The exact amount of Pell Grant you receive per semester is not a fixed sum; it varies based on your annual Pell Grant eligibility, which is then typically disbursed across the academic terms you attend.
Understanding Your Per-Semester Pell Grant
Your total annual Pell Grant award is determined by several factors, and this annual amount is then divided by the number of semesters or terms you attend during the award year.
Here's how it generally works for per-semester disbursement:
- Annual Award First: The U.S. Department of Education determines your eligibility for a Pell Grant for an entire "award year" (July 1 to June 30). This annual amount is influenced by:
- Your Student Aid Index (SAI) (formerly Expected Family Contribution or EFC), derived from your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- The Cost of Attendance (COA) at your specific school.
- Your enrollment status (full-time, half-time, etc.).
- Whether you attend for a full academic year or less.
- Semester-Based Disbursement: For students enrolled in traditional fall and spring semesters, your annual Pell Grant is generally split evenly between the two terms. For instance, if you are eligible for a $2,000 Pell Grant for the entire award year and are enrolled full-time for both the fall and spring terms, you will likely receive $1,000 in the fall and $1,000 in the spring.
Factors Influencing Your Semester Pell Grant
The amount you receive each semester depends directly on your overall eligibility and your specific enrollment details.
Key Factors Affecting Your Pell Grant per Semester:
| Factor | Impact on Semester Award |
|---|---|
| Student Aid Index (SAI) | A lower SAI generally results in a higher annual Pell Grant, leading to larger per-semester disbursements. |
| Cost of Attendance (COA) | Higher COA can increase eligibility up to the maximum award, but the disbursement is still per term. |
| Enrollment Status | Full-time students receive the full eligible per-semester amount. Less than full-time enrollment (e.g., three-quarter time, half-time, less than half-time) will significantly reduce your per-semester award. |
| Academic Calendar | The total annual award is divided by the number of terms (e.g., two semesters, three trimesters, or four quarters). |
| Year-Round Pell Eligibility | If you attend a third semester (like summer) in an academic year, you may be eligible for a portion of your Pell Grant for that term, known as "Year-Round Pell." |
Current Pell Grant Amounts
For the 2023-2024 award year, the maximum Federal Pell Grant is $7,395.
- This means a student eligible for the maximum award and enrolled full-time for two traditional semesters (fall and spring) could receive approximately $3,697.50 per semester.
- If you are enrolled less than full-time, your per-semester amount will be prorated. For example, if you are a half-time student eligible for the maximum annual award, you would receive roughly half of the full-time per-semester amount.
To understand your specific Pell Grant award and how it will be disbursed to you, it's best to check your financial aid offer from your school or log in to your Federal Student Aid account at studentaid.gov.
