Eligibility Criteria
2024-2025 Pell Grant Eligibility
To receive a 2024–2025 federal Pell Grant, you must
- complete the FAFSA;
- be deemed eligible under the FAFSA Simplification Act of 2020
- be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen;
- be enrolled in a first-time bachelor’s degree program;
- maintain satisfactory academic progress; and
- complete any verification requirements, if selected.
- Changes to your eligibility after the verification process or a review of changed FAFSA data may result in changes to the amount of offered Pell Grant.
Effective 2024-2025, Pell Grant eligibility is not directly tied to the calculation of the Student Aid Index (SAI). Instead, your eligibility may be determined by your SAI (calculated Pell Grant) or by your family's Adjusted Gross Income, Family Size, and the poverty level in your state. Under these new considerations, students may automatically qualify for the maximum amount of Pell Grant, the minimum amount of Pell Grant, or a calculated amount.
Since maximum and minimum Pell Grant amounts are tied to AGI, family size, and the poverty levels, it is possible that you may be offered a Pell Grant without qualifying for any other need-based aid.
General Pell Grant Information
- Congress determines the maximum Pell Grant—the Department of Education uses the FAFSA to determine who is eligible to receive the grant.
- A Pell Grant alone will not cover tuition and fees.
- Pell-eligible students who enroll in a summer semester may qualify for additional summer Pell Grant funding.
- Amounts vary year-to-year based on the FAFSA data and federal grant funding.
- Students of a parent or legal guardian who served in the U.S. Armed Forces and died as a result of military service performed in Iraq or Afghanistan after the events of 9/11 may qualify for additional Pell Grant.