Pell Grant Amounts and the Lifetime Eligibility Used Limit
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Sep 18, 2026 • Updated Sep 18, 2026 • US Financial Aid & Scholarships
The maximum Federal Pell Grant is $7,395 and the minimum is $740 for both the 2025-26 and 2026-27 award years. You can use Pell funding for up to 600% of the standard eligibility period, roughly 6 years of full-time enrollment, tracked as your Lifetime Eligibility Used percentage.
💵 Maximum award: $7,395 per year
Minimum award: $740 per year
Full-time enrollment for a full year uses 100% of your LEU
600% LEU cap equals about 6 years of full-time funding
Changing schools or majors does not reset your LEU
Current maximum and minimum awards
The Federal Pell Grant maximum is $7,395 for the 2025-26 award year, running July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, and stays at $7,395 for 2026-27. The minimum award is $740. Pell eligibility rose by roughly 570,000 students after FAFSA simplification took effect for 2024-25, according to the Department of Education.
| Award year | Maximum award | Minimum award |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | $7,395 | $740 |
| 2026-27 | $7,395 | $740 |
How the amounts get set each year
Congress sets the Pell Grant maximum through annual appropriations, and the Department of Education publishes the exact minimum and maximum for each award year before it starts.
What sets your actual amount
Between the minimum and maximum, your award depends on three things:
Your Student Aid Index (SAI) from the FAFSA
Your school's cost of attendance
Your enrollment intensity, from full time down to less than half time
Use the Federal Student Aid Estimator for an early estimate before you file, or check your FAFSA Submission Summary once you submit.
Prorated awards for short programs
If your program lasts less than a full academic year, your school prorates your Pell award to match the length of your enrollment period rather than paying the full annual amount. Clock-hour programs and short certificates typically see a lower total award as a result, even at full-time enrollment.
The Lifetime Eligibility Used limit
Federal law caps total Pell Grant funding at 600% of the standard eligibility period, tracked as your Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU) percentage.
One full year of full-time Pell funding uses 100% of that cap, so 600% works out to roughly 6 years of full-time enrollment. Part-time terms use a smaller percentage, so part-time students can stretch their eligibility across more calendar years.
How the percentage adds up
| Enrollment pattern | Approximate LEU used per year |
|---|---|
| Full time, full year | 100% |
| Three-quarter time, full year | 75% |
| Half time, full year | 50% |
Once you reach 600%, you become ineligible for further Pell funding, even mid-degree. Check your exact LEU percentage on your FAFSA Submission Summary or by logging into your studentaid.gov account.
What counts against your limit
Every term you receive any Pell funding counts toward your 600%, including:
Terms at a school you later transferred away from
A second degree or certificate program, if you switch majors or credentials
Remedial or repeated coursework paid for with Pell funds
Withdrawing from a term does not undo the Pell usage already counted for it, unless your school processes a full return of funds because you withdrew very early in the term.
Why the limit matters for degree planning
Students who change majors, retake failed courses, or take longer than 4 years to finish a bachelor's degree risk running out of Pell eligibility before they graduate. Meeting with your academic advisor to plan a direct path through your degree protects your remaining LEU percentage for the semesters you need most.