who championed them 17the bottom linepell grants can help undergraduate students with significant financial need pay for college or other post secondary education unlike student loans they do not have to be repaid in most circumstances to apply for a pell grant students and their families need to fill out the free application for federal student aid fafsa 1819