Federal Pell Grant

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is considered gift-aid because it is funding that does not need to be paid back. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Education and it is designed to help fund your college education!

The Federal Pell Grant is a grant based on a student’s Student Aid Index (SAI) provided to eligible students by the Department of Education and one of the three instances listed below. 

The Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, generally does not have to be repaid. Federal Pell Grants are usually awarded only to undergraduate students who are pursuing their first bachelor’s degree.

  1. Maximum Pell Grant: Applicants may qualify for a Maximum Pell Grant based on family size, adjusted gross income (AGI), and poverty guidelines. Students qualifying for a Maximum Pell Grant will have an SAI between negative $1,500 (-$1,500) and $0.
  2. Student Aid Index (SAI): Applicants who do not qualify for a Maximum Pell Grant may still qualify if their calculated SAI is less than the Maximum Pell Grant award for the award year. The applicant’s Federal Pell Grant award will be equal to the Maximum Pell Grant for the award year minus their SAI. The Federal Pell Grant will be adjusted if an applicant enrolls in less than 100% enrollment intensity, or if the applicant’s Cost of Attendance (COA) is less than the calculated Federal Pell Grant award.
  3. Minimum Pell Grant: Applicants whose SAI is greater than the Maximum Pell Grant award for the award year may still qualify for a Minimum Pell Grant, determination is based on family size, AGI, and poverty guidelines.

Iraq & Afghanistan Service Grant (IASG) & Children of Fallen Heroes (CFH): IASG and CFH students may be eligible for the Federal Pell Grant regardless of their SAI. Students should self-identify on the 2024-2025 FAFSA, by answering question 16 titled “Parent Killed in the Line of Duty”. Further review of eligibility will be determined by our office.  

Once the annual Federal Pell Grant is determined, the award is halved and applied equally to both Fall and Spring semesters and will be prorated by a student’s enrollment intensity. Please review our How Enrollment Affects Financial Aid page for more information about enrollment intensity. 

You should start by submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Based on the information you provide on the FAFSA you may or may not be eligible for the Federal Pell Grant. You will have to fill out the FAFSA every year you’re in school in order to stay eligible for federal student aid. 

Amounts can change yearly. The amount you get will depend on:

  • your Student Aid Index/SAI (as determined by your FAFSA),
  • the estimated Cost of Attendance (determined by your school for your specific program),
  • your enrollment intensity status, and
  • your plans to attend school for a full academic year or less.

You might! This will depend on whether you meet the standards for enrollment and financial need as outlined in the “How much money can I get?” section above. Don’t forget to submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form as your first step towards determining eligibility.

The Federal Pell Grant is dependent on the number of units that you are enrolled in at any given time. If your enrollment changes during the semester, it may impact the amount of the Federal Pell Grant you receive. Visit our Pell Recalculation Policy page for more detailed information.

To learn more, visit the Department of Education's Pell Grant page.