FAFSA income limits for Pell Grant eligibility
Mateo Perez
•5MYou should absolutely fill out the FAFSA regardless of income! While Pell Grants do have eligibility thresholds based primarily on your SAI (Student Aid Index), there's no strict income cutoff. For 2025-2026, the maximum Pell Grant is $7,395, and eligibility typically extends to families with incomes under $60,000, though some with incomes up to $90,000 may receive partial grants depending on family size and other factors. Even if you don't qualify for Pell Grants, completing the FAFSA opens doors to other aid like work-study programs, low-interest federal loans, and many state/institutional grants and scholarships that require FAFSA completion regardless of income. Many schools won't even consider you for merit scholarships without a FAFSA on file.
0 coins
ReplyView previous replies...
Nia Davis•5M
Thanks for the breakdown! I didn't realize so many other types of aid required FAFSA. So even at $85k family income we might still qualify for something? I thought the Pell cutoff was like $50k.
0 coins
Reply
Aisha Rahman
•5Mdosnt matter what ur parents make!! i got pell grant with parents making 75k, my brother got a chunk too at same income. its not just income its the # of ppl in household and how many in college too!!! def worth filling it out took like 45 min
0 coins
ReplyView previous replies...
Nia Davis•5M
Wait seriously? That's really good to know. We have 3 kids with 2 in college next year. Maybe that'll help our chances!
0 coins
Reply
CosmicCrusader
•5MThe FAFSA system is DESIGNED to be confusing!! There are no published "income limits" because they want to keep people guessing. I filled it out with $92K family income and got ZERO in Pell Grants while my neighbor with $88K got $3,200!!! The difference? They had two kids in college at once and we only had one. The whole SAI calculation is a black box that punishes middle-class families while handing money to others. Still, you HAVE to fill it out or you'll get nothing from your school either.
0 coins
ReplyView previous replies...
Ethan Brown•5M
This happened to my family too! So frustrating. We were right at the cutoff and got nothing even though we're struggling with the payments. The system definitely needs reform.
0 coins
Reply
Yuki Yamamoto
•5MI work in a college financial aid office, and I can tell you with certainty that you should complete the FAFSA regardless of income. For the 2025-2026 award year, here are the facts: - Maximum Pell Grant: $7,395 - The SAI (Student Aid Index) eligibility threshold: Typically an SAI of 6206 or below for maximum Pell, with partial awards up to an SAI around 9000 - Income factors: While there's no strict cutoff, Pell eligibility typically phases out around $60,000-$90,000 depending on family size, assets, and number in college Where most families make mistakes is assuming FAFSA is only for Pell Grants. Many colleges have institutional funds they can only award to students who've completed FAFSA. I've seen students from families making $150,000+ receive significant institutional grants simply because they filled out the form when others in their income bracket didn't bother. The FAFSA takes about 30-45 minutes with the new simplified form. It's absolutely worth your time.
0 coins
ReplyView previous replies...
Nia Davis•5M
This is super helpful, thank you! I had no idea colleges had their own funds tied to FAFSA completion. Definitely going to fill it out now. Does the simplified form still require all the tax information uploads?
0 coins
Reply
Yuki Yamamoto
•5MYes, you'll still need tax information, but the Data Retrieval Tool makes it much easier - it pulls information directly from the IRS. For most families, you'll need: - Federal tax returns (or W-2s if you didn't file) - Records of untaxed income - Bank statements and investment records - Social Security Numbers for parents and student The new simplified form has fewer questions overall, especially for lower-income families.
0 coins
ReplyView previous replies...
Carmen Ortiz
•5Mi spent 3 days trying to reach someone at fafsa last week bc my parent contribution section wasnt working right. kept getting disconnected after 2+ hr waits. finally used claimyr.com and got through in like 20 min! they have a demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ the fafsa person told me with our $78k income and 2 in college we should get partial pell. so def worth applying even at ur income level!
0 coins
ReplyView previous replies...
Nia Davis•5M
Thanks for the tip about Claimyr! I've been worried about technical issues since I've heard the new FAFSA has had problems. Good to know there's a way to get help if needed.
0 coins
Reply
Andre Rousseau
•5MRandom question but does anyone know if I need to include my stepdad's income on the FAFSA? He's not legally adopted me but lives with us and helps with bills. My mom makes about $55k and he makes around $40k. Not sure which income figure I should be using when estimating our eligibility.
0 coins
ReplyView previous replies...
Mateo Perez•5M
If your stepdad is married to your mom, then yes, his income must be included. If they're not legally married, then you only include your mom's income. The FAFSA looks at legal relationships, not just who lives in the household or helps with expenses.
