Pell grant college tuition program

When the AY changes come into effect, the share of students will increase further, to 79 percent. These numbers are different than those in our Pell simulator , which provides data for all students enrolled during the year, whether or not they applied for aid. Doubling Pell would substantially expand access to college funding, providing a large increase in grant funding for current recipients and increasing the number of eligible students.

If policymakers passed such a policy, it would likely improve student enrollment and persistence and reduce dependence on student loans. The Urban Institute has the evidence to show what it will take to create a society where everyone has a fair shot at achieving their vision of success. Show your support for research and data that ignite change.

January 11, Kristin Blagg. Senior Research Associate. Related Content. Read more. These loan programs regularly play a large part in helping students pay for their college tuition. The Pell Grant , however, stands apart from any federal loan programs in that recipients are not required to repay any of the money they receive.

The Pell Grant is a government award of money requiring no repayment, provided the student recipient meets program requirements and remains enrolled in college for the duration of the grant period. Proposed by then President Lyndon Johnson and passed by Congress, the HEA provided financial aid to students from low income families who would otherwise have been unable to afford a college education.

The Higher Education Amendments of reauthorized the original act, while further alterations and amendments made in helped to form what we now recognize as the federal Pell Grant program. Throughout its long history, the Pell Grant has helped make pursuing a college education possible for students from low income households across the country. While changes and amendments to the federal Pell Grant program continue to this day, its purpose remains steadfast : ensuring that higher education remains accessible to all.

The Pell Grant is awarded to students who can demonstrate the requisite level of financial need. And virtually all colleges and universities would be able to attract and retain a more diverse student body if the Pell Grant program were expanded, including colleges such as mine. That is a goal worthy of us all. America is a nation built on the premise that everyone deserves a fair shot to work hard and succeed. But we know that socioeconomic factors, as well as racial and gender inequities, persist.

Higher education can be an equalizing force, and Pell Grants have a successful track record in leveling the playing field because they are based on demonstrated financial need. Certainly, there is more work to do. Many states are underfunding their public institutions of higher education. All higher education institutions need to be stewarding resources carefully and investing in student success.

But with a program as successful as Pell has been, the common-sense solution of increasing our investment in Pell will be a powerful starting point.