The maximum amount a student could receive in Federal Pell Grant funding for college will remain unchanged for the 2026-27 academic year – at least for now.
On January 30, the Department of Education announced the Pell Grant maximum and minimum award amounts for the 2026–27 award year (July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027).
Under continuing appropriations approved by Congress last November for the 2026–27 award year, the maximum Pell Grant award remains fixed at $7,395. In the announcement, the Department advises that the Pell Grant amount could change at any time pending further action by Congress. The Pell Grant minimum award amount for 2026–27 is $740 or 10 percent of the maximum amount.
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.
