For many students, cost is the largest obstacle to getting a degree. You want to attend school, but you aren’t sure how to pay for it. Even if you get the maximum Pell Grant award, you may be wondering whether the $7,395 federal Pell Grant limit for the 2024-2025 academic year would cover your tuition.
If you qualify for the Pell Grant maximum amount, you may not have to pay out of pocket for tuition. If you’re eligible, the amount you’re awarded will depend on a number of factors. Here’s what you should know about the maximum Pell Grant award.
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What is a Pell Grant?
The federal Pell Grant is the largest federal grant program that helps U.S. undergraduate students pay for college and expenses. In 2024, about 87% of college students received some form of financial aid, and 34% of students received a Pell Grant.
Generally, these grants don’t require repayment, except under certain conditions — if you withdrew from school before completing an enrollment period, for example, or if you got a Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education grant but did not finish your service obligation.
How Do You Qualify for a Pell Grant?
There are requirements regarding Pell Grant eligibility, including U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizenship. You must not hold a bachelor’s, graduate, or professional degree.You must also demonstrate financial need, with Pell Grant income limits based on federal poverty guidelines.
After you have used 12 terms of eligibility, you are no longer eligible for a Pell Grant. Under the grant program’s lifetime eligibility rule, the amount that can be awarded over your lifetime is limited to the equivalent of six years of grant funding.
How Much Can I Get with a Pell Grant?
The grant award program runs from July 1 to June 30. Each year, the federal government updates the maximum grant amount available. The maximum for 2024-2025 is $7,395.
The Pell grant amount for which you are eligible will depend on factors including:
- Your Student Aid Index (based on your financial aid application)
- How much it costs to attend your school and specific program
- Whether you are a full- or part-time student
- Whether you plan to attend school for a full academic year or less.
Other factors include your family size, marital status, and adjusted gross income (AGI).
- For single parents, their AGI must be at or below 225% of the federal poverty level for their family size.
- For married parents, their AGI must be at or below 175% of the federal poverty level.
Note that applicants with higher AGIs may still qualify for a partial grant, based on family size and other factors.
How Do I Apply for a Pell Grant?
To apply for a grant, start by filling out a Free Application for Federal Student Financial Aid (FAFSA) to learn how much financial aid you’re eligible to receive. The application covers multiple types of financial aid, including the Pell Grant. If you still need financial assistance, you must submit the FAFSA every year that you’re in school.
Note these federal Pell Grant application deadlines 2025:
- FAFSA submission deadline: June 30 at 11:59 p.m. CDT
- FAFSA correction/update: Sept. 13, 11:59 p.m. CDT
Each state has its own deadline for student financial aid information.
Making College More Affordable with the Pell Grant
We at Campus believe that college should be accessible, which is why tuition in our online business degree program is priced below the Pell Grant maximum. This means that if you get a full grant, you may not have to pay any portion of your tuition out-of-pocket. Other financial aid is available as well.
Ready to learn from professors who also teach at world-class schools such as Stanford and Princeton? Apply to Campus today to kickstart your educational journey.
