Who can receive a Pell Grant

A Pell Grant is a federal award for undergraduate study, and you must meet several requirements set by the U.S. Department of Education. You need to be a U.S. citizen, national, or may be able to access noncitizen; be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student in an undergraduate program; and demonstrate financial need based on your family's income and assets.

You must also have a high school diploma, GED, or approved homeschool credential. If you do not have one of these, you may still be considered if you pass an approved test or complete a high school completion program before you enroll. Some students without a high school credential can receive a Pell Grant if they are enrolled in a program leading to a credential and meet other requirements.

Your school must be an accredited institution that participates in federal student aid programs. Most colleges and universities do, but some trade schools and online programs do not. You can check whether a school participates by searching the Federal Student Aid website or asking the school's financial aid office directly.

Key Takeaways

  • You must be a U.S. citizen, national, or may be able to access noncitizen enrolled in an undergraduate degree or certificate program at an accredited school.
  • Financial need is determined by comparing your family's income and assets to the cost of attendance at your school, not by a fixed income cutoff.
  • You must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year you want to receive a Pell Grant, even if you received one the previous year.
  • Your school's financial aid office calculates how much of a Pell Grant you can receive based on enrollment status, cost of attendance, and other aid you receive.
  • Certain criminal convictions related to drug offenses can make you temporarily ineligible, but you may regain may be able to access after a waiting period or by completing a rehabilitation program.

How financial need is calculated

Financial need is not based on a single income threshold. Instead, the Department of Education uses a formula that compares your family's income, assets, family size, and number of family members in college to the cost of attendance at your school. The cost of attendance includes tuition, fees, room and board, books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses.

Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) — now called the Student Aid Index (SAI) — is calculated from information you provide on the FAFSA. The Department of Education subtracts your SAI from your school's cost of attendance to determine your financial need. A student at an expensive school with the same family income as a student at a less expensive school may have greater financial need and receive a larger Pell Grant.

If your SAI is zero or negative, you have the maximum financial need. The maximum Pell Grant amount changes each year. For the 2024–2025 award year, the maximum was $7,395, but this figure varies by year and depends on federal funding. Your school will tell you the exact amount you can receive based on your circumstances.

Steps to complete the FAFSA

The FAFSA is the form you must submit to be considered for a Pell Grant. You can complete it online at fafsa.gov, and it is free. You will need your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID number, and tax information from the previous year — either your own tax return or your parents' if you are a dependent student.

Create a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID before you start the FAFSA. This ID lets you sign the form electronically and access your information later. You can create an FSA ID at studentaid.gov. If your parents are contributing information, they will also need their own FSA ID.

Fill out the FAFSA with accurate information about your income, assets, family size, and family members in college. Submit it as early as possible after October 1st of the year before you plan to enroll. Schools and states award aid on a first-come, first-served basis, so submitting early can affect how much aid you receive. After you submit, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) that shows the information you provided and your SAI.

Enrollment status and Pell Grant amounts

The amount of a Pell Grant you receive depends partly on whether you are enrolled full-time, three-quarter time, half-time, or less than half-time. Full-time enrollment is usually 12 or more credit hours per semester, but your school defines it. The more credits you take, the larger your Pell Grant, up to the maximum amount for that year.

If you are enrolled less than half-time, you may still receive a Pell Grant, but the amount will be smaller. Some students attend part-time because of work or family obligations, and a smaller Pell Grant is still worth receiving. Your school's financial aid office will calculate the exact amount based on your enrollment status.

If you drop below half-time enrollment after the semester starts, your Pell Grant may be reduced or you may have to return part of it. Tell your financial aid office immediately if your enrollment status changes so they can recalculate your aid.

Citizenship and immigration status requirements

You must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or may be able to access noncitizen to receive a Pell Grant. U.S. citizens and nationals are straightforward — you provide your Social Security number on the FAFSA and confirm your status. may be able to access noncitizens include permanent residents (green card holders), refugees, asylees, Cuban-Haitian entrants, and certain other visa holders.

Undocumented immigrants are not may be able to access for federal Pell Grants. However, some states and individual colleges offer their own aid to undocumented students. If you are undocumented, contact your school's financial aid office to learn what state or institutional aid might be available to you.

If you are an may be able to access noncitizen, you will need an Alien Registration Number (A-number) or Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) number to complete the FAFSA. Have this information ready before you start the form.

Drug convictions and other disqualifying factors

A drug conviction can make you temporarily ineligible for a Pell Grant. The length of ineligibility depends on whether the conviction was for possession or sale, and whether it was a first, second, or subsequent offense. A first offense for possession makes you ineligible for one year from the date of conviction; a first offense for sale makes you ineligible for two years. Subsequent offenses carry longer periods of ineligibility.

You can regain may be able to access before the ineligibility period ends if you complete a drug rehabilitation program that meets Department of Education standards. The program must include testing and treatment. Once you complete it, you can submit a form to the Department of Education to restore your may be able to access.

Other factors that can affect your Pell Grant include owing a refund on a previous federal student aid award, being in default on a federal student loan, or having a federal judgment against you for a student loan. If any of these apply to you, contact your school's financial aid office to learn your options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a Pell Grant if I am a graduate student?

No. Pell Grants are only for undergraduate students. Graduate and professional students may be may be able to access for other federal aid, such as Direct Unsubsidized Loans or Graduate PLUS Loans. Your school's financial aid office can tell you what aid is available for graduate study.

What if my parents refuse to provide their tax information for the FAFSA?

If you are a dependent student and your parents refuse to provide information, you cannot complete the FAFSA accurately. However, you may be able to file a FAFSA without parental information if you meet certain criteria for being independent — such as being 24 or older, married, a graduate student, or having dependents of your own. Your school's financial aid office can help you determine whether you may have access to as independent.

Do I have to reapply for a Pell Grant every year?

Yes. You must complete a new FAFSA each academic year to receive a Pell Grant. Your financial circumstances may change, and the maximum Pell Grant amount changes yearly. Submitting early each year helps ensure you receive the full amount available to you.

Can I receive a Pell Grant if I am attending school part-time?

Yes, but the amount will be smaller than if you were enrolled full-time. Your school calculates your Pell Grant based on your enrollment status. Part-time students often receive a Pell Grant that covers a portion of their costs, and they may combine it with loans or other aid.

What happens if I withdraw from school after receiving a Pell Grant?

If you withdraw before completing the semester, you may have to return part of your Pell Grant. The amount you must return depends on how much of the semester you completed. Your school's financial aid office will calculate this and let you know. Withdrawing early can also affect your aid in future semesters, so talk to your financial aid office before you withdraw.