Federal Pell Grants
Eligibility
- You must have financial need, as determined by the FAFSA.
- You must be an undergraduate student who has not earned a bachelor’s or professional degree.
- Pell Grants are awarded for eligible classes, which must be added no later than the semester add/drop deadline.
- You may only receive up to 12 semesters (or roughly six years) worth of Pell Grants in a lifetime.
Pell Grant Amounts
Beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year, Pell Grant eligibility is tied directly to several factors: U.S. poverty guidelines and your family's tax filing status, Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), and family size for the tax year used on the FAFSA. Also, the Student Aid Index (SAI) calculated on the FAFSA helps determine Pell Grant eligibility for many students.
For students who qualify, the number of credits you are enrolled in at the semester add/drop deadline also determine the Pell Grant amount you can receive for the semester. Amounts are prorated based on the number of Pell Grant-eligible credits you enroll in. In the past, Pell Grant amounts were prorated based on whether you were registered full-time, 3/4 time, half-time, or less than half-time. The amount did not adjust as long as you stayed within the same range of classes (i.e., 9-11 credits for 3/4 time). Now, each 0.5 credit you enroll in will adjust the Pell Grant amount you can receive, up until the add/drop date. It is expected that all credits for which Pell is awarded will be completed. Credits that are not successfully completed (e.g., E and W grades) may lead to a reduction or cancellation of Pell, depending on proof of participation and timing of disbursement.
View MyAid Dashboard to see your Pell award and to calculate your estimated Pell Grant eligibility for future terms in the current academic year.
Initial awards are for fall/winter semesters. Additional Pell Grant is available for spring/summer terms.
Additional Pell Grant
You may qualify for additional Pell Grant for a third semester if you received 100% of your Pell Grant for two semesters in the academic year. In order to receive the additional Pell Grant, you must be enrolled in at least six credit hours for that semester. If spring or summer terms count as the third semester, you must be enrolled in at least six credits total between both terms in order to maintain eligibility for spring/summer 2024.
Beginning with spring/summer 2025, you can receive additional Pell Grant money if you enroll less than half-time.
Pell Grant Eligibility Changes Each Year
Your Pell Grant eligibility is determined each year when you submit the FAFSA and the government calculates your Student Aid Index (SAI). The SAI is an index number that determines your financial need, based on your family's tax filing status, Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), household size, and U.S. poverty guidelines. It can also determine the Pell Grant amount you may receive. This can change each year based on several factors, which include, but are not limited to, changes in your or your parents' income reported on the 1040 Tax Return, asset information, marital status changes, as well as changes to household size or number in college for you or your parents.
If your SAI has changed significantly from one year to the next and you have questions about why your Pell Grant eligibility has changed, we encourage you to speak with an Enrollment Services Counselor. They are happy to help you understand those changes.