Pell Grants FAQ
What Is A Pell Grant?
A Pell Grant is free money for college that you don’t have to pay back. It is given to students who need financial help. To see if you are eligible for one, you need to fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form.
How Is Pell Grant Eligibility Determined?
The Department of Education uses a number called the Student Aid Index (SAI) to calculate the total financial resources of you and your family. This number shows how much financial help you need for college. This formula considers:
- The information you provided on the FAFSA application
- Income and assets of you and your family minus living expenses
- Poverty guidelines - Federal Income standards used nationwide
Lower SAI = Higher financial need = More Pell Grant
*After your FAFSA is processed with the Department of Education, you can find your SAI on your FAFSA Submission Summary in your studentaid.gov account
What determines your Pell Grant Amount for the Semester?
Many students think Pell Grants are based just on how much their tuition costs. This is not true. Pell Grants can range from a few hundred dollars to over $3,500 for a semester. Pell Grant amounts are determined using your:
- Your Student Aid Index (SAI)
- Cost of Attendance
- Your enrollment in classes that apply toward graduation · Use the Program Applicability Tool to check your classes
- Each credit counts as a percentage of your eligible Pell grant award for the semester
| Credit Hours | Enrollment Category (OLD) | Enrollment Intensity (NEW) |
|---|---|---|
| 12+ | Full-Time | 100% |
| 11 | Three-Quarter Time | 92% |
| 10 | Three-Quarter Time | 83% |
| 9 | Three-Quarter Time | 75% |
| 8 | Half-Time | 67% |
| 7 | Half-Time | 58% |
| 6 | Half-Time | 50% |
| 5 | Less Than Half-Time | 42% |
| 4 | Less Than Half-Time | 33% |
| 3 | Less Than Half-Time | 25% |
| 2 | Less Than Half-Time | 17% |
| 1 | Less Than Half-Time | 8% |
Example: If your SAI qualifies you for $3000 Pell Grant:
- Taking 11 credits = $2,760 (92%)
- Taking 8 credits = $2,010 (67%)
- Taking 5 credits = $1,260 (42%)
- Taking 2 credits = $510 (17%)
*After your FAFSA has been processed (5-7 days), you will be able to see what you qualify for in your BYUI financial aid portal.
New Terms To Know
- New formula that determines your aid eligibility
- Replaces EFC
Maximum Pell: You automatically qualify for the full Pell Grant amounts
Minimum Pell: You qualify for the minimum Pell Grant amount.
SAI Calculated Pell: If you do not have Maximum Pell or Minimum Pell, but your SAI is below the Max Pell threshold, your SAI will be used to determine your Pell grant amount.
Remember: If your FAFSA summary doesn’t say you’re Pell Eligible, you won’t get a Pell Grant.
Can I Get A Pell Grant All Three Semesters?
- You can get Pell Grants for up to 36 credits in one school year.
- This is like getting three full-time Pell Grants (12 credits each)
- If you take fewer than 12 credits in a semester:
- You might get Pell Grants for four different semesters in one year.
Example:
Summer 2024: 4 credits
Fall 2024: 10 credits
Winter 2025: 10 credits
For Spring 2025 you will have 12 credits of eligibility remaining
Remember: The amount of credits you take affects how much Pell Grant you are offered each semester.
Is There A Lifetime Amount Of Pell Grant I Can Receive?
You can receive up to 600% of Pell Grant funds while earning your first bachelor’s degree. This means:
- If you take 12 or more credits each semester, you can get Pell Grants for up to 12 semesters.
- If you take fewer classes, you might get Pell for more semesters.
You can check how much you’ve used in your lifetime at studentaid.gov
Important Pell Grant Rules
- Your Pell Grant amount can change if you add or drop classes before the Financial Aid Determination Date (FADD).
- If you drop classes, quit school, or don’t go to class, you might have to pay back your Pell Grant.
- You can’t receive Pell Grants at more than one school at the same time.
- You can’t receive Pell Grants for a disqualified repeat course.