Pell Grant Eligibility
For maximum and minimum Pell Grant evaluation, use the Adjusted Gross Income, or AGI, and family size relative to national poverty determinations for the same year as the taxes reported on that academic year's Free Application for Federal Student Aid, FAFSA.
For the 2025-26 academic and aid year, use 2023 tax data. Student tables represent the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia. Poverty guidelines are slightly higher for residents of Alaska and Hawaii.
Dependent students
The dependent student is a single parent:
| Family size | 2023 poverty guideline | Max Pell parent AGI limit (225% of poverty guideline) | Min Pell parent AGI limit (325% of poverty guideline) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | $19,720 | $44,370 | $64,090 |
| 3 | $24,860 | $55,935 | $80,795 |
| 4+ | Add $5,140 to the poverty guidelines for each additional person. Then multiply the AGI by 225% (max Pell) or 325% (min Pell) to determine the parent AGI limit. | ||
The dependent student is a parent, but not a single parent:
| Family size | 2023 poverty guideline | Max Pell parent AGI limit (175% of poverty guideline) | Min Pell parent AGI limit (275% of poverty guideline) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | $19,720 | $34,510 | $54,230 |
| 3 | $24,860 | $43,505 | $68,365 |
| 4+ | Add $5,140 to the poverty guidelines for each additional person. Then multiply the AGI by 175% (max Pell) or 275% (min Pell) to determine the parent AGI limit. | ||
Independent students
The independent student is a single parent:
| Family size | 2023 poverty guideline | Max Pell parent AGI limit (225% of poverty guideline) | Min Pell parent AGI limit (400% of poverty guideline) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | $19,720 | $44,370 | $78,880 |
| 3 | $24,860 | $55,935 | $99,440 |
| 4+ | Add $5,140 to the poverty guidelines for each additional person. Then multiply the AGI by 225% (max Pell) or 400% (min Pell) to determine the parent AGI limit. | ||
The independent student is a parent, but not a single parent:
| Family size | 2023 poverty guideline | Max Pell parent AGI limit (175% of poverty guideline) | Min Pell parent AGI limit (350% of poverty guideline) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | $19,720 | $34,510 | $69,020 |
| 3 | $24,860 | $43,505 | $74,580 |
| 4+ | Add $5,140 to the poverty guidelines for each additional person. Then multiply the AGI by 175% (max Pell) or 350% (min Pell) to determine the parent AGI limit. | ||
The independent student is not a parent:
| Family size | 2023 poverty guideline | Max Pell parent AGI limit (175% of poverty guideline) | Min Pell parent AGI limit (275% of poverty guideline) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | $19,720 | $25,515 | $40,095 |
| 3 | $24,860 | $34,510 | $54,230 |
| 4+ | Add $5,140 to the poverty guidelines for each additional person. Then multiply the AGI by 175% (max Pell) or 275% (min Pell) to determine the parent AGI limit. | ||