The simplified FAFSA form that debuted this application cycle has resulted in approximately 2 million additional students qualifying for federal Pell Grants, according to preliminary data released by the Department of Education. The expansion is largely due to changes in how family income and assets are calculated under the new formula, which reduces the expected family contribution for middle-income households.
Under the revised formula, families earning up to $70,000 annually may now qualify for partial Pell Grants, up from the previous effective cutoff of around $60,000. The maximum Pell Grant for the 2026-2027 academic year has been set at $7,895, a $400 increase over the current year. Students from families earning below $35,000 will automatically receive the maximum award.
Financial aid administrators at colleges nationwide report that the simplified form has also reduced errors and incomplete applications, resulting in faster processing times. Students who have not yet filed their FAFSA for the upcoming academic year are encouraged to do so before state deadlines, many of which fall in May and June. The application is available at StudentAid.gov and takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.
