What is the Pell Grant Lifetime Limit?

You can receive Pell Grants for the equivalent of 12 semesters of full-time schooling, or about six years.
Anna Helhoski
By Anna Helhoski 
Updated
Edited by Des Toups

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There’s no dollar amount assigned to the Pell Grant lifetime limit because the yearly caps change annually.

You can receive Pell Grants for the equivalent of 12 semesters of full-time schooling, or about six years. You may hit your Pell Grant lifetime limit sooner — for instance, if you take summer classes. Alternatively, It could take longer than six years to hit the lifetime limit if you’re not enrolled full time.

Pell Grant limit 2022-23

The Pell Grant limit for 2022-23 academic year is $6,895. For the 2023-24 academic year, it will be $7,395 — a $500 increase.

The amount you receive depends on your financial need, cost of attendance, full-time or part-time status and your plans to attend school for the full academic year or less.

Pell Grants are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. The U.S. Department of Education distributes grant money directly to the schools, which is then disbursed to students who demonstrate financial need. Your eligibility for financial aid is determined each year by information you file on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.

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How Pell Grant lifetime limits work

The lifetime maximum is based on years, not dollars. If you’re a full-time student, your Pell Grant lifetime limit represents 100% of your Pell Grant eligibility for that year, regardless of the dollar amount. Each year is worth 100%, with a 600% lifetime maximum for each student.

You could use more or less than 100% of your Pell Grant eligibility in a given year. Once the 600% has been reached, you can’t receive a Pell Grant at any school. There’s no appeal process.

The percentage you receive will count toward your Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU). You can keep track of your Pell LEU by logging onto the National Student Loan Data System using your FSA ID. You can find your LEU on the Financial Aid Review page. You’ll also be notified once you’re getting close to reaching your lifetime maximum.

The percentage regulation was imposed to encourage graduation and reduce federal expenditures.

You can hit the lifetime limit in exactly six years if you attend school full time for fall and spring semesters each year for up to six years. You could also hit your Pell Grant lifetime limit sooner than that or in more than six years, depending on factors including your enrollment status.

If you complete your degree in less than six years, you won't be eligible for Pell Grants if you return to school for an additional undergraduate degree.

Withdrawal During COVID-19 Won't Affect Lifetime limits

Both coronavirus relief packages called to waive lifetime limits on Pell Grants for those who withdraw from school due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This means any Pell Grant money used for school during a semester you withdrew because of the pandemic won’t count toward your lifetime limit.

It’s possible to get 150% of your scheduled Pell Grant award each year, but that means you might hit your limit in less than six years. If you used 150% in your first year, for instance, you’d have 450% for the remaining time in school.

You may hit the Pell Grant lifetime limit before graduating if you: • Take summer courses in addition to a full course load in fall and spring. • Take longer than six years to graduate due to transferring, changing majors, a dual-degree program or another reason.

It could take longer to reach your lifetime limit if you receive less than 100% each year. Attending school part time or not enrolling for a full year could lower the amount of Pell Grant aid you receive.

Say your scheduled award for one year is $5,000. If you enroll for one semester only, you would receive $2,500, or 50% of your eligible Pell Grant amount.

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