Pell Grant 2026-27: Up to $7,395, Who Qualifies and How Much You Get
The Federal Pell Grant is free money for college that you usually never repay. For the 2026-27 school year it pays $740 to $7,395 to undergraduates with financial need, based on the FAFSA. The maximum has not changed since 2023-24. You apply by filing the FAFSA: see the 2027-28 FAFSA deadlines.
How much you get
Your award is set one of three ways, using the information on your FAFSA:
- Maximum Pell ($7,395): if your family was not required to file a tax return, or its income is at or below the poverty-based limit in the table below.
- SAI-based Pell: otherwise, the maximum minus your Student Aid Index (SAI), rounded to the nearest $5. Example: an SAI of $2,000 gives $5,395 a year.
- Minimum Pell ($740): if the SAI calculation gives less than $740 but your income is under the higher minimum-Pell limit.
| Rule | Income limit (% of poverty) | Family of 4, 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Pell: parent (or independent student) is a single parent | 225% | $70,200 |
| Maximum Pell: everyone else | 175% | $54,600 |
| Minimum Pell: dependent student, single-parent family | 325% | $101,400 |
| Minimum Pell: dependent student, two-parent family | 275% | $85,800 |
| Minimum Pell: independent student who is a single parent | 400% | $124,800 |
| Minimum Pell: independent student, parent but not single | 350% | $109,200 |
| Minimum Pell: independent student, not a parent | 275% | $85,800 |
These amounts are for a full-time student for a full year. Part-time students get a prorated award (students enrolled less than half time can still qualify), and you can get up to 150% of your yearly award if you also take summer classes at least half time. Over your lifetime, Pell is capped at the equivalent of six full-time years.
What changed in 2026
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-21, signed July 4, 2025) changed Pell from July 1, 2026:
- SAI cutoff: no Pell Grant if your SAI is at least twice the maximum award, $14,790 for 2026-27 (children of fallen service members and public safety officers are exempt).
- Full scholarships: no Pell if non-federal grants and scholarships already cover your full cost of attendance.
- Foreign income now counts toward the income used for Pell.
- Workforce Pell: short job-training programs of at least 150 but fewer than 600 clock hours, lasting at least 8 but fewer than 15 weeks, can now qualify, if the state's governor approves them and they meet completion and job-placement standards. Students in or holding a graduate credential cannot use it.
Who can't get a Pell Grant
- Students who already have a bachelor's or graduate degree (exception: some post-bachelor's teacher certification programs).
- Students who are not U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens, or who are in default on a federal student loan.
- People in prison, except through an approved Prison Education Program.
Maximum Pell Grant by year
| School year | Maximum award |
|---|---|
| 2021-22 | $6,495 |
| 2022-23 | $6,895 |
| 2023-24 | $7,395 |
| 2024-25 | $7,395 |
| 2025-26 | $7,395 |
| 2026-27 | $7,395 |
| 2027-28 | Not set yet (due by Feb. 1, 2027) |
If grants don't cover your costs, compare federal student loan rates before private loans, and see 529 plans for saving ahead.
FAQ
How much is the Pell Grant for 2026-27?
Up to $7,395 for a full-time student for the full school year, and at least $740 if you qualify at all. Part-time students get a smaller, prorated amount.
Who qualifies for the maximum Pell Grant?
Students whose family was not required to file a tax return, and students whose family income (adjusted gross income) is above zero and at or below 175% of the poverty guideline, or 225% for a single parent. For a family of four in 2026-27 that is $54,600, or $70,200 for a single parent (2024 guidelines, 48 states and DC).
Do you have to pay back a Pell Grant?
Usually not. You may have to repay part of it if you withdraw before finishing more than 60% of a term, or if you were paid more than you were eligible for.
Is there an income limit for Pell Grants?
There is no single cutoff. The award is the maximum minus your Student Aid Index (SAI), so it reaches zero at an SAI of about $6,655; the income tiers above can still give a maximum or minimum Pell. Since July 1, 2026, nobody with an SAI of $14,790 or more (twice the maximum) can get a Pell Grant.
What will the 2027-28 Pell Grant be?
Not set yet. It depends on Congress's 2027 funding law, and the Department of Education must publish it by February 1, 2027. The maximum has been $7,395 since 2023-24.
Is a Pell Grant taxable?
Not when it pays for tuition, fees, books and required supplies. The part you use for room and board or other living costs is taxable income (IRS Publication 970).
Sources
- FSA, GEN-26-01: 2026-27 Pell Grant maximum and minimum awards (updated February 18, 2026)
- 2026-27 FSA Handbook, Volume 7, Calculating Pell Grants
- P.L. 119-21, sections 83001 to 83004
- HHS, 2024 poverty guidelines (Federal Register)
- IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education
General information, not financial advice. Your school's financial aid office determines your actual award.