For students and families going to college, the Pell Grant often represents the most significant source of federal financial aid that does not need to be repaid. With tuition climbing and more families concerned about student loans, here’s what families need to know about whether they will receive a Pell Grant or not.
The maximum Pell Grant for 2025-2026 is $7,395. That number may change for the 2026-2027 academic year, depending on what happens with the current legislation in Congress. But it depends on your Student Aid Index and your income.
Here’s the income limits families need to qualify for the full Pell Grant.
Understanding Max Pell Grant Income Thresholds
The maximum Pell Grant for 2025-26 is $7,395, and is available to students whose family income falls below certain limits tied to the federal poverty line. These limits vary based on whether a student is dependent or independent, whether a parent or student is a single parent, and the number of people in the household.
A dependent student living in New York with a single parent and a family size of four, for example, would be eligible for the full grant if their parent’s adjusted gross income (AGI) is at or below $62,438. That threshold drops to $48,633 if the student does not live with a single parent. The figures differ slightly by state, with separate tables for Hawaii and Alaska.
Independent students follow a similar formula. A single-parent independent student in Pennsylvania with a family of four would qualify for the full grant if their AGI is below $62,438. If not a single parent, the threshold drops to $48,633.
If income is too high to receive the maximum Pell Grant but still falls within a certain range, students may qualify for a partial award, all the way down to the minimum Pell Grant award, with is $740 in 2025-26.
The exact amount then depends on the Student Aid Index, which weighs other financial details, such as assets and non-taxable income. In some cases, these figures still allow for substantial grant amounts, even if they don’t meet the maximum criteria.
Pell Grant Charts
Here are the income threshold charts for 2025-2026 (remember, family size is always at least 2, parent and child).
Family Size: Your family size is the heads of the household (usually a parent) plus all of the dependents (i.e. children) in the house. Any children which the FAFSA would consider a dependent student should be included in this number. This also includes dependent children who live apart due to college enrollment (for example, another sibling in college).
Here is the current estimated income threshold chart for 2026-2027:
Why This Matters
Knowing in advance how much federal grant money you can receive can affect everything from where a student applies to college to whether they consider other options, such as tuition insurance or private loans.
It also highlights the urgency of completing the FAFSA, even when there’s a lot of uncertainty about the Department of Education. Remember, the FAFSA is set to open October 1 this year.
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