How Much Money Can You Get from the FAFSA in 2026?

Quick Summary:

Federal aid from FAFSA ranges up to $22,895 per year for dependent students and $27,895 for independent students
The average federal aid awarded is $16,810, with $4,983 in grants
Maximum Pell Grant for 2025-26 is $7,395 (unchanged from 2024-25)
Stafford Loan limits: $5,500-$7,500 for dependent students, $9,500-$12,500 for independent students
Aid depends on your Student Aid Index (SAI), financial need, enrollment status, and school cost
Strategic asset planning before filing FAFSA can increase aid eligibility

Figuring out how to pay for college can be challenging. If you’re like most students, you probably won’t be able to cover the costs with savings and scholarships alone. You might wonder, “How much financial aid will I get?”

How much does FAFSA provide?

The FAFSA can provide up to $22,895 per year for dependent students and $27,895 for independent students. The average amount awarded is $16,810, with about $4,983 in grants.

The amount of federal aid you can receive from FAFSA depends on your financial need. For the 2026-27 school year:

Up to $22,895 per year for dependent students
Up to $27,895 per year for independent students

In past years:

Average aid awarded: $16,810
Average grants awarded: $4,983

Average and maximum financial aid

Type of Aid	Average Amount	Maximum Amount (2026-27)
Federal Pell Grant	$4,875¹	$7,395⁴
Federal Direct Stafford Loan	$6,575⁵	$5,500 to $7,500 (dependent) $9,500 to $12,500 (independent)
Federal Work-Study	$2,122²	No maximum $4,000 (90^th percentile)
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant	$801³	$4,000
Total Federal Student Aid	$14,373	$20,895 to $22,895 (dependent) $24,895 to $27,895 (independent)
Total Federal Grants	$5,676	$11,395

¹ – https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/TrendGenerator/app/answer/8/36
² – https://www.salliemae.com/content/dam/slm/writtencontent/Research/HAP_2025.pdf
³ – https://www.nasfaa.org/uploads/documents/2025_National_Profile.pdf
⁴ – For 2025-26, https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/pell
⁵ – https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/trendgenerator/app/answer/8/38

The amount of aid you receive depends on multiple factors, including your financial need, other aid you qualify for, and how your school distributes funds. For example, Pell Grant amounts vary based on financial need, enrollment status, and school cost.

The table below shows the average amounts of federal aid and the percentages of federal aid received by undergraduate students who filed for the FAFSA.

Financial aid received

Type of Aid	Average Amount	Percent Receiving
Total Federal Student Aid	$16,810 (2024-25)	87.3%
Total Federal Grants	$4,983 (2021-22)	56.0%

Source: NCES.Ed.gov, CollegeBoard

These figures do not include military, state, or institutional student aid. They also do not include the Federal Direct Parent PLUS loan, which is available up to the full cost of attendance minus other aid, and the TEACH Grant, which provides up to $4,000 per year to students who commit to pursuing teaching careers in national need areas.

You might consider taking out a student loan if you don’t receive enough financial aid and federal student loans to pay for college. Interest rates on private student loans vary, so be sure to compare lenders before you borrow.

How does FAFSA calculate your financial aid?

FAFSA calculates financial aid using the Student Aid Index (SAI), which is based on your family’s income, assets, family size, and household circumstances. A lower SAI means more aid eligibility.

The amount of money you can get by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) depends on your financial need. The Student Aid Index (SAI) determines eligibility for need-based aid, which replaced the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). A lower SAI means more aid eligibility.

The maximum amount can be tens of thousands of dollars per year. The average amount is about $16,810, with less than half of that in the form of grants. The tables above show the maximum and average amounts for various types of federal student aid for undergraduate students for 2025-26.

Get a personalized estimate of your SAI with our financial aid calculator.

How can I maximize my federal aid from FAFSA?

Maximize your federal aid by reducing reportable assets before filing FAFSA, shifting student assets to parent names, and strategically timing major expenses to lower your Student Aid Index.

Maximizing your federal student aid starts with understanding how the FAFSA calculates eligibility. Since assets and income are key in determining financial aid, strategic planning can help you qualify for more need-based assistance, such as Federal Pell Grants, subsidized student loans, and work-study programs.

One of the most effective ways to maximize aid is by reducing reportable assets before filing the FAFSA. This can include:

Shifting assets into non-reportable categories, such as retirement accounts or paying down debt.
Moving student assets into a parent’s name since student assets are assessed at a higher rate (20%) than parent assets (up to 5.64%).
Using savings for necessary expenses before filing the FAFSA, such as paying off medical bills, home repairs, or purchasing a laptop for college.

Since financial aid is based on the Student Aid Index (SAI), taking steps to lower this number—such as reducing taxable income and maximizing deductions—can increase the amount of aid received.

Frequently asked questions about FAFSA financial aid

What is the maximum amount of federal aid from FAFSA?

The maximum federal aid from FAFSA is $22,895 per year for dependent students and $27,895 for independent students for 2025-26. This includes the maximum Pell Grant ($7,395), Federal Direct Stafford Loans ($7,500 for dependent or $12,500 for independent students), Federal Work-Study, and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) up to $4,000.

How much is the maximum Pell Grant for 2025-26?

The maximum Federal Pell Grant for the 2025-26 award year is $7,395. This amount is unchanged from 2024-25. Students may receive up to 150% of their scheduled award ($11,092.50) if they enroll in additional terms within the same award year through the Year-Round Pell program.

What determines how much financial aid I receive?

Your financial aid amount is determined by your Student Aid Index (SAI), which is calculated from your family’s income, assets, family size, and number of students in college. Other factors include your enrollment status (full-time vs part-time), cost of attendance at your school, and your dependency status. Schools also have limited funds for campus-based aid like Federal Work-Study and FSEOG, so applying early increases your chances.

Do I have to pay back federal student aid?

It depends on the type of aid. Federal Pell Grants, FSEOG, and Federal Work-Study do not need to be repaid. However, Federal Direct Stafford Loans (both subsidized and unsubsidized) must be repaid with interest. Subsidized loans don’t accrue interest while you’re in school at least half-time, but unsubsidized loans accrue interest from the disbursement date.

How do dependent and independent students differ in aid eligibility?

Independent students can receive up to $5,000 more per year in Federal Direct Stafford Loans than dependent students. For 2025-26, dependent students can borrow $5,500-$7,500 annually, while independent students can borrow $9,500-$12,500. Independent students’ SAI is based only on their own income and assets, not their parents’, which may increase Pell Grant eligibility if they have low income.

Can I increase my financial aid by reducing assets before filing FAFSA?

Yes, strategically reducing reportable assets before filing FAFSA can increase aid eligibility. Effective strategies include contributing to retirement accounts (401k, IRA), paying down credit card debt or auto loans, converting student-owned UGMA/UTMA accounts to custodial 529 plans (which are assessed as parent assets at lower rates), and using cash savings for planned major purchases before filing.

See also:

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