0 coins
Reply
Yuki Yamamoto
•5MOne more thing to consider about the 2025-2026 FAFSA - the income information will be based on your 2023 tax returns. If your family's financial situation has changed significantly since then (job loss, major medical expenses, etc.), you should complete the FAFSA using the required 2023 information, then immediately contact your school's financial aid office about a "professional judgment" or "special circumstances" review. They can adjust your aid based on current financial reality.
0 coins
ReplyView previous replies...
Nia Davis•5M
That's good to know! My dad actually took a pay cut in 2024 so our income is lower now than it was in 2023. I'll definitely mention that to financial aid if we don't get much initially.
0 coins
Reply
Aisha Rahman
•5Mbtw make sure u file early!!!! my friend applied late and missed state deadlines for extra grants. some states have diff deadlines than federal. the website shows all the deadlines tho
0 coins
ReplyView previous replies...
Jamal Wilson
•2MThis is such a helpful thread! I just want to add that even if you don't qualify for federal aid, many states have their own grant programs with different income thresholds. For example, some state grants are available to families making up to $100k or more. Also, completing the FAFSA early (ideally by your state's priority deadline) can make a huge difference - many aid programs are first-come, first-served even if you meet the income requirements. I'd recommend checking your state's higher education website for specific programs and deadlines. The FAFSA is definitely worth the time investment!
0 coins
ReplyView previous replies...
Sofia Martinez
•1MAs someone who just went through this process, I can confirm what others have said - definitely fill out the FAFSA! My family income is around $82k and I was surprised to receive a partial Pell Grant ($2,800) plus my state grant program kicked in with an additional $1,500. The key things that helped us: we have 4 people in our household with 2 in college simultaneously, which really impacts the SAI calculation in your favor. Even if you don't get Pell, many schools won't even consider you for their own scholarships without FAFSA completion. The new form really is much simpler than the old one - took me about 40 minutes total. Also, don't forget to check if your state has its own grant programs with different income limits. In my state, families can qualify for aid up to $95k income depending on other factors. The worst thing that can happen is you don't get aid, but at least you'll know for sure rather than wondering "what if.
0 coins
ReplyView previous replies...
Clay blendedgen•27d
This is so encouraging to hear! Your situation sounds pretty similar to mine - we also have multiple kids and two will be in college at the same time. It's really reassuring to know that you got both federal and state aid with that income level. I'm definitely convinced now that I need to fill it out. Thanks for sharing your actual numbers - that really helps put things in perspective!
0 coins
Reply
Melissa Lin
•20dJust wanted to chime in as someone who almost didn't fill out the FAFSA because of income concerns! My family makes about $79k and I was convinced we wouldn't qualify for anything. Turns out I was completely wrong - I received a partial Pell Grant of $2,400 plus my college offered me an additional $3,000 institutional grant that they said was only available to FAFSA completers. What really made the difference was having my older sister in college at the same time, which the SAI calculation takes into account. The financial aid counselor at my school explained that the formula considers total family size, number in college, and regional cost of living - not just raw income numbers. The application process was honestly way easier than I expected with the new simplified form. I had all my documents ready and it took about 35 minutes. My advice: just do it! Even if you only get a small amount, every bit helps with college costs. Plus you'll have peace of mind knowing you explored all your options.
0 coins
ReplyView previous replies...
Oliver Weber•13d
This is exactly the kind of real-world example I needed to hear! It's amazing how much the number of kids in college at once can impact eligibility. I had no idea about the regional cost of living factor either - that's really interesting. Your experience gives me so much hope that we might actually qualify for something meaningful. I'm definitely going to get all my documents together this weekend and just go for it. Thanks for taking the time to share your actual numbers and experience!
0 coins
Reply
Oliver Schulz
•6dJust adding my voice to everyone saying YES, definitely fill out the FAFSA! I was in almost the exact same situation - my parents make about $88k and I was convinced we'd get nothing. Boy was I wrong! I ended up getting a partial Pell Grant of $1,800 plus my school gave me a $2,500 need-based grant that required FAFSA completion. What really opened my eyes was learning that the SAI calculation is way more complex than just looking at income. Family size matters SO much - we're a family of 6 with me being the only one in college, which helped our numbers. Also, things like older parents nearing retirement, medical expenses, and even state taxes paid all factor into the formula. The other thing I wish I'd known earlier is that many private scholarships also require FAFSA completion, even merit-based ones. I almost missed out on a $1,000 local scholarship because they wanted to see my SAI first. Bottom line: 45 minutes of paperwork could potentially save you thousands. Even if you only get federal loan eligibility, those interest rates are way better than private loans. Don't leave money on the table!
0 coins
ReplyView previous replies...