Financial Aid

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is based on need. It is awarded to students who have an eligible SAI (Student Aid Index) calculation, previously determined by Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

SAI is determined by the 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The estimated maximum Pell Grant award for the 2024-2025 academic year is $7,395. Unlike a loan, the Pell Grant does not have to be repaid. However in certain situations Pell Grant and loans may have to be paid back. Please See: Return of Title IV Funds

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How is the award amount determined?

• your financial need

• college cost of attendance

• your enrollment status as full-time or less (see table below)

• your plans to attend school for a full academic year or less

After your fees are paid, remaining Pell funds may be used by you for educational and living expenses. You may not receive Pell Grant funds from more than one school at a time. If you do not receive your full annual Pell Grant during fall and spring semesters, you may be eligible for payment for summer courses.

Enrollment Status Chart Enrollment status is "set" at the Freeze Date each semester (Fall 24 - Sept. 9th; Spring 25 - February 10th)
Units	Enrollment Level Used to calculate most aid types	Enrollment Intensity Used to calculate Pell Grant
12	Full-Time (100%)	100%
11	Three-Quarter Time (75%)	92%
10		83%
9		75%
8	Half-Time (50%)	67%
7		58%
6		50%
5	Less-Than-Half-Time (25%)	42%
4		33%
3		25%
2		17%
1		8%

Duration of Eligibility

Under federal regulations, a student has 6 years (12 full-time semesters) of total Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU). This includes all years Pell was received at all colleges ever attended. Using your FSA ID, you may view your LEU at http://studentaid.gov/

• Students with an LEU of 600% or higher are not eligible for additional Pell.

• Students with an LEU of 500-599%, who are otherwise Pell-eligible, may have their awards delayed and may receive less than their scheduled award amount to prevent their exceeding 600%.   

The amount of Federal Pell Grant funds you may receive over your lifetime is limited by federal law to be the equivalent of six years of Pell funding. Since the amount of a scheduled Pell Grant award you can receive each award year is equal to 100%, the six-year equivalent is 600%. This is referred to as Pell Lifetime Eligibility Used, or Pell LEU. Requests made after you have received Pell funds cannot be honored.

The Pell Lifetime Eligibility Used regulation does not affect the California College Promise Grant, Federal Work-Study, Cal Grants, or Chafee Grants.

See Student Alert about Repayment for information about repaying funds if you leave school.

Calculate Pell Lifetime Eligibility Used