FSA has released a Dear Colleague letter with information on the 2026–27 Federal Pell Grant award amounts. Currently the maximum Pell Grant award remains fixed at $7,395. This situation could change at any time pending further action by Congress.
Publication Date: January 30, 2026
DCL ID: GEN-26-01
Subject: 2026–27 Federal Pell Grant Maximum and Minimum Award Amounts
Summary: This letter contains the 2026–27 Award Year Federal Pell Grant Program maximum and minimum award amounts.
Dear Colleague:
This letter includes the Federal Pell Grant (Pell Grant) maximum and minimum award amounts for the 2026–27 award year (July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027). All 2026–27 Pell Grant awards must be based on these amounts.
On Nov. 12, 2025, the president signed Public Law 119-37, making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2026, and for other purposes. Under these continuing appropriations, for the 2026–27 award year, the maximum Pell Grant award remains fixed at $7,395. This situation could change at any time pending further action by Congress.
We are publishing the 2026–27 Pell Grant maximum and minimum award amounts by Feb. 1 in accordance with section 482 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). Nevertheless, you should be aware that the funding currently made available under Pub. L. 119-37 expires on Jan. 30, 2026, unless Congress acts to extend it. That law’s Pell Grant appropriation, or a similar measure, must be extended through Sept. 30, 2026, to fund the award levels described herein for all eligible students in 2026–27. If Congress acts to modify the current maximum award for 2026–27, we will publish revised maximum and minimum award amounts.
Under section 401(a)(2)(F) of the HEA, as amended, the minimum Pell Grant award is 10% of the maximum award amount for the award year. Further, under section 401(b)(1)(B)(ii), Pell Grant awards should be rounded to the nearest $5. Therefore, the Pell Grant minimum award amount for 2026–27 is $740.
Maximum and Minimum Pell Grant eligibility are determined based on tax filing requirements, family size and composition (i.e., single parent or non-single parent), federal poverty guidelines, and state of residence. If a student qualifies for a Maximum Pell Grant, the Student Aid Index (SAI) is not used to determine the amount of that grant. An SAI-calculated Pell Grant is determined by subtracting the student’s calculated SAI from the annual published maximum Pell Grant amount, then rounding to the nearest $5. If the SAI-calculated Pell Grant is less than the published minimum Pell Grant amount, the student is ineligible for an SAI-calculated Pell Grant. However, the student may still be eligible for a minimum Pell Grant if they meet the minimum Pell Grant eligibility requirements. For additional information please refer to the 2026–27 Student Aid Index (SAI) and Pell Grant Eligibility Guide and Volume 7 of the Federal Student Aid Handbook .
As a reminder, Pub. L. 119-21, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB), prohibits an applicant whose SAI is equal to or greater than twice the maximum Pell Grant amount for the award year from receiving a Pell Grant. For the 2026–27 award year, that SAI threshold is $14,790. This prohibition does not apply to applicants who qualify for a Pell Grant under the Special Rule (dependents of certain deceased servicemembers and Public Safety Officers).
Although $7,395 is the maximum Pell Grant scheduled award for the 2026–27 award year, institutions are reminded that a student may be eligible to receive Pell Grant funds for up to 150% of the student’s Pell Grant scheduled award for an award year. Further, when determining a student’s schedule award, the Title IV cost of attendance (COA) is always based on the costs for a full-time student for a full academic year, regardless of the actual enrollment intensity or actual time the student will be enrolled during the award year. A student’s annual Pell Grant award reflects the Pell Grant award amount adjusted based on the student’s enrollment intensity. Finally, a student’s eligibility to receive a Pell Grant award may be limited by the statutory provision in section 401(d)(5) of the HEA that sets a lifetime Pell Grant eligibility limit of 12 semesters (or its equivalent). Refer to Volume 7 of the Federal Student Aid Handbook for additional guidance.
In future Electronic Announcements, we will provide institutions with important information about system, web, and software modifications that will reflect the 2026–27 Pell Grant maximum and minimum award amounts. These include changes to the FAFSA Processing System, the Common Origination and Disbursement System, and the EDExpress for Windows software.
We appreciate your continued support in making Federal Pell Grant Program assistance available to students.
Sincerely,
Richard Lucas
Acting Chief Operating Officer
SOURCE: (GEN-26-01) 2026–27 Federal Pell Grant Maximum and Minimum Award Amounts