Financial Aid Calculator
One estimate for your whole 2026–27 federal aid package: Pell Grant, student loans, and what stacks on top.
Most unmarried undergrads under 24 are dependent students and report parent info.
Estimate based on the 2026–27 federal formula (max Pell $7,395). Assumes full-time enrollment; part-time awards are prorated. Not an award decision.
The three buckets of college money
Grantscome first: the Pell Grant is computed from your family's income, size, and the federal formula's Student Aid Index, money you never repay. Loans fill the next gap: every eligible student can borrow up to a fixed annual limit, part of it interest-free during school if you have need. Scholarships are the third bucket: uncapped, never repaid, and stacked on top of both. Your state and school add their own grants beyond the federal baseline shown here.
Estimate based on the Department of Education's published 2026–27 tables and statutory loan limits. The official numbers come from filing the FAFSA at studentaid.gov.
Dig into the pieces: Pell Grant calculator · FAFSA estimator · Loan repayment · Your state's deadlines
Common questions
How much financial aid can I get?
Federal aid has three parts: the Pell Grant (up to $7,395 a year, based on family income), Direct Loans ($5,500 to $12,500 a year depending on your year in school and dependency status), and work-study at participating schools. Colleges and states add their own grants on top, and scholarships stack on all of it.
What's the difference between grants, loans, and work-study?
Grants are free money you keep. Loans must be repaid after school, with interest. Work-study is a part-time campus job that earns money as you go. Always take grants and scholarships first, subsidized loans second, and unsubsidized loans last.
What are subsidized loans?
Subsidized Direct Loans don't accrue interest while you're in school. The government pays it. They're limited to $3,500-$5,500 a year and require financial need. Unsubsidized loans are open to everyone but start accruing interest immediately.
Does my school's cost change my aid?
Yes. Your total aid can never exceed your school's cost of attendance, and institutional grants vary enormously by school. This estimate shows your federal baseline; expensive private schools often add large grants of their own.
How do I get more than this estimate?
Scholarships. They're the only bucket with no federal cap and no repayment, and most students underuse them. Award Scholar matches you with scholarships you actually qualify for and writes the essays, so each application takes minutes.