FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM

Full- and part-time students with proven financial need may receive a Pell Grant award of up to $7,395 during the 2025-2026 school year.  The award depends on federally determined eligibility, cost of education, and the number of credits per year.  Students must complete the FAFSA form to apply for the grant.

The FAFSA form is available online at studentaid.gov or from the Financial Aid Office, or the student’s high school counselor beginning on October 1 for the following academic year.

Year-Round Pell Grant

A Pell-eligible student in Fall 2025, Spring 2026, or both, may qualify for a Pell Grant for Summer 2026.

Transfer students transferring into a different academic program or to a different institution may also receive additional Pell Grant funds if the eligibility requirements are met.  The Pell payment for a transfer student (up to 150 percent of a scheduled award) is calculated the same way for a new or returning student.  However, a transfer students remaining Pell eligibility is reduced if the student received Pell funds for the same award year at another school.

Eligibility

To be eligible to receive Pell Grant funds during a single award year, a student must:

• Have completed a 2025-2026 FAFSA with a valid SAI rating
• Complete verification
• Be Pell Grant eligible
• Be enrolled at least half-time (6+ credits)
  • A student who enrolled full-time (12+ credits) and received the fulltime Pell Grant amount for Fall 2025 and Spring 2026, must enroll at least half-time (6+ credits) in summer classes to receive a summer Pell Grant.
  • For a student who enrolled part-time in Fall 2025 (6+ credits) or spring 2026, there is no minimum credit requirement to receive a summer Pell Grant (unless required by their SAI).
• Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
• Have lifetime Pell Grant eligibility remaining
• Meet with a financial aid adviser to request a summer Pell Grant award

Important

• A Pell Grant may not cover the total cost of attending classes in the summer.
• Many students use their full loan eligibility over the fall and spring semesters.  If possible, students should reserve some of their annual federal loan eligibility for the summer.
• Eligible students may receive up to three Pell awards in one academic year.
• An additional Pell Grant will be included in a student’s 600 percent maximum Pell Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU)
• The maximum timeframe that students may receive Federal Pell Grant is the equivalent of 12 full-time semesters.  One full-time semester of Pell equals 50 percent.

Checking Lifetime Eligibility

Students have a maximum of 12 full-time equivalent semesters of Pell Grant eligibility to complete their first undergraduate baccalaureate degree.

For a student enrolled full-time in the fall and spring semester each year, the lifetime eligibility rule would allow six years to complete their degree.  The federal government measures lifetime eligibility in the following manner:

The sum of the lifetime eligibility used for any term in which a Pell Grant was disbursed regardless of the institution where the grant was received may not exceed 600 percent.

A student can visit studentaid.gov or stop by the Financial Aid Office to determine their remaining Pell Grant eligibility level.

Awarding Summer Pell

Once students register for classes, they should visit the Financial Aid Office to request Pell Grant funds for the summer.  If you have remaining direct loan eligibility, loans will be offered as well.

Dropping, Withdrawing or Failing Classes

Students could owe money back for all or part of their Federal Pell Grant if they do not complete their summer classes.  The amount owed will be calculated based on the drop date, the number of credits and the last day the student attended classes.

Pell Grant Amount Depends on Enrollment

A student’s summer Pell Grant amount will depend on the number of credits they are registered in and their Lifetime Eligibility Units (LEU).  The Pell Grant amount will be adjusted just before the release (disbursement) of a student’s aid based on their enrollment level.  Enrollment levels are defined in the following manner:

• 12+ credits = 100 percent of the semester Pell Grant amount
• 9-11 credits = 75 percent of the semester Pell Grant amount
• 6-8 credits = 50 percent of the semester Pell Grant amount

Example of Year-Round Pell

A student with a Student Aid Index (SAI) of $-1,500 is eligible for $7,395 in Pell grant for the year, or $3,698 for the fall semester and $3,697 for the spring semester.

Under the Year-Round Pell program, the student could receive an additional $3,447 for the summer semester if they enrolled full-time (12 credits).  If the student enrolls half-time (six credits) summer semester, the student will receive one-half of a total award or a $1,723 Federal Pell Grant for summer.