Pell Grant Calculator and Eligibility 2025

Pell Grants are a type of federal financial aid you don't have to repay. They're usually reserved for undergraduate students who demonstrate significant financial need on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

In October 2024, more than 650,000 individuals who submitted the FAFSA were eligible for a Pell Grant, according to Federal Student Aid's Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Report. However, not everyone who applies for the FAFSA will be eligible for a Pell Grant.

Here's what you need to know about Pell Grant eligibility, including the maximum award amount and when to apply.

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Pell Grant award amounts

Pell Grant award amounts can change from year to year. For the 2025-26 academic year (July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026), these are the minimum and maximum awards:

• Minimum award: $740
• Maximum award: $7,395

How to calculate your Pell Grant amount

The amount of Pell Grant money you're eligible to receive depends on:

• Your dependency status (dependent vs. independent student)
• Your family's income
• Your family size
• Married or single parent status
• Your state of residence
• Your enrollment status (part-time or full-time)

Depending on these factors, you may qualify for either the maximum or minimum Pell Grant amount.

To get a rough idea of which category you fall into, compare your (or your family's) adjusted gross income (AGI) to the federal poverty guideline for your household size and state. Since the FAFSA for the 2025-26 school year uses tax data from two years prior, you'll need to use your income information from 2023 and refer to the 2023 federal poverty guidelines.

Then, use the table below to find out whether your income level could qualify you for the maximum or minimum Pell Grant amount:

Pell Grant income limits

Example calculation

Let's say you're a dependent student and your parent is a single parent with a household of three. The 2023 poverty guideline for a family of three is $24,860 for the 48 contiguous states (all states except Alaska and Hawaii). To estimate your Pell Grant eligibility:

• Max Pell Grant cutoff (225%): $24,860 x 2.25 = $55,935
• Min. Pell Grant cutoff (325%): $24,860 x 3.25 = $80,795

If your parent's 2023 AGI was equal to or below $55,935, you may qualify for the maximum Pell Grant amount. If it's between $55,935 and $80,795, you may still qualify for a partial Pell Grant.

Pell Grant eligibility

When you complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), your school will use the information you provide to determine if you're eligible for a Pell Grant and how much you qualify for.

The following factors determine your eligibility for a Pell Grant:

1. Financial standing: Pell Grants are awarded to students who demonstrate a strong financial need, as measured by your Student Aid Index (SAI).
2. Enrollment: You must be accepted for enrollment or enrolled in an eligible program and school.
3. No bachelor's degree: You must not already hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
4. Citizenship: Only U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens will qualify for federal aid.
5. Academic progress: You must retain specific academic standards to keep Pell Grant eligibility.
6. No loan default: You must not be in default on a Title IV student loan or have to repay an overpayment on a Title IV grant or loan.
7. Special circumstances: If you lost a parent in the Iraq or Afghanistan wars, you may be eligible for a Pell Grant. Students with intellectual disabilities are also eligible for Pell Grants.

To be eligible for a Pell Grant, you must also meet the basic eligibility requirements for any federal aid.

How to apply for a Pell Grant

In order to apply for a Pell Grant, you must complete and submit the FAFSA. After your form is processed, you'll receive a copy of your FAFSA Submission Summary, which includes your Student Aid Index. Your school will use this information to determine your eligibility and award amount, in addition to other federal aid.

You must submit the FAFSA every year you're in school and continue to demonstrate financial need in order to receive a Pell Grant each year.

When to apply for a Pell Grant

Your deadline for applying for a Pell Grant is the same as the FAFSA deadline. Typically, that's June 30 for the following academic year. Here are recent and upcoming FAFSA deadlines:

Fill funding gaps with student loans

Pell Grants aren’t likely to cover all your tuition, let alone all your college-related costs.

As part of your financial aid package, your school may include federal student loans. After exhausting your options for scholarships and grants, you should turn to federal student loans first if you find you have to borrow. Federal student loans are generally easy to get, and most don’t require a credit check or cosigner. They also have flexible repayment plans and can give you access to student loan forgiveness.

After exhausting federal loan options, private student loans could be a good way to cover any leftover college costs.

How to retain your Pell Grant eligibility

To maintain your eligibility for Pell Grants and other federal aid, you’ll need to complete the FAFSA every year you’re in school. You’ll also need to:

• Continue to show financial need in the following school year.
• Maintain satisfactory academic standing according to your school.
• Maintain your citizenship status.
• Avoid arrests or any legal troubles.
• Stay in good standing on any federal loans you may have.