The Pell Grant and FAFSA are different things that work together

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is a form you fill out. The Pell Grant is money you may receive after you submit that form. Think of it this way: the FAFSA is the door; the Pell Grant is what might be waiting on the other side.

When you complete the FAFSA, the federal government uses your answers to figure out how much financial aid you need. That calculation is called your Expected Family Contribution (or Student Aid Index, depending on the year). Based on that number, you become may be able to access for different types of aid — which may include a Pell Grant, but also loans, work-study, or other grants. The FAFSA itself does not give you money. It opens the door to programs that do.

You must submit the FAFSA before you can receive a Pell Grant. Schools use your FAFSA information to determine whether you meet the basic requirements for a Pell Grant and how much you can receive.

Key Takeaways

  • The FAFSA is an application form; the Pell Grant is a type of money you may receive after submitting it.
  • Completing the FAFSA does not automatically mean you will receive a Pell Grant — you must also meet Pell Grant requirements, including enrollment in an accredited program and U.S. citizenship or may be able to access non-citizen status.
  • Your FAFSA results determine your Expected Family Contribution, which the school uses to calculate how much Pell Grant money you may receive.
  • You can receive other types of aid (loans, grants, work-study) based on your FAFSA without receiving a Pell Grant.

What the FAFSA actually does

The FAFSA collects information about your family's income, assets, household size, and other circumstances. The federal government runs this information through a formula to calculate how much you and your family are expected to contribute toward education costs. That number is your Expected Family Contribution.

Schools receive your FAFSA results and use them to build a financial aid package. That package may include federal loans, state grants, institutional aid from the school itself, work-study, and — if you meet the requirements — a Pell Grant. The FAFSA is the starting point for all of these decisions, but it is not itself a grant or a loan.

You submit the FAFSA once per academic year. If you want aid for the 2024–2025 school year, you submit during the 2024–2025 FAFSA cycle, which typically opens in October and runs through June 30 of the following year.

What the Pell Grant actually is

The Pell Grant is a federal grant — money you do not have to repay — for undergraduate students with financial need. The amount you can receive depends on your Expected Family Contribution (calculated from your FAFSA), the cost of attendance at your school, and your enrollment status (full-time or part-time).

For the 2024–2025 academic year, the maximum Pell Grant is $7,395, but most students receive less. The actual amount varies based on the factors above. You can check the current maximum and learn how amounts are calculated on the Federal Student Aid website.

To receive a Pell Grant, you must meet several requirements beyond submitting the FAFSA: you must be a U.S. citizen or may be able to access non-citizen, enrolled in an accredited degree or certificate program, and not in default on a federal student loan. You also cannot have already earned a bachelor's degree.

How they connect in the aid process

Here is the order of events: You submit the FAFSA. The federal government processes it and sends your results to the schools you listed. Your school receives your Expected Family Contribution and other information. The school's financial aid office uses that information to determine whether you meet the requirements for a Pell Grant and, if you do, how much you can receive. They then send you a financial aid package that lists all the aid you have been offered, including the Pell Grant amount (if any).

If you do not meet Pell Grant requirements — for example, if you already have a bachelor's degree or are not a U.S. citizen or may be able to access non-citizen — your school will not offer you a Pell Grant, even if you submitted the FAFSA and have financial need. You may still receive other types of aid based on your FAFSA.

Why people confuse them

The FAFSA and Pell Grant are often mentioned together because you cannot get one without the other in the right order. You need the FAFSA to get a Pell Grant. But the FAFSA is also the gateway to many other types of aid, so it is easy to think they are the same thing.

Additionally, some schools and websites use the terms loosely or refer to "FAFSA aid" when they mean "aid determined by your FAFSA results," which can include Pell Grants, loans, and other programs. This loose language adds to the confusion.

What happens if you submit the FAFSA but do not receive a Pell Grant

This is common and does not mean something went wrong. You might not receive a Pell Grant for several reasons: your Expected Family Contribution is too high (meaning your family is expected to contribute more toward education costs), you do not meet the citizenship or enrollment requirements, you already have a bachelor's degree, or you are in default on a federal student loan.

Even without a Pell Grant, your FAFSA results may make you may be able to access for federal loans, state grants, or institutional aid from your school. Your financial aid office will outline all the aid you are offered in your aid package, whether or not a Pell Grant is included.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to fill out the FAFSA to get a Pell Grant?

Yes. The FAFSA is required. Your school cannot determine whether you meet Pell Grant requirements or calculate your award amount without the information you provide on the FAFSA.

If I submit the FAFSA, am I may provide a Pell Grant?

No. Submitting the FAFSA makes you may be able to access to be considered for a Pell Grant, but you must also meet other requirements: U.S. citizenship or may be able to access non-citizen status, enrollment in an accredited program, no prior bachelor's degree, and no default on federal student loans. Your Expected Family Contribution must also be low enough to may have access to.

Can I receive other aid without getting a Pell Grant?

Yes. Many students receive federal loans, state grants, or institutional aid based on their FAFSA results without receiving a Pell Grant. Your financial aid package may include any combination of these options depending on your circumstances and your school's policies.

What if my FAFSA shows I have no financial need?

If your Expected Family Contribution is very high, you will not receive a Pell Grant. You may still be offered federal loans, which do not require demonstrated financial need. Contact your school's financial aid office to discuss your options.