Pell Grant Publications and Resources
Federal Pell grants help more than nine million low- and moderate-income Americans attend and complete college and are the cornerstone of our nation's student aid system. The vast majority of Pell recipients have family incomes under $40,000, and they already have to borrow more than others to complete college. For more information about Pell Grants, please read the Congressional Research Service, report "Federal Pell Grant Program of the Higher Education Act: Background, Recent Changes, and Current Legislative Issues," or visit the Save Pell or the U.S. Department of Education's website. Click here for the number of Pell Grant recipients and awards by state.
TICAS Press Releases and Statements
Pell Grants Help Keep College Affordable for Millions of Americans
April 23, 2012 – One-pager on the importance of the Pell Grant program and the impact of recent changes.Pell Grants Not Linked to Higher Tuition
April 7, 2011 – One-pager and blog post responding to claims that Pell Grants are linked to tuition increases. Leading higher education economists agree that there is no clear link between Pell Grants and tuition levels.Pell Grant Provisions Prevent Student Abuse
July 18, 2011 – Despite recent discussion of student abuse of federal Pell Grants, there is actually no evidence widespread abuse exists. Any concerns about fraud or abuse should be addressed directly and carefully to avoid harming the millions of needy students who play by the rules.House FY12 Appropriations Bill Cuts Pell Grants by $44 Billion
October 11, 2011 – One-pager on the impact of the House Appropriations Committee FY12 Labor‐HHS bill, which would have cut millions of needy students' Pell Grants, including entirely eliminating grants for more than 550,000 students next year and for more than 1 million students in 2017.House FY12 Appropriations Bill's Expanded Income Definition Hurts the Neediest Students
October 11, 2011 – One-pager on the impact of the expanded definition of income for determining eligibility for Pell Grants and other student financial aid included in the House majority FY12 budget and Labor-HHS appropriations bill. This expanded definition of income would have cut Pell Grants for needy students by an estimated $12 billion over 10 years, harming college access, completion, and economic growth.House FY12 Appropriations Bill Penalizes Work for Low-Income Students by Cutting the Income Protection Allowance (IPA)
October 11, 2011 – One-pager on the impact of the House FY12 appropriations bill provision to drastically roll back the bipartisan increases in Income Protection Allowance levels enacted in 2007 to help needy students. This rollback would have cut Pell Grants by $22 billion over 10 years for millions of students who already struggle to cover living expenses and college costs.House FY12 Appropriations Bill Increases Uncertainty and Complexity in the Financial Aid Process for Students with Family Incomes over $15,000
October 11, 2011 – One-pager on the impact of House Appropriations Committee FY12 Labor-HHS bill provision to cut eligibility for an automatic-zero expected family contribution (EFC) to the lowest level in history.
Coalition letter urging Sen. Patty Murray, super committee co-chair, to protect the Pell Grant
September 27, 2011 - Letter signed by 55 education, student, civil rights and public policy organizations urging the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to maintain the maximum Pell Grant award.
Coalition letter urging the President to Protect Pell Grants
July 15, 2011 – Letter signed by 62 education, student, civil rights and public policy organizations urging the President to protect Pell Grant awards and eligibility in negotiations over the debt ceiling.Coalition letter urging Congress to fund Pell Grants at $5,550
April 5, 2011 – Letter urging Congress to maintain the FY 2011 maximum Pell Grant award of $5,550.
Poll: Young Adults Say Higher Education is More Important but Less Affordable
November 9, 2011 - Young adults of all backgrounds and across the political spectrum oppose proposals to reduce federal financial aid, either by decreasing access to Pell Grants or charging interest on student loans while borrowers are still in school. Instead, they believe Congress should make college and training more affordable, and that it is a key way to strengthen the economy as well.
TICAS
Press Releases and Statements
House Budget Proposal Cuts Pell Grants and Student Loans
March 26, 2012
President's FY13 Budget Makes College Affordability a Priority
February 13, 2012
President Obama Proposes Bold Steps to Ensure College Access and Success
January 27, 2012
House FY2012 Spending Bill Eliminates Pell Grants for More than 100,000 Students Next Year
December 15, 2011
Final Bipartisan Debt Deal Provides $17 Billion for Pell Grants
August 1, 2011
Congress Urged to Continue to Invest in Pell Grants in FY2012
April, 14, 2011
House Budget Committee FY 2012 Budget Plan Cuts Pell Grants by 62%
April 8, 2011
Can Students Count on Pell Grants to