FAFSA Pell Grant with -1500 SAI: Full amount for part-time students?

my sai was -1800 and i got max pell but i'm full time. think part time gets less but not sure how much less. the 7500 isnt right tho, max pell for 2025-26 is like $7,395 for the whole year not semester

With a negative SAI of -1500, you qualify for the maximum Pell Grant award. For the 2025-2026 award year, the maximum is $7,395 for the full academic year (not per semester). However, as a part-time student, you'll receive a prorated amount based on your enrollment status: - Full-time (12+ credits): 100% of eligible amount - Three-quarter time (9-11 credits): 75% of eligible amount - Half-time (6-8 credits): 50% of eligible amount - Less than half-time (1-5 credits): 25% of eligible amount (if eligible) Since you're taking 9 credits, you'd be at three-quarter time status, so you'd receive approximately 75% of the maximum Pell Grant, which would be around $5,546 for the full academic year, typically disbursed in equal amounts each semester.

Wait I'm confused!! I thought any student with SAI less than 0 gets the same amount? My advisor said the amount depends on the cost of attendance at your school, not just your SAI number? Like if your school costs less than the max Pell, you don't get the full amount even with negative SAI?! Does anyone know for sure??

The whole SAI thing is so confusing. I spent HOURS trying to get through to someone at Federal Student Aid to explain my SAI calculation last month and kept getting disconnected. Finally I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through in like 20 minutes. They have a demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent I talked to confirmed that a negative SAI like yours means maximum Pell eligibility, but it's reduced for part-time enrollment exactly like the previous commenter explained.

Just to add some clarity here: The $7,395 maximum Pell Grant for 2025-2026 is divided across the terms you attend. For a traditional two-semester school, that's typically $3,697.50 per semester for a full-time student. At three-quarter time (9 credits), you'd receive approximately $2,773 per semester. One important note: Your school's financial aid office determines your exact Pell Grant award based on your SAI, enrollment status, and cost of attendance. I recommend scheduling an appointment with them to get the exact figures for your situation.

lots of WRONG info in this thread. pell grants MAXIMUM AWARD depends on if your attending full program or partial program not the amount of credits your taking!!!! i got a -2400 SAI and mine was reduced because i'm only attending for 1 semester this year not both. but when i went to school for 9 credits last year i still got same amount as 15 credits for that semester. TALK TO YOUR SCHOOLS FINANCIAL AID OFFICE!!!!

I've been through this exact situation. With a negative SAI like yours, you qualify for the maximum Pell Grant. For part-time enrollment at 9 credits, expect about 75% of the full amount. When I was taking 9 credits with a negative SAI, I received around $5,500 for the whole year. One thing no one mentioned yet - the Pell Grant has a lifetime eligibility limit of 12 full-time semesters (or equivalent). So if you're going part-time, you're using your eligibility more slowly, which can be beneficial if you plan to pursue a longer education path. Definitely check with your financial aid office, but you're in a good position with that SAI!

As someone who just went through this process last year, I can confirm what others have said - your -1500 SAI is excellent for Pell Grant eligibility! You'll definitely get the maximum award for your enrollment status. One thing I wish I had known earlier: make sure to submit your FAFSA as early as possible each year. Some schools have limited funding for state grants and other aid that's awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, even though Pell Grants are guaranteed federal funding. Also, since you're a first-gen student, check if your school has any additional scholarships or support programs specifically for first-generation college students. Many schools have these programs and they can provide extra financial assistance on top of your Pell Grant. Good luck with your studies! The financial aid process is overwhelming at first, but you're asking all the right questions.

Hey Kristian! I'm also a first-gen student and went through this same confusion last year. Your -1500 SAI is actually really good news - it means you qualify for the maximum Pell Grant available for your enrollment level. The math works out to about $5,546 for the full academic year at 9 credits (75% of the $7,395 max), which gets split between your fall and spring semesters. So you're looking at roughly $2,773 per semester. One tip that helped me: when you meet with financial aid, ask them to walk you through your Student Aid Report (SAR) line by line. It really helped me understand how everything was calculated. Also, don't forget to check for state grants - many states have additional aid for students with your SAI level that can stack on top of the Pell Grant. You're doing great by asking these questions early! The financial aid process gets easier once you understand it, I promise.

