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The Pell Grant is a need-based form of , so the amount you receive depends on a few factors: Expected family contribution (EFC): An EFC is a calculation that estimates how much money a family can contribute to a college education, using the family’s financial information provided on the . Status: Whether you’re planning to attend full time or half time will determine how much aid you’re eligible to receive. Cost of attendance (COA): The cost of attendance is an estimate of how much you’ll have to pay to attend college, inclusive of tuition, books, dining and more. Every school has a different COA. Your enrollment: Your enrollment plans will impact your potential aid amount. If you plan to enroll for a full academic year, you’ll be awarded more than if you enroll for only one semester. What is the maximum Pell Grant award for 2021-22
The maximum Pell Grant amount can change yearly. For the 2021-22 award year, the maximum Pell Grant award amount is $6,495, and the minimum is $650. The maximum amount you’re eligible to receive will fall somewhere within that range. The maximum amount you’re eligible to receive in a given year is known as a “scheduled award.” In some scenarios, you won’t use your full scheduled award — for instance, if you enroll with half-time status, you may receive only 50 percent of your scheduled award. You may also be eligible to receive up to 150 percent of your scheduled award if you attend full time for three semesters rather than the standard two. How Pell Grant lifetime eligibility works
The Pell Grant lifetime limit is 100 percent of the total amount of aid you could receive each year over six years — totaling 600 percent of your scheduled award amount. The U.S. Department of Education determines the progress toward your lifetime limit by looking at how much money you’ve actually received compared to your scheduled award amount. Let’s say you received 100 percent of your scheduled award in your freshman year but dropped to half-time enrollment for the next three years and received only half of your scheduled award: Year One: 100 percent of Pell Grant scheduled award used. Year Two: 50 percent of Pell Grant scheduled award used. Year Three: 50 percent of Pell Grant scheduled award used. Year Four: 50 percent of Pell Grant scheduled award used. In this case, your lifetime eligibility used (LEU) is 250 percent. This means that you can still receive 350 percent of your LEU. When your LEU hits 600 percent, you will no longer be eligible for Pell Grant funding. To check your LEU percentage, log into your using your FSA ID. Details about your Pell Grant award and progress toward your LEU will be listed under “My Aid.” You can also contact your school’s financial aid office. How to apply for the Pell Grant
There isn’t an application specific to the Pell Grant; you’ll apply for the grant through the FAFSA. Once you’ve submitted the FAFSA, you’ll receive a outlining the aid you’re eligible for based on the information reported in your application. Keep in mind that in order to maintain your Pell Grant and financial aid eligibility in general, you must . You must also maintain undergraduate enrollment at a nonforeign school and make satisfactory academic progress. Once you begin graduate studies or fall below your school’s standards for academic progress, you will lose eligibility. Learn more
SHARE: Hanneh Bareham specializes in everything related to student loans and helping you finance your next educational endeavor. She aims to help others reach their collegiate and financial goals through making student loans easier to understand. Chelsea has been with Bankrate since early 2020. She is invested in helping students navigate the high costs of college and breaking down the complexities of student loans. Related Articles