Former students who received a Pell Grant while in college may soon see up to $20,000 in federal direct loans erased.
By
Matthew Arrojas
Writer
Matthew Arrojas is a news reporter at BestColleges covering higher education issues and policy. He previously worked as the hospitality and tourism news reporter at the South Florida Business Journal. He also covered higher education policy issues as...
Updated on June 22, 2023
Edited by
Alex Pasquariello
Editor & Writer
Alex Pasquariello is a senior news editor for BestColleges. Prior to joining BestColleges he led Metropolitan State University of Denver's digital journalism initiative. He holds a BS in journalism from Northwestern University....
By
Matthew Arrojas
Writer
Matthew Arrojas is a news reporter at BestColleges covering higher education issues and policy. He previously worked as the hospitality and tourism news reporter at the South Florida Business Journal. He also covered higher education policy issues as...
Edited by
Alex Pasquariello
Editor & Writer
Alex Pasquariello is a senior news editor for BestColleges. Prior to joining BestColleges he led Metropolitan State University of Denver's digital journalism initiative. He holds a BS in journalism from Northwestern University....
STEFANI REYNOLDS / Contributor / AFP / Getty Images
- President Biden unveiled his plan to cancel a large portion of federal student loan debt in August 2022.
- People who received Pell Grants while in college are eligible for more relief.
- Borrowers who received Pell Grants could receive up to $10,000 in additional debt cancellation.
President Joe Biden's plan for widespread student loan forgiveness promises extra relief for those that received Pell Grants in school.
Biden plans to erase up to $10,000 in federal student loan debt for borrowers making less than $125,000 per year, or $250,000 for couples who file their taxes jointly. Those who received a Pell Grant while in college may have up to $20,000 in federal direct loans forgiven.
The president’s plan, however, is currently in legal limbo. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on the legality of the program in June or July 2023.
Pell Grants are the most common grant aid provided to low- and middle-income students, with roughly six million students benefiting from them each year. The amount awarded is based on financial need, which is determined after a student submits their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Here's how to determine if you received a Pell Grant to help pay for college.
Start on the Federal Student Aid Webpage
Borrowers won't have to go too far to see if they received a Pell Grant while enrolled.
Allie Arcese, director of communications at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), told BestColleges that borrowers should be able to access this data online.
First, any interested borrower must log into their StudentAid.gov account with their Federal Student Aid (FSA) identification. If they don’t already have an account, they'll need to make an FSA account and ID.
Once you are on the site, there's a section titled "My Aid," which shows borrowers’ outstanding loan balances along with a breakdown of any grants they received while in college, Arcese said. That breakdown of grants received is where borrowers will find records of any Pell Grants they received for college.
Check With Your Former School
That FSA website has experienced some technical trouble since Biden's announcement of widespread debt relief, Arcese warned.
The FSA office instituted a waiting room for website visitors to accommodate the increased site traffic but if borrowers are experiencing technical issues, she recommended they reach out to their former institution’s financial aid office.
A financial aid officer may be able to provide Pell Grant information from their records, she said. Likewise, contacting a financial aid officer is another way to confirm that a borrower did not receive a Pell Grant if nothing is listed for them at StudentAid.gov.
FAQs
Federal Pell Grants typically are awarded to undergraduate students with low or moderate income. You can log in to StudentAid.gov to see if you received a Pell Grant. We display information about the aid you received, including Pell Grants, on your account Dashboard and My Aid page.
How do you know how much money you will awarded in Pell Grant? ›
The amount granted depends on your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), cost of attendance, your status as a full-time or part-time student, and your plans to attend school for a full academic year or less. Learn more about how PELL Grant amounts are determined. Visit our Pell Grants page for more information.
Does Pell Grant come in a check? ›
If you're eligible, you can get your Pell Grant money in a few different ways. Your school can apply Pell Grant funds to school costs; pay you directly, usually by check; or a combination of both. The school must tell you in writing how much the award will be and how/when it will be paid to you.
Why didn't I get the Pell Grant? ›
It's possible that you might not receive your entire scheduled award for an award year. There are a few reasons for this, the most common of which are that you are not enrolled for the full year or that you are not enrolled full-time, or both.
Who received a Pell Grant? ›
Federal Pell Grants usually are awarded only to undergraduate students who display exceptional financial need and have not earned a bachelor's, graduate, or professional degree. (In some cases, however, a student enrolled in a postbaccalaureate teacher certification program might receive a Federal Pell Grant.)
Do I get 20k if I had a Pell Grant? ›
If you received a Pell Grant in college and meet the income threshold, you will be eligible for up to $20,000 in debt relief. If you did not receive a Pell Grant in college and meet the income threshold, you will be eligible for up to $10,000 in debt relief.
How much does the average person get from Pell Grant? ›
Pell Grant Award Average by State
| State | Total Recipients | Average Award per Recipient |
|---|
| California | 938,931 | $5,018 |
| Colorado | 115,544 | $4,648 |
| Connecticut | 77,065 | $4,466 |
| Delaware | 17,385 | $4,578 |
47 more rowsJan 28, 2024
The “My Aid” page allows you to see how much aid you've received, your enrollment status, and loan servicers when you're logged into your student aid account. Was this page helpful? How do I check the status of my 2023–24 FAFSA® form?
How much is Pell Grant 2024-2025? ›
Under these continuing appropriations, for the 2024-2025 award year, the maximum Pell Grant award remains fixed at $7,395. This situation could change at any time pending further action by Congress.
Are you automatically considered for Pell Grant? ›
Federal Pell Grants are the leading source of federal grant money and are designed for students who demonstrate financial need. They also don't have to be repaid. You'll be automatically considered for a Pell Grant when you submit your FAFSA.
Your Pell Grant refund can be paid out directly to you once your institutional educational expenses are all paid. Once you've received the payment, you can choose to do whatever you'd like with it. However, you'll get the best bang for your buck if you spend it on other educational expenses.
How do I know if FAFSA gave me money? ›
You can also check the status of your FAFSA form by contacting the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243. To check on the status of financial aid being disbursed (paid out) to you or your account, check with your school's financial aid office.
What income is too high for Pell Grant? ›
Pell Grants are need-based awards. Although students with family incomes up to $45,000 may be eligible, most awards go to students with family incomes below $20,000.
What's the difference between financial aid and Pell Grant? ›
Unlike student loans, Pell Grants are not required to be paid back; they are considered “free money,” and can be used to cover your educational expenses. Financial aid is a broad term for any form of funding used to help pay for college expenses.
How poor are Pell Grant recipients? ›
Pell numbers are not a perfect proxy for low-income status, but, according to the Biden administration, two-thirds of Pell recipients are from households with incomes below $30,000, and 93 percent are from households with incomes below $60,000.
Do I qualify for student loan forgiveness if I got a Pell Grant? ›
If you have federal student loans and earn less than $125,000 (or $250,000 for married couples), you can qualify for up to $10,000 in debt cancellation. But if you had a Pell Grant, you could receive up to $20,000 in loan forgiveness.
Who is eligible for the Pell Grant 2024? ›
The new formula expands access to Pell Grants to students with an: AGI less than or equal to 225% of the poverty line (single parent) AGI less than or equal to 175% of the poverty line (not a single parent).
Is Pell Grant subsidized or unsubsidized? ›
While the Pell Grant is the primary subsidy for higher education, the federal government also funds several smaller aid programs.
Can you get a Pell Grant twice for FAFSA? ›
You can learn more about this process online at www.fafsa.gov. Students can now receive two Pell Grant Awards within one Award Year, if certain criteria are met.
