Who can receive a Pell Grant

To receive a Pell Grant, you must be a U.S. citizen or may be able to access noncitizen, enrolled at least half-time in an undergraduate degree or certificate program at a school that participates in the federal student aid system, and have a valid Social Security number. You also cannot be in default on a federal student loan or owe a refund on a federal grant.

Your school determines whether you are enrolled full-time or half-time based on the number of credits you take each term. Most four-year colleges require 12 credits per semester to be considered full-time; community colleges may use different thresholds. Part-time students can receive Pell Grants if they are enrolled at least half-time, though the grant amount will be smaller than for full-time students.

You do not need to have a high school diploma or GED to receive a Pell Grant. If you did not graduate from high school, you can take an approved test that demonstrates you have the ability to benefit from college-level work.

Key Takeaways

  • You must be a U.S. citizen or may be able to access noncitizen, enrolled at least half-time in an undergraduate program, and have a valid Social Security number.
  • Your school must participate in the federal student aid system, which most accredited colleges and universities do.
  • You cannot be in default on a federal student loan or owe money back on a previous federal grant.
  • Your family's income and assets are evaluated through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which determines how much grant money you may receive.
  • Pell Grants are based on financial need, not academic performance or test scores.

How financial need is calculated

The federal government uses information from your FAFSA to calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), now called the Student Aid Index (SAI). This number represents what the government estimates your family can afford to pay toward your education. The Pell Grant amount is then determined by subtracting your SAI from the maximum Pell Grant for that year.

Your SAI takes into account your family's income, assets, family size, and the number of family members in college. If your family's income is very low or you have no income, your SAI may be zero, which means you could receive the maximum Pell Grant amount. The maximum Pell Grant changes each year; for the 2024–2025 academic year, it is $7,395, though this amount varies by year and is set by Congress.

If your SAI is higher than the maximum Pell Grant, you will not receive a Pell Grant. However, you may still be able to receive other types of federal aid, such as subsidized or unsubsidized loans, depending on your school's financial aid package.

Steps to complete the FAFSA

The FAFSA is the form that determines whether you can receive a Pell Grant. You submit it online at fafsa.gov, the official federal student aid website. You will need your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID, and tax information from the previous year (or your parents' tax information if you are a dependent student).

Create a login account using your email address and a password. You will use this account to track your application status and make any corrections. If you are a dependent student, one parent will also need to create an account and sign the form electronically using their FSA ID (Federal Student Aid ID).

The FAFSA opens on October 1 each year and remains open through June 30 of the following year. However, schools and states often have earlier deadlines for awarding aid, so submitting your FAFSA as early as possible in October increases your chances of receiving the full amount of aid available. Many schools have priority deadlines in December or January.

Citizenship and noncitizen status requirements

You must be a U.S. citizen to receive a Pell Grant. If you are not a citizen, you may still be an may be able to access noncitizen, which includes permanent residents (green card holders), refugees, asylees, Cuban/Haitian entrants, victims of human trafficking, or holders of certain visa types. You will need to provide documentation of your status when you complete the FAFSA.

If you are an undocumented immigrant, you are not able to receive a Pell Grant through the federal system. However, some states and individual colleges offer their own grant programs for undocumented students. You can contact your school's financial aid office to learn what options may be available in your state.

School participation and program requirements

Your school must be accredited and participate in the federal student aid system to disburse Pell Grants. Most public and private nonprofit colleges and universities participate. For-profit schools also participate, though the rules around their may be able to access have changed over time. You can check whether a specific school participates by searching the Federal Student Aid website or asking the school's financial aid office directly.

You must be enrolled in a degree or certificate program that leads to a recognized credential. You cannot receive a Pell Grant if you are taking courses for personal enrichment or are enrolled in a non-degree program. Graduate students are not able to receive Pell Grants; these grants are for undergraduate study only.

If you change schools during the academic year, your Pell Grant may transfer with you, but you should notify both your old and new school's financial aid offices to ensure the funds are disbursed correctly and that you do not receive duplicate payments.

Maintaining Pell Grant may be able to access year to year

Once you receive a Pell Grant, you must continue to meet the basic requirements each year: remain a U.S. citizen or may be able to access noncitizen, stay enrolled at least half-time in an undergraduate program, maintain a valid Social Security number, and not be in default on a federal loan or owe a refund on a federal grant.

You must also make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), which means you are earning passing grades and completing enough credits each term to stay on track for your degree. The exact standards vary by school, but typically you must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA and complete at least 67 percent of the credits you attempt. If you fall below these standards, your school may place you on financial aid probation or suspend your aid.

If you have already received a Pell Grant for the equivalent of six years of full-time undergraduate study, you are no longer able to receive one. This is called the Pell Grant Lifetime may be able to access Used (LEU) limit. You can check how much of your lifetime may be able to access you have used by logging into your FAFSA account or asking your school's financial aid office.

What happens if you do not meet the requirements

If you do not meet the citizenship requirement, you cannot receive a federal Pell Grant. Some states and schools offer their own grants for undocumented or international students; contact your school's financial aid office to learn what may be available.

If your family's income is too high to receive a Pell Grant, you may still be able to receive federal loans or other types of aid. If you are not enrolled at least half-time, you can receive a smaller Pell Grant amount based on your enrollment level, or you can increase your course load to become may be able to access for a larger grant.

If you are in default on a federal student loan, you must resolve the default before you can receive new federal aid. This usually involves contacting your loan servicer to set up a repayment plan or consolidate the loan. If you owe money back on a previous grant, you must repay it or work out a repayment agreement with the school or the Department of Education.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to repay a Pell Grant?

No. A Pell Grant is a gift of federal money that you do not have to repay, unlike a loan. However, if you withdraw from school or drop below half-time enrollment after the grant has been disbursed, your school may ask you to return a portion of the money.

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

Yes, but the amount will be smaller than for full-time students. The grant amount is based on your enrollment level. If you are enrolled less than half-time, you cannot receive a Pell Grant, but you may be able to receive federal loans instead.

What if I have already used up my Pell Grant lifetime may be able to access?

Once you have received a Pell Grant for the equivalent of six years of full-time study, you cannot receive another one. You can explore federal loans, work-study, or scholarships from your school or private organizations as alternatives.

Does my credit score affect my Pell Grant?

No. Pell Grants are based on financial need, not credit score or credit history. Your family's income and assets are what matter, not your borrowing history.

Can I receive a Pell Grant for graduate school?

No. Pell Grants are only for undergraduate students. Graduate students may be able to receive federal loans or other types of aid through their school's financial aid office.