Federal Pell Grant
The Federal Pell Grant is considered gift-aid because it is funding that generally does not need to be paid back. The funding comes from Federal Student Aid and it is designed to help fund your college education!
The Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, generally does not have to be repaid and is awarded only to undergraduate students who are pursuing their first bachelor’s degree.
Factors that impact a student’s eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant include, but are not limited to, the information on a student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA form), program of study, Cost of Attendance**, and enrollment status.
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 Student Aid Index (SAI). Students should self-identify on the FAFSA, by answering “yes” to the question titled “Parent Killed in the Line of Duty”. Further review of eligibility will be determined by our office and documentation may be requested.
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.
*Effective 2026-2027 academic year, students with an SAI equal to or greater than 14,790 are ineligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant.
**Effective 2026-2027 academic year, students cannot receive the Federal Pell Grant if all other non-federal aid exceeds their Cost of Attendance. In these instances, the Federal Pell Grant will be reduced or cancelled.
The first step is to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Based on the information you provide on the FAFSA form you may or may not be eligible for the Federal Pell Grant. You will have to fill out the FAFSA form 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: a number of factors, including your enrollment intensity. See additional information below.
Eligibility for the Pell Grant depends on several factors as mentioned above. To ensure you are reviewed for Pell Grant and other Federal Student Aid and institutional aid, be sure 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 (i.e. enrollment intensity) that you are enrolled in. If your enrollment changes during the semester (including dropping or withdrawing from some or all of your courses or failing some or all of your classes), the amount you are eligible to receive in the Federal Pell Grant may be impacted. Visit our Pell Recalculation Policy page or Withdrawal Policy page for more detailed information.
To learn more, visit the Department of Education's Pell Grant page.