Pell Grant 2026–27: Maximum Award $7,395, Who Qualifies and How to Apply

The maximum Pell Grant for 2026–27 is $7,395, and it is free money for college — a federal grant you do not have to repay. If your Student Aid Index (SAI) is below $14,790, you may qualify, and you can start your application by filing the FAFSA at studentaid.gov. There is no separate Pell Grant application.

Quick answer: The maximum Pell Grant is $7,395 for the 2026–27 award year (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027), and the minimum is $740. To qualify, your Student Aid Index must be below $14,790. Apply by filing the FAFSA — the federal deadline is June 30, 2027 — and the Pell Grant does not have to be repaid. The 2027–28 maximum has not been set yet.

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Pell Grant 2026–27: Quick Facts

Maximum award: $7,395 for the 2026–27 award year
Minimum award: $740
Who qualifies: Undergraduate students with exceptional financial need; your Student Aid Index (SAI) must be below $14,790
Award year: July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027
How to apply: File the FAFSA at studentaid.gov — there is no separate Pell Grant application
Federal FAFSA deadline: June 30, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. CT; corrections due by September 12, 2027
Lifetime limit: 600% of the maximum award — about 12 full-time semesters
Repayment: None. A Pell Grant is a grant, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back
2027–28 maximum: Not yet set

What Is a Pell Grant?

A Federal Pell Grant is the largest federal grant program for undergraduate students. It is money from the US Department of Education that helps students with exceptional financial need pay for college. Unlike a student loan, a Pell Grant does not have to be repaid, except in rare cases such as withdrawing from school very early in a term.

Millions of students receive Pell Grants each year, and the program is the foundation of federal student aid. If you qualify for a Pell Grant, it is usually the first aid listed in your college's financial aid offer, and it can be combined with scholarships, state grants, work-study and loans. Many of the scholarships we cover, such as the Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship and the Ron Brown Scholar Program, are last-dollar or need-based awards that work alongside a Pell Grant.

A Pell Grant can be used at participating colleges, universities and career schools for tuition, fees, room and board, books, supplies and transportation. The money is paid to your school, which applies it to your bill and gives you any remaining balance for other education costs.

How Much Pell Grant Can You Get in 2026–27?

The maximum Pell Grant for 2026–27 is $7,395, and the minimum is $740. The exact amount you receive depends on four factors, as published by the US Department of Education:

Your Student Aid Index (SAI). The SAI is calculated from the information on your FAFSA. For 2026–27, your SAI must be below $14,790 to qualify for a Pell Grant.
Your school's cost of attendance. Colleges with higher costs can result in larger awards, up to the maximum.
Your enrollment status. Full-time students receive more than part-time students. The award is adjusted if you enroll less than full-time.
How long you are enrolled. The award is calculated for the period you attend, so a full academic year pays more than a single semester.

Your college's financial aid office calculates your exact Pell Grant amount and tells you in your aid offer. You do not need to calculate it yourself. If your SAI is low, you are likely to receive a larger award; if your SAI is close to the limit, your award will be smaller.

The 2027–28 maximum Pell Grant has not been set yet. The amount is decided by Congress each year, so check studentaid.gov for the latest figure when the new award year approaches.

Who Qualifies for a Pell Grant?

To receive a Pell Grant for 2026–27, you must:

Be an undergraduate student who has not yet earned a bachelor's or professional degree (in limited cases, students in a post-baccalaureate teacher certification program may also qualify).
Have exceptional financial need, as shown by a Student Aid Index below $14,790.
Be a US citizen or eligible noncitizen.
Have a high school diploma or equivalent, such as a GED.
Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an eligible degree or certificate program at a participating school.
Maintain satisfactory academic progress once you are in college.

There is no age limit and no minimum GPA to receive a Pell Grant, and you do not need to be a full-time student — part-time students can qualify for a smaller award. If you are not sure whether you qualify, the best step is to file the FAFSA. Our step-by-step guide explains how to complete the 2027–28 FAFSA.