Welcome to the community! As someone who works in financial aid, I can confirm that everyone here has given you excellent information. Your -1500 SAI puts you in the maximum Pell Grant category, and the 75% calculation for 9 credits (three-quarter time) is absolutely correct. One additional resource I'd recommend: your state's financial aid website often has calculators and additional grant programs that work alongside federal Pell Grants. Also, community colleges sometimes have emergency aid funds or completion grants for students in your situation that aren't well-publicized. Since you mentioned being first-generation, I'd also suggest looking into your school's TRIO programs if they have them - these federally funded programs provide academic support, career counseling, and sometimes additional financial assistance specifically for first-gen, low-income students. You're asking all the right questions and clearly doing your research. That proactive approach will serve you well throughout your college journey!

Hi Kristian! Welcome to the community! I'm also navigating FAFSA as a newcomer and your question really helped me understand more about SAI calculations. From reading all the responses here, it sounds like you're in a really good position with that -1500 SAI! I'm curious - when you calculated your SAI, did you use the federal estimator tool or did your school provide that number? I'm still waiting on my official SAR and trying to figure out if the estimator is pretty accurate. Also, have you already been accepted to the school where you're planning to take those 9 credits? I'm wondering about the timing of everything since I'm also planning to start part-time. Thanks for asking such a detailed question - the responses from everyone have been super educational for those of us just starting to figure this all out!

Hi Kristian! Welcome to the community! As a newcomer here myself, I found your question incredibly helpful - I'm also trying to navigate the FAFSA process for the first time and had no idea how SAI calculations worked or how part-time enrollment affected Pell Grant amounts. Reading through all these responses has been like getting a crash course in financial aid! It's amazing to see how supportive this community is - everyone has provided such detailed and helpful information. Your -1500 SAI situation and the explanations about the 75% calculation for 9 credits will definitely help me when I meet with my school's financial aid office. I'm also a first-generation college student, so seeing the advice about TRIO programs, first-gen scholarships, and state grants gives me a whole list of things to research and ask about. Sometimes it feels overwhelming trying to figure all this out without anyone in my family who's been through it before, but communities like this make such a difference. Thanks for asking such a thorough question - it's clear you're being really proactive about understanding your financial aid, and that's inspiring for those of us just starting this journey!

Hi Kristian! Welcome to the community! As another newcomer here, I wanted to chime in because I'm in a very similar situation - I also have a negative SAI (mine is -1200) and I'm planning to attend part-time while working. From all the excellent responses you've received, it's clear that you're in great shape for Pell Grant eligibility! The breakdown that several people provided about getting approximately $5,546 for the year at 9 credits (75% of the maximum) really helps put things in perspective. That comes out to about $2,773 per semester, which is substantial help for part-time students like us. I especially appreciated the advice about meeting with your school's financial aid office with your SAI calculation sheet and enrollment documentation. I'm planning to do the same thing at my community college. It's also encouraging to hear about the lifetime eligibility aspect - knowing that part-time enrollment uses up the 12-semester limit more slowly gives me peace of mind about my longer-term education plans. As a fellow first-gen student, I found the suggestions about TRIO programs and first-generation student scholarships really valuable. It's amazing how many resources are available that we might not know about without communities like this! Thanks for asking such a comprehensive question - your post has been incredibly educational for those of us just starting to navigate this process!

