Period of eligibility for grants

Nothing in this section shall exclude from eligibility courses of study which are noncredit or remedial in nature (including courses in English language instruction) which are determined by the institution to be necessary to help the student be prepared for the pursuit of a first undergraduate baccalaureate degree or certificate or, in the case of courses in English language instruction, to be necessary to enable the student to use already existing knowledge, training, or skills. Nothing in this section shall exclude from eligibility programs of study abroad that are approved for credit by the home institution at which the student is enrolled.

No student is entitled to receive Pell Grant payments concurrently from more than one institution or from both the Secretary and an institution.

Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Secretary may allow, on a case-by-case basis, a student to receive a Federal Pell Grant if the student—

(A) is carrying at least one-half the normal full-time work load for the course of study the student is pursuing, as determined by the institution of higher education; and

(B) is enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a postbaccalaureate program that does not lead to a graduate degree, and in courses required by a State in order for the student to receive a professional certification or licensing credential that is required for employment as a teacher in an elementary school or secondary school in that State,

except that this paragraph shall not apply to a student who is enrolled in an institution of higher education that offers a baccalaureate degree in education.

(A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the period during which a student may receive Federal Pell Grants shall not exceed 12 semesters, or the equivalent of 12 semesters, as determined by the Secretary by regulation. Such regulations shall provide, with respect to a student who received a Federal Pell Grant for a term but was enrolled at a fraction of full time, that only that same fraction of such semester or equivalent shall count towards such duration limits.

(B) Exception (i) In general Any Federal Pell Grant that a student received during a period described in subclause (I) or (II) of clause (ii) shall not count towards the student’s duration limits under this paragraph. (ii) Applicable periods Clause (i) shall apply with respect to any Federal Pell Grant awarded to a student to enroll in an eligible program at an institution— (I) during a period of a student’s attendance at an institution— (aa) at which the student was unable to complete a course of study due to the closing of the institution; or (bb) for which the student was falsely certified as eligible for Federal aid under this subchapter; or (II) during a period— (aa) for which the student received a loan under this subchapter; and (bb) for which the loan described in item (aa) is discharged under— (AA) section 1087(c)(1) of this title or section 1087dd(g)(1) of this title ; (BB) section 1082(a)(6) of this title ; or (CC) section 1087e(h) of this title due to the student’s successful assertion of a defense to repayment of the loan, including defenses provided to any applicable groups of students.

Beginning on July 1, 2026 , and notwithstanding this subsection or subsection (b), a student shall not be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant under subsection (b) during any period for which the student receives grant aid from non-Federal sources, including States, institutions of higher education, or private sources, in an amount that equals or exceeds the student’s cost of attendance for such period.