SAI to Pell Grant (2026-27)
The scheduled full-time Pell award at every SAI level.
For 2026-27, a Student Aid Index of zero or below earns the maximum Pell Grant of $7,395. From $1 up to $6,655, the scheduled full-time award is $7,395 minus your SAI, floored at the minimum of $740. An SAI of $14,790 or more (twice the maximum) means no Pell. Awards are then prorated by enrollment intensity and capped at cost of attendance.
Source: 2026-27 Federal Pell Grant Maximum and Minimum Award Amounts (Dear Colleague Letter, Jan 30 2026). Data as of June 2026.
SAI-to-Pell schedule
| Student Aid Index | Scheduled Pell (full-time) | Pathway |
|---|---|---|
| -$1,500 | $7,395 | Maximum Pell |
| -$1,000 | $7,395 | Maximum Pell |
| -$500 | $7,395 | Maximum Pell |
| $0 | $7,395 | Maximum Pell |
| $1,000 | $6,395 | Max Pell minus SAI |
| $2,000 | $5,395 | Max Pell minus SAI |
| $3,000 | $4,395 | Max Pell minus SAI |
| $4,000 | $3,395 | Max Pell minus SAI |
| $5,000 | $2,395 | Max Pell minus SAI |
| $6,000 | $1,395 | Max Pell minus SAI |
| $6,655 | $740 | Max Pell minus SAI |
| $7,000 | $0 | Only via automatic minimum-Pell AGI pathway |
| $10,000 | $0 | Only via automatic minimum-Pell AGI pathway |
| $14,790 | $0 | Not Pell-eligible (SAI >= 2x max) |
Source: 2026-27 Federal Pell Grant Maximum and Minimum Award Amounts (Dear Colleague Letter, Jan 30 2026). Data as of June 2026.
Estimate your own award - including part-time and cost-of-attendance effects - with the Pell Grant calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I read the SAI-to-Pell table?
Find your SAI in the left column; the middle column is the scheduled (full-time) Pell award. SAI of zero or below gives the maximum $7,395. From $1 up to $6,655, the award is $7,395 minus your SAI (floored at $740). Above that, only the automatic minimum-Pell income pathway can help, and $14,790+ is ineligible.
Is the award reduced for part-time study?
Yes. The amounts shown are full-time. Pell is prorated by enrollment intensity, so a half-time student gets 50% of the scheduled amount, and the award is capped at the cost of attendance.
What if my SAI is between the ceiling and 2x max?
Between $6,655 and $14,790 you are not eligible through the SAI calculation, but you may still get the minimum Pell automatically if your AGI is within the minimum-Pell poverty-guideline multiple.
Sources
2026-27 Federal Pell Grant Maximum and Minimum Award Amounts (Dear Colleague Letter, Jan 30 2026). Data as of June 2026 for 2026-27. General information, not financial-aid advice. Verify at studentaid.gov.
Last updated: 2026-06-22