County high school seniors and college students will receive extra help in paying for college through the federal economic stimulus package.

Many students currently rely on need-based Pell Grants to help pay for college. Those grants will increase from $4,731 to $5,350 per student for the 2009-2010 school year. An award of $5,500 per student is expected for the 2010-2011 school year.

The news couldn't come at a better time for Limestone College and local high school seniors applying for college. Nearly half of 3,400 students in the Limestone College system statewide receive Pell Grants.

"This is wonderful news. We have a number of students who receive Pell Grants and participate in work study programs, so from this perspective it will help our students," said Karen Gainey, Limestone College executive vice president. "A lot of students are looking at ways to pay for college. Any help students receive from the stimulus package is a good thing."

Gaffney High guidance counselors have seen a significant increase in the number of students seeking information about college scholarships and financial aid.

"We have a lot of students who are very concerned about being able to pay for college," Gaffney High guidance counselor Kaye Spearman said. "This increase in financial aid will definitely help."

The stimulus package provides parents with a $2,500 tax credit for college expenses over a 4-year period. Colleges received $200 million to help fund work study programs for students.

Blacksburg High seniors are currently facing crunch time in turning in FASFA applications for federal student aid. While the deadline is June, guidance counselor Billy Transou said students sometimes submit applications late, risking losing out on financial aid available directly from colleges.

"The institutional financial aid from colleges is awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis," Transou said. "The Pell Grant money really couldn't come at a better time given the economic situation. The cost of college is rising faster than the amount of financial aid available."