FAFSA Income Limits For 2025-2026

Many assume that if a family earns “too much,” there’s no point completing the FAFSA. That myth persists because some grants and institutional aid have income limits. But the FAFSA itself does not enforce a fixed income cap.

FAFSA eligibility is not an all-or-nothing gate. Instead, your Student Aid Index (SAI) is calculated using multiple inputs. Your income is one factor among many (such as family size, assets, number in college). 

Because the formula is layered and nuanced, many families with six-figure incomes still fill out the FAFSA and in many cases, they do receive aid, especially institutional or state grants.

It’s no secret that the cost of attending college has increased rapidly over the past several years and decades. And while there are many scholarships and programs available to help with the cost of higher education, it can still be cost-prohibitive for many people. 

So it makes sense to try and minimize the cost you have to pay. Some ways to do this include choosing a lower-priced college, living at home and getting financial aid. However, to qualify for any form of financial aid, you must fill out the FAFSA each year. Keep in mind there are income limits to qualify. Here’s what you need to know. 

What Is The FAFSA?

FAFSA is an acronym for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. As the name suggests, the FAFSA is a government form run by the Department of Education that helps to allocate various forms of financial aid for higher education.

The FAFSA opens each year on Oct. 1 and closes on June 30 of the year in which you are applying for aid. That gives you nearly two full years to apply.

The FAFSA is simply the application for aid. It collects all your information (income, assets, etc.), and creates the Student Aid Index – which is then transmitted to colleges and state aid agencies who will put together your actual financial aid award.

How SAI And Financial Aid Works In Practice

The SAI combines information from your:

• Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)
• Assets (investments, savings, real estate, business/farm)
• Family size and number of people in college
• Income protection allowances, tax allowances, and region-based living expense factors 

Once SAI is computed, your financial need is generally calculated as (though each school can change this):

Cost of Attendance (COA) – SAI = Aid Eligibility (theoretical maximum need-based aid)

Because the COA varies by college, even families with relatively high SAIs might have “need” at more expensive institutions.

Examples And Scenarios

Here are some scenarios:

Is There a FAFSA Income Limit?

There is no FAFSA income limit. Anyone can fill out the FAFSA, and it’s a good idea to fill out the FAFSA every year. While there are many grants and certain types of loans that have income limits, you may be eligible for certain opportunities even if you or your family have a high income. 

And since there is no downside to filling out the FAFSA, you should plan to fill it out for each college student in your family, every year.

What About Pell Grants?

Pell Grants are one form of financial aid, and it does have an income limit. The maximum Pell Grant is just $7,395, making it one of the smaller forms of financial aid.. 

Even though there’s no general income limit, Pell Grant eligibility uses its own thresholds:

• To qualify for the maximum Pell, a family must meet certain criteria including lower income relative to poverty guidelines. 
• A dependent student’s parents’ AGI must be under specific multiples of poverty guidelines (e.g. ≤ 175% for non-single parents) to be eligible for maximum Pell. 

You can see the full Pell Grant Income Chart here.

So while you can file FAFSA regardless of income, your ability to gain full Pell Grant depends on how your SAI compares to those thresholds.

Common Myths And Misconceptions

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a high income mean I get no federal grants?

Possibly. Higher SAI reduces eligibility for need-based federal grants like Pell, but doesn’t always eliminate it, especially at generous institutions or for families with large households.

Can assets bump me out of aid eligibility?

Yes. High asset levels can raise your SAI, which reduces your calculated need. But allowances and discounts in the formula soften that impact.

Will filing FAFSA affect my taxes?

No. Information is used for federal student aid, not taxation.

Should I estimate or wait for tax return?

You must use prior-prior year income regardless of when you file. So the 2026-27 FAFSA will always use your 2024 tax return information. 

Families Should Always File The FAFSA, No Matter The Income

There is no fixed FAFSA income cutoff – even people with even high incomes should always file. What matters is how your financial picture compares via the SAI formula, school cost, and institutional aid policies.

Filing the FAFSA gives you access to the following:

• Federal student loans: Regardless of income, filing FAFSA unlocks the ability to take out federal subsidized or unsubsidized loans, often at favorable interest rates.
• Institutional aid and grants: Many colleges require FAFSA to award need-based or merit aid. Some institutions allocate aid only after FAFSA data. 
• State aid eligibility: Some state grants use FAFSA to determine eligibility, even for middle- or upper-income households.
• Changing situations year to year: Income, assets, and household size vary. Skipping FAFSA one year might cost you potential aid you could have earned.

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