Your EFC is determined by your FAFSA application. A lower EFC generally means more aid.
This is the total estimated cost to attend your school for the award year, including tuition, fees, room, board, books, and other expenses.
Full-time
Three-quarter time
Half-time
Less than half-time
Your Pell Grant amount is adjusted based on your enrollment status.
This is the maximum Pell Grant amount set by the Department of Education for the current award year (e.g., $7,395 for 2023-2024).
Estimated Pell Grant:
Understanding the Federal Pell Grant
The Federal Pell Grant is a form of financial aid provided by the U.S. government to undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional financial need. Unlike loans, Pell Grants do not need to be repaid, making them a crucial resource for many students pursuing higher education.
Who is Eligible for a Pell Grant?
Eligibility for a Pell Grant is primarily determined by the information you provide on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Key factors include:
Expected Family Contribution (EFC): This is an index number calculated from your FAFSA data. A lower EFC indicates greater financial need and generally leads to a higher Pell Grant award.
Cost of Attendance (COA): This is the total estimated cost to attend a particular school for an academic year, including tuition, fees, room, board, books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses.
Enrollment Status: Your grant amount is adjusted based on whether you are enrolled full-time, three-quarter time, half-time, or less than half-time.
Student Status: Pell Grants are typically awarded to undergraduate students who have not yet earned a bachelor's degree.
Maximum Pell Grant: The U.S. Department of Education sets a maximum Pell Grant amount each award year. Your actual grant cannot exceed this maximum.
How the Pell Grant Calculator Works
Our Pell Grant Calculator provides an estimate of the grant you might receive based on common eligibility factors. Here's how the inputs affect the calculation:
Expected Family Contribution (EFC): Enter the EFC number you received after completing your FAFSA. The lower your EFC, the higher your potential grant. If your EFC is too high (typically above the maximum Pell Grant amount for the year), you may not be eligible for a Pell Grant.
School's Cost of Attendance (COA): Input the estimated COA for your specific school. This information is usually available on your school's financial aid website. Your Pell Grant cannot exceed your COA.
Your Enrollment Status: Select your anticipated enrollment status. Full-time students receive 100% of their eligible grant, while part-time students receive a prorated amount (e.g., 75% for three-quarter time, 50% for half-time, and 25% for less than half-time).
Maximum Pell Grant for Award Year: This field is pre-filled with the current maximum Pell Grant amount (e.g., $7,395 for 2023-2024). You can adjust this if you are calculating for a different award year.
Important Considerations
This calculator provides an estimate and should not be considered a final determination of your Pell Grant eligibility or amount. The actual grant you receive will be determined by your school's financial aid office based on your official FAFSA results and other factors. Always consult with your school's financial aid department for precise information.
The Pell Grant program is subject to federal funding and policy changes, so amounts can vary from year to year.
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function calculatePellGrant() {
var efcInput = document.getElementById("efc").value;
var coaInput = document.getElementById("coa").value;
var enrollmentStatusMultiplier = parseFloat(document.getElementById("enrollmentStatus").value);
var maxPellGrantInput = document.getElementById("maxPellGrant").value;
var efc = parseFloat(efcInput);
var coa = parseFloat(coaInput);
var maxPellGrant = parseFloat(maxPellGrantInput);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
if (isNaN(efc) || isNaN(coa) || isNaN(maxPellGrant) || efc < 0 || coa < 0 || maxPellGrant < 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter valid positive numbers for all fields.";
resultDiv.style.color = "#dc3545";
return;
}
// Step 1: Calculate the base grant based on EFC and Max Pell Grant
// If EFC is higher than the max Pell Grant, the base grant is 0.
var baseGrant = Math.max(0, maxPellGrant – efc);
// Step 2: The grant cannot exceed the Cost of Attendance (COA)
var eligibleGrant = Math.min(baseGrant, coa);
// Step 3: Adjust for enrollment status
var finalPellGrant = eligibleGrant * enrollmentStatusMultiplier;
// Ensure the final grant is not negative
finalPellGrant = Math.max(0, finalPellGrant);
resultDiv.innerHTML = "$" + finalPellGrant.toFixed(2).replace(/\B(?=(\d{3})+(?!\d))/g, ",");
resultDiv.style.color = "#007bff";
}