Federal Pell Grant & Enrollment Status
Enrolling less than full-time could impact the amount of Pell Grant funding you receive.
The amount of your Federal Pell Grant depends on how many credit hours you take each semester. This is called enrollment intensity. The more credits you take, the closer you get to the full amount of Pell Grant offered.
Financial aid is first offered assuming full-time enrollment (12 or more credit hours) in degree-applicable courses. If you take fewer credits, your Pell Grant will be prorated (reduced).
How Enrollment Intensity Works
Beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year, the Federal Pell Grant will be prorated based on enrollment intensity. Enrollment intensity measures the percentage of full-time enrollment. It’s calculated like this:
Enrollment Intensity = (Your Credit Hours ÷ 12) × 100
Rounded to the nearest whole percent
Example: If you take 7 credits in a semester:
7 ÷ 12 × 100 = 58% → You’d get 58% of the full Pell Grant for that semester.
| Enrolled Credit Hours (per semester) | Enrollment Status | Enrollment Intensity |
|---|---|---|
| 12 or more | Full-Time | 100% |
| 11 | Three-Quarter Time | 92% |
| 10 | Three-Quarter Time | 83% |
| 9 | Three-Quarter Time | 75% |
| 8 | Half-Time | 67% |
| 7 | Half-Time | 58% |
| 6 | Half-Time | 50% |
| 5 | Less than Half-Time | 42% |
| 4 | Less than Half-Time | 33% |
| 3 | Less than Half-Time | 25% |
| 2 | Less than Half-Time | 17% |
| 1 | Less than Half-Time | 8% |
Things to Know
- Only degree-applicable courses count toward Pell Grant eligibility.
- Changes in enrollment or FAFSA information may increase or decrease your Pell Grant.
- Lifetime limit: You can receive Pell for up to 6 years (or 600% of Lifetime Eligibility Used).
- Students must be pursuing their first undergraduate degree in order to be considered eligible for the Federal Pell Grant.
Frequently Asked Questions
A: Your Pell Grant may be reduced because your enrollment intensity goes down. A reminder that when you remove a course during the drop/add period, it is considered a drop. Withdrawals would not impact Pell Grant enrollment intensity. For more information regarding dropping or withdrawing from courses, you can visit the Office of the Registrar’s webpage.
A: Yes! Your award will be prorated based on your enrollment intensity.
A: No. Completing the FAFSA at Federal Student Aid determines your eligibility.
A: Yes. Changes in enrollment, FAFSA corrections, or financial need can affect your award.