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The Federal Pell Grant is the foundation of federal student financial aid. The Pell Grant is mainly for undergraduate students; however, in some cases, students who are enrolled in a postbaccalaureate teacher certification program might receive a Federal Pell Grant.  

The Pell Grant is mainly for undergraduate students; however, in some cases, students who are enrolled in a post-baccalaureate teacher certification program might receive a Federal Pell Grant. The Federal Pell Grant is the foundation of federal student financial aid. 

Award amounts can change yearly. 

2025-26 Award Year

The maximum Federal Pell Grant award is $7,395 for the 2025–26 award year (July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026). The minimum Pell Grant for 2025-26 award year is $740.

Enrollment intensity is the percentage of full-time enrollment at which a student is enrolled, rounded to the nearest whole percent. For example, if full-time enrollment is 12 credit hours and the student is enrolled in 7 hours, the enrollment intensity would be 7 ÷ 12 X 100% = 58.3% (round to 58 percent). 

Below is a chart of enrollment intensity relative to full time. Enrollment intensity only applies to Pell Grant eligibility.  

If a student is originally awarded a maximum Pell Grant based on full time enrollment both semesters, we’d expect the Pell Grant to look like: 

Full-time Scheduled Pell Grant award: $7,395 Disbursement Schedule (full-time both semesters)

If that student dropped credits from 12 credits to seven credits fall semester before the 15th day of classes at midnight (census date), then the Pell Grant would be adjusted down to seven-credit loan intensity. Let’s use this chart below for a student who is maximum Pell Grant eligible but taking only seven credits in the fall, then the Pell Grant for the student for fall is ($7,395 X 58% or .58) ÷ 2 = $2,145 

58% Pell Grant Disbursement Schedule (half-time fall; full-time spring semester)

This change in enrollment would cause a bill of $1,553 due back to the University immediately in the fall semester. 

Here’s another example with a maximum Pell Grant student who enrolls in 12 credits in the fall and but reduces their spring enrollment to 9 credits before the start of the spring semester, their spring payment will be based on 75% enrollment intensity for spring, rather than the full-time Scheduled Award. 

75% Pell Grant award Disbursement Schedule (Less than full-time)

Students become ineligible for the Federal Pell Grant upon completion of a bachelor's degree or after receiving six years of full-time grants, whichever comes first. Adjustments to the grant amount may occur if a student changes their credit load before the 16th class day of the semester, with repayments required for any returned portion of the grant after that period. Students must begin attendance/academic activity in all classes. If a student is discovered to have not begun attendance and/or engage in academic activity, we are required to adjust the Pell Grant. If a student earns an F in a course and the instructor reports the F was based on non-attendance, we are also required to adjust the Pell Grant based on an NF (non-attendance fail) grade. Therefore, it is vital that you begin attendance/academic activity in all your courses.

In certain situations, an eligible student can receive up to 150 percent of his or her scheduled Pell Grant award for an award year.

For example, if you are eligible for a $2,000 Pell Grant for the award year and are enrolled full-time for both the fall term and spring term, you will likely receive $1,000 in the fall and $1,000 in the spring. However, under certain circumstances, you may be eligible to receive up to an additional $1,000 for attendance in an additional term within that award year (resulting in your receiving 150% of your original award). You might hear this situation referred to as “year-round Pell.”

Please note that you can receive the Federal Pell Grant for no more than 12 terms full-time terms or the equivalent (roughly six years). You will receive a notice if you’re getting close to your limit.

For the Pell Grant, both class attendance and academic activity directly impact the amount of aid awarded. Failure to attend classes or participate in academic activities can lead to a reduction or withdrawal of Pell Grant funds. If the Pell Grant is adjusted or revoked due to insufficient attendance or engagement, students will be required to return any disbursed funds.

If your parent died while serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces or as a public safety officer, you may be eligible for additional Pell Grant funds. For 2024-25, you may be eligible to receive a Maximum Pell Grant, even if you are not eligible for a Federal Pell Grant based on your Student Aid Index, but:

• you meet the remaining Federal Pell Grant eligibility requirements;
• your parent or guardian died in the line of duty while either (a) serving on active duty as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces on or after Sept. 11, 2001; or (b) actively serving as and performing the duties of a public safety officer; and
• you are under 33 years old as of Jan. 1 of the year prior to the start of the school year (i.e. Jan. 1, 2025 for the 2025-26 school year).

To learn more about Pell Grant Eligibility for students who meet this criteria, visit the Federal Student Aid webpage: .

Important note: These are the basics for traditional, term-based students. There are more involved regulations for correspondence, consortium, mixed enrollment, incarcerated, summer, cross-over, etc.

To be eligible for the FSEOG, students must also qualify for the Federal Pell Grant and typically have an EFC of 0. For the 2024-2025 academic year. Students enrolled at least half-time (six credits) are eligible to receive the grant. 

Students with demonstrated financial need admitted to UM may be eligible for the UM Need Grant, in addition to the UMAAS scholarship. This grant requires filing the FAFSA and awarding is limited to Montana resident students who began attending UM in summer 2019 or later. The grant amount may be adjusted if a student's need-eligibility changes.  

Students who transfer to Missoula College or becoming an online-only student would result in forfeiting the UM Need Grant. Additional need-based aid and/or scholarships may affect the UM Need Grant amount. Recipients cease to be eligible upon completion of a bachelor's degree. The grant is disbursed if/when a student is enrolled full-time (12 or more credits). It is not available for use in the summer term. Post-baccalaureate and graduate students are ineligible. 

The UM Need Grant cannot be combined with a full tuition waiver. If a student receives a full tuition waiver such as the Native American Tuition Waiver, MUS Honors, etc. then the UM Need Grant will be revoked. 

The federal TEACH Grant, up to $4,000 per academic year, is provided as a forgivable loan to students planning to teach high-need subjects in low-income schools. A TEACH Grant-eligible program is a program of study that is designed to prepare you to teach as a highly qualified teacher in a high-need field and that leads to a bachelor’s or master’s degree, or is a post-baccalaureate program.  

A two-year program that is acceptable for full credit toward a bachelor’s degree is considered a program that leads to a bachelor’s degree. A post-baccalaureate program is not TEACH-Grant-eligible if it is offered by a school that also offers a bachelor’s degree in education. Only undergraduate and graduate students in specific majors within UM's Department of Curriculum and Instruction are eligible, while post-baccalaureate students are not.

Application requires submission of UM's TEACH Grant Application and completion of an Agreement to Serve. Failure to fulfill the teaching requirement results in the grant converting to an unsubsidized loan with retroactive interest. . 

Most states only allow students to receive grants if attending schools within their state. However, some states, such as Vermont and the District of Columbia, permit students to receive grants even if attending out-of-state. Application for out-of-state grants is made through the respective state's education agency.