How to Apply for a Pell Grant

There is no separate Pell Grant application. You apply by filing the FAFSA. Here is how:

Create an FSA ID. Go to studentaid.gov and create an FSA ID for yourself (and for a parent, if you are a dependent student).
Complete the FAFSA. Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid with your family's income and tax information. The FAFSA for 2026–27 is already open.
List your colleges. Add every college you are considering, so each one receives your FAFSA information.
Review your FAFSA Submission Summary. After you submit, check the summary for errors and make corrections if needed.
Wait for your aid offer. Each college you listed will send you a financial aid offer that includes your Pell Grant amount, if you qualify.

The federal deadline for the 2026–27 FAFSA is June 30, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. CT, and corrections must be submitted by September 12, 2027. But do not wait: many states and colleges have much earlier deadlines, and some aid is given on a first-come, first-served basis. File the FAFSA as soon as you can.

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How Long Can You Receive a Pell Grant?

You can receive a Pell Grant for up to 12 full-time semesters — about six years — which the Department of Education measures as 600% of the maximum award. Each year you receive a Pell Grant, a percentage of that limit is used up. For example, a full-time student who receives the full award for one year uses 100% of the limit; a half-time student uses 50%.

If you are close to the limit, your school will tell you how much eligibility you have left. You can check your own remaining eligibility by logging in to studentaid.gov and reviewing your aid history. Plan your degree so you finish within the limit: taking a full course load and avoiding unnecessary extra semesters helps your Pell Grant last.

What Can a Pell Grant Be Used For?

A Pell Grant can be used for the cost of attending college, including tuition and fees, room and board, books, supplies and transportation. Your school applies the grant to your bill first. If any money is left over, the school gives it to you for other education expenses.

Because a Pell Grant is free money, it should be the first aid you accept. Before you borrow student loans, make sure you have claimed every grant and scholarship you can. Our roundup of scholarships with deadlines from November 2026 to March 2027 lists national scholarships you can add on top of a Pell Grant, including the Burger King Scholars Program and the GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship.

Never Pay to Apply for a Scholarship or for the FAFSA

A real scholarship never charges an application fee, and the FAFSA is always free. The Pell Grant is free to apply for through the FAFSA at studentaid.gov, and so is every legitimate national scholarship. If a website, message or person asks you to pay a fee, buy a product or share bank details to apply for a scholarship or to file the FAFSA, it is a scam. Walk away, and report it to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Be careful with services that charge to complete the FAFSA or promise to find scholarships for a fee. The FAFSA is free at studentaid.gov, and the best scholarship search tools — your school counselor, the FAFSA and official program websites — are free. Never share your FSA ID, Social Security number or passwords with anyone offering scholarship or FAFSA help.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the maximum Pell Grant for 2026–27?

$7,395. The minimum is $740. The 2027–28 maximum has not been set yet.

Who qualifies for a Pell Grant?

Undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. For 2026–27, your Student Aid Index (SAI) must be below $14,790. You must also be a US citizen or eligible noncitizen with a high school diploma or equivalent, enrolled in an eligible program.

How do I apply for a Pell Grant?

File the FAFSA at studentaid.gov. There is no separate Pell Grant application. The federal FAFSA deadline for 2026–27 is June 30, 2027, with corrections due by September 12, 2027 — but file as early as you can, because state and college deadlines are often much earlier.

Do I have to pay back a Pell Grant?

No. A Pell Grant is a grant, not a loan, so you do not have to repay it, except in rare cases such as withdrawing from school very early in a term.

How long can I receive a Pell Grant?

Up to 12 full-time semesters, or about six years, measured as 600% of the maximum award. Your school and studentaid.gov can tell you how much eligibility you have left.

Can I get a Pell Grant if I am a part-time student?

Yes. Part-time students can receive a Pell Grant, but the amount is smaller than the full-time award. The amount depends on your SAI, your school's cost of attendance and how many credits you take.

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