Hi Kristian! Welcome to the community! As a newcomer here myself, I wanted to add my perspective since I just went through a very similar situation last semester. I had a -1400 SAI and was also taking 9 credits part-time at my community college. The information everyone has provided is spot-on - you'll receive about 75% of the maximum Pell Grant for your three-quarter time enrollment status, which worked out to approximately $2,800 per semester for me. One thing that really helped was creating a simple budget spreadsheet with my expected Pell disbursements so I could plan my expenses for each term. I also wanted to mention something that might be helpful as a first-gen student - when I met with my financial aid office, they connected me with a financial literacy counselor who helped me understand not just the aid amounts, but also how to manage the money effectively throughout the semester. Many schools offer these services but don't always advertise them widely. Also, don't forget to ask about work-study opportunities if you're interested - with your negative SAI, you'll likely qualify, and it can provide additional income that doesn't affect your Pell Grant eligibility. You're asking all the right questions and being really proactive about understanding your aid. That approach will serve you well throughout your college journey. Best of luck with your financial aid appointment!

Hi Kristian! Welcome to the community! As a newcomer myself, I wanted to share that I'm in a very similar situation and your question has been incredibly helpful for me to understand as well. I also have a negative SAI (-1350) and am planning to attend part-time. From reading all these detailed responses, it's clear that you're in an excellent position for financial aid! The breakdown everyone provided about receiving approximately 75% of the maximum Pell Grant at 9 credits ($5,546 annually, or about $2,773 per semester) really helps put things in perspective for part-time students like us. What I found most valuable from this thread was learning about all the additional resources available to first-generation students - the TRIO programs, first-gen scholarships, state grants, and even things like financial literacy counseling that many schools offer. I had no idea about most of these opportunities before reading this discussion. I'm also planning to schedule an appointment with my school's financial aid office and will definitely bring my SAI calculation sheet and enrollment documentation as several people suggested. It's reassuring to see how supportive this community is for newcomers trying to navigate the financial aid process. Thanks for asking such a comprehensive question - your post has created an incredibly educational discussion that I'm sure will help many other first-gen students who are just starting to figure out FAFSA and financial aid!

Hi Kristian! Welcome to the community! As a newcomer here, I found your question incredibly helpful since I'm also trying to navigate FAFSA for the first time. Your -1500 SAI is fantastic news for Pell Grant eligibility! From all the excellent responses you've received, it's clear that at 9 credits (three-quarter time), you'll get about 75% of the maximum Pell Grant, which equals roughly $5,546 for the full academic year or about $2,773 per semester. That's substantial help for your education costs! What really stood out to me from this thread was learning about all the additional resources available - TRIO programs, first-gen scholarships, state grants, work-study opportunities, and even financial literacy counseling. As someone also figuring this out without family guidance, it's reassuring to discover there are so many support systems designed specifically for students like us. I'm definitely taking notes on the advice about bringing your SAI calculation sheet and enrollment documentation to your financial aid appointment. Being well-prepared seems to make a real difference in getting accurate, personalized information. Thanks for asking such a thorough question - your post has created an incredibly educational discussion that will help many other newcomers understand the FAFSA process better!

Hi Kristian! Welcome to the community! As a newcomer myself, I wanted to thank you for posting such a detailed question about SAI and part-time Pell Grant eligibility. Your situation is really helpful for those of us just starting to understand how financial aid works. From all the excellent responses here, it's clear that your -1500 SAI puts you in the best possible position for Pell Grant eligibility! The breakdown that several knowledgeable members provided about receiving approximately 75% of the maximum award at 9 credits ($5,546 annually, split into roughly $2,773 per semester) gives such a clear picture of what to expect. What I found most valuable from this discussion was learning about all the additional support available to first-generation students - TRIO programs, emergency aid funds, financial literacy counseling, and state grants that can stack with federal aid. I had no idea these resources existed before reading through everyone's responses. I'm also planning to schedule a financial aid appointment at my school and will definitely bring my SAI documentation as everyone suggested. It's amazing how supportive and knowledgeable this community is - your question has created an incredibly educational thread that will help so many other newcomers navigate the FAFSA process with more confidence. Thanks for being so proactive in asking these important questions and creating such a helpful discussion for all of us who are just starting this journey!