Pell Grant Plan: What are the qualifying income limits?

For college-bound students and families, the Pell Grant is often the most significant source of federal financial aid that does not need to be repaid. With tuition rising and families increasingly concerned about student loans, here’s what families need to know about whether or not to get a Pell Grant.

The maximum Pell Grant for 2026-2027 is $7,395. This number may change in future academic years, depending on what happens with current legislation in Congress. But it depends on your Student Aid Index and your income.

Here are the income limits families need to qualify for a full Pell Grant.

Understanding Max Pell Grant Income Thresholds

The maximum Pell Grant for 2026-2027 is $7,395, which is available to students whose family income falls below certain limits tied to the federal poverty line. These limits vary based on whether the student is dependent or independent, whether the student is a single parent, and the number of people in the household.

For example, a student living in New York with a single parent and a family of four will be eligible for the full scholarship if his or her parents’ adjusted gross income (AGI) is at or below $70,200. This limit drops to $54,600 if the student does not live with a parent. Numbers vary slightly by state, with separate tables for Hawaii and Alaska.

If income is too high to receive the maximum Pell Grant award but still falls within a certain range, students may qualify for a partial award, up to the minimum Pell Grant award, which is $740 in 2026-27.

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 numbers still allow for large grant amounts, even if they do not meet the maximum standards.

Pell Grant schemes

Below are the income threshold charts for Exclude Pell Grant (Remember that the family size is always at least two people, a parent and a child).

Family size: Your family size is the heads of household (usually one parent) plus all dependents (i.e. children) in the household. Any children who may be considered a dependent student by the FAFSA must be included in this count. This also includes dependent children who live apart due to attending college (for example, another sibling is in college).

Here is the current chart of the Pell Grant income threshold for 2027-2028:

Why is this important?

Knowing in advance how much federal scholarship money you can get 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 urgent need to complete the FAFSA, even when there is so much uncertainty regarding the Department of Education. Remember, the FAFSA opened on October 1 of this year.

Don’t miss these other stories: