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Pell Grant -- Eligibility and How to Apply

The Pell Grant provides up to $7,395/year in free money for school that you never have to pay back. People with criminal records, including felonies, are eligible.

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Quick Answer

The Federal Pell Grant is free money from the government to help pay for college, trade school, or vocational training. For the 2025-2026 school year, the maximum Pell Grant is $7,395. You never have to pay it back. You apply by filling out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) at studentaid.gov.

Critical update for people with criminal records: Drug convictions no longer affect your federal student aid eligibility. The FAFSA no longer asks about drug convictions at all -- this changed starting with the 2023-2024 school year. If you were denied financial aid in the past because of a drug conviction, you should apply again now.

Another major change: As of July 2023, Pell Grants have been restored for incarcerated students. If you are currently in a federal or state prison that offers an approved Prison Education Program, you can receive Pell Grants to pay for college courses while incarcerated. This is the first time in nearly 30 years that incarcerated students have had access to Pell Grants. The Department of Education estimates that 760,000 incarcerated individuals are newly eligible.

Cost

Free -- the Pell Grant is money you receive, not money you pay

Free options: Applying for the Pell Grant through FAFSA is completely free. Never pay anyone to fill out the FAFSA for you.

The Pell Grant is free money that does not need to be repaid. The maximum award for 2025-2026 is $7,395. The minimum award is $740. Your actual amount depends on your financial need, cost of attendance, and enrollment status.

Step-by-Step Process

  1. 1

    Create an FSA ID

    Go to studentaid.gov and create an FSA ID (username and password). This is your account for all federal student aid. You will use it to sign and submit your FAFSA. If a parent or spouse will contribute information, they need their own FSA ID too. Allow 1-3 days for verification.

  2. 2

    Gather Your Information

    You will need your Social Security number, federal tax information (the FAFSA can pull this directly from the IRS), records of untaxed income (child support, interest, etc.), and bank account information. If you do not have all information, start the form anyway -- you can save and return later.

  3. 3

    Fill Out the FAFSA at studentaid.gov

    Go to studentaid.gov/fafsa and complete the form. The simplified FAFSA takes about 30-45 minutes. Answer all questions honestly. List the schools you are interested in attending -- you can list up to 20. Submitting the FAFSA is completely free. If any website asks you to pay, it is not the real FAFSA.

  4. 4

    Review Your Student Aid Report

    After submitting, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) with your Student Aid Index (SAI). Review it for accuracy and make corrections if needed. Your SAI determines your Pell Grant eligibility. Your listed schools will also receive your FAFSA information.

  5. 5

    Review Your Financial Aid Offer

    Each school you listed will send you a financial aid offer showing your Pell Grant amount and any other aid you qualify for. Compare offers from different schools. Accept the grants (free money) and be cautious about loans. Contact the school's financial aid office if you have questions.

  6. 6

    Maintain Your Eligibility

    To keep receiving Pell Grants each year, you must resubmit the FAFSA annually, maintain satisfactory academic progress (usually a 2.0 GPA and completing 67% of attempted credits), and remain enrolled at least half-time. If you lose eligibility due to academic progress, you can appeal or get back on track and reapply.

What Is the Pell Grant?

The Federal Pell Grant is the largest federal grant program for undergraduate students. Unlike loans, grants are free money that you never have to pay back. The Pell Grant is awarded based on financial need -- your income, family size, and the cost of your school determine your award amount. For 2025-2026, the maximum award is $7,395 per year (same for 2026-2027). The minimum award is $740. You can receive Pell Grants for up to 12 semesters (roughly 6 years) of undergraduate education. The Pell Grant can be used at community colleges, four-year universities, and accredited trade and vocational schools.

Pell Grant Eligibility

To qualify for a Pell Grant, you must: be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, have a high school diploma, GED, or approved homeschool education, be enrolled or accepted in an eligible degree or certificate program, demonstrate financial need through the FAFSA, and not have already earned a bachelor's degree. Eligibility is based on your Student Aid Index (SAI), which is calculated from your FAFSA information. If your SAI is $14,790 or higher, you will not receive a Pell Grant. Most families earning under $60,000/year qualify, and some families earning up to $90,000 may receive partial grants depending on family size and circumstances. Independent students (age 24+, married, veterans, or formerly in foster care) often qualify for larger grants.

Pell Grants and Criminal Records -- What Changed

Two enormous changes have made Pell Grants accessible to far more people with criminal records. First, the FAFSA Simplification Act removed the question about drug convictions from the FAFSA form starting with the 2023-2024 application. Previously, a drug conviction while receiving federal aid could result in loss of eligibility. That penalty no longer exists. If you were denied aid in the past because of a drug conviction, apply again -- you are now eligible. Second, the FAFSA Simplification Act restored Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated students effective July 1, 2023. This reversed a 1994 law that had banned incarcerated individuals from receiving Pell Grants. Now, incarcerated students enrolled in approved Prison Education Programs can receive Pell Grants. The Department of Education estimates 760,000 incarcerated individuals are newly eligible. As of late 2024, dozens of prison education programs have received provisional approval to offer Pell-funded courses.

