Can a Student Receive Minimum Pell Even With a High Calculated Student Aid Index?

Yes. A student may qualify for a minimum Federal Pell Grant based on the minimum Pell Grant criteria as described in the 2024-25 FAFSA Pell Eligibility and SAI Guide without regard to the student's calculated student aid index (SAI). This is typical when there are a large number of assets reported, but the adjusted gross income (AGI) is low. The student may meet the minimum Pell eligibility by meeting one of the conditions below:

Dependent Student

• Minimum Pell Indicator = 1: The student’s parent is a single parent and has an AGI less than or equal to 325% of the poverty guideline for the applicant’s family size and state of legal residence; or
• Minimum Pell Indicator = 2: The student’s parent is not a single parent and has an AGI less than or equal to 275% of the poverty guideline for the applicant’s family size and state of legal residence.

Independent Student

• Minimum Pell Indicator = 3: The student is a single parent, and the AGI is less than or equal to 400% of the poverty guideline for the applicant’s family size and state of legal residence; or
• Minimum Pell Indicator = 4: The student is a parent and is not a single parent, and the AGI is less than or equal to 350% of the of the poverty guideline for the applicant’s family size and state of legal residence; or
• Minimum Pell Indicator = 5: The student is not a parent, and the student’s (and spouse’s if applicable) AGI is less than or equal to 275% of the poverty guideline for the applicant’s family size and state of legal residence.

The Pell Grant Eligibility and SAI Process Flow Chart provides a clear visual representation of the steps involved in determining Pell Grant eligibility. It illustrates how students with a high SAI could potentially qualify for a minimum Pell Grant.