Pell Grants for Incarcerated Students

If you are currently incarcerated in a federal or state correctional facility, you may be able to use Pell Grants to take college courses. Your facility must offer a Prison Education Program (PEP) that has been approved by the Department of Education. The program must be offered by an accredited college or university. You must meet all standard Pell Grant eligibility requirements (U.S. citizen, financial need, no bachelor's degree). The college handles the FAFSA application process within the facility. Not all prisons have approved programs yet -- ask your facility's education director what is available. Programs are expanding as more colleges receive approval. The Second Chance Pell experimental program, which started in 2015 as a pilot, helped pave the way for full restoration. Under that pilot, students earned nearly 12,000 credentials across 153 participating colleges.

How Much Will You Receive?

Your Pell Grant amount depends on your Student Aid Index (SAI), cost of attendance, enrollment status (full-time vs. part-time), and whether you attend for a full academic year. Full-time students with the lowest SAI receive the maximum ($7,395 for 2025-2026). Part-time students receive a proportional amount. You may also be eligible to receive up to 150% of your scheduled award if you attend summer sessions, allowing you to receive up to about $11,093 in a single year. This is especially helpful for trade school students in 12-month programs. The Pell Grant is applied directly to your tuition and fees. If your grant exceeds your school costs, you receive the remainder as a refund to help with books, transportation, and living expenses.

The FAFSA Simplification Act -- Key Changes

The FAFSA Simplification Act made several important changes starting with the 2024-2025 school year: The FAFSA form was significantly simplified with fewer questions. The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) was replaced by the Student Aid Index (SAI), which can now be negative (meaning greater need). The drug conviction question was removed -- drug convictions no longer affect eligibility. Pell Grant eligibility was restored for incarcerated students. The formula now better serves independent students, which benefits many adults with criminal records who are over 24 or were formerly in foster care. The SAI formula also uses federal tax information transferred directly from the IRS, making the form faster and more accurate to complete.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a Pell Grant with a felony?
Yes. There is no restriction on Pell Grant eligibility based on criminal history. A felony conviction -- including drug felonies -- does not disqualify you from receiving a Pell Grant. The FAFSA does not ask about criminal history or drug convictions. The only restriction is for students who are incarcerated -- they must be enrolled in an approved Prison Education Program.
Can I get a Pell Grant while in prison?
Yes, as of July 2023. Pell Grant eligibility has been restored for incarcerated students enrolled in approved Prison Education Programs. Your facility must offer a program through an accredited college that has received Department of Education approval. Ask your facility's education director about available programs. Not all facilities have approved programs yet, but the number is growing.
Do I have to pay back the Pell Grant?
No. The Pell Grant is a grant, not a loan. You never have to pay it back as long as you complete the enrollment period for which it was awarded. If you withdraw from school very early in a semester, you may need to return a portion of the grant, but under normal circumstances it is free money.
What is the income limit for a Pell Grant?
There is no strict income cutoff. Eligibility is based on the Student Aid Index (SAI), which considers income, family size, number of family members in college, and other factors. Generally, families earning under $60,000/year qualify for some Pell Grant amount. Some families earning up to $90,000 may qualify depending on family size and circumstances. The only way to know for sure is to fill out the FAFSA.
Can I use a Pell Grant for trade school?
Yes. Pell Grants can be used at any accredited college, university, or trade/vocational school that participates in federal student aid programs. This includes community college trade programs, accredited trade schools for welding, HVAC, CDL, medical assisting, and more. Make sure your school is accredited and participates in federal aid before enrolling.
How long can I receive Pell Grants?
You can receive Pell Grants for up to 12 full-time semesters (about 6 years) of undergraduate education. The 12-semester limit is cumulative -- it includes all semesters you received Pell Grants, even at different schools. Part-time enrollment uses a proportional amount of your lifetime eligibility.
I was denied a Pell Grant in the past because of a drug conviction. Can I apply again?
Yes, absolutely. The law has changed. Drug convictions no longer affect your federal student aid eligibility. The FAFSA no longer asks about drug convictions. If you were denied aid in the past due to a drug conviction, you are now eligible. Fill out the FAFSA at studentaid.gov to apply.
Is the FAFSA hard to fill out?
The FAFSA has been significantly simplified. The new form has fewer questions and uses IRS data directly so you do not need to enter tax information manually. It takes about 30-45 minutes. Free help is available at your school's financial aid office, your local American Job Center, or by calling 1-800-433-3243 (Federal Student Aid). Never pay anyone to fill out the FAFSA -- it is always free.

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Disclaimer: This is informational only, not legal or professional advice. Program availability, costs, and eligibility may vary by location and change over time. Contact programs directly for the most current information. For help finding education and training programs in your area, call 211 (free nationwide helpline) or visit your local American Job Center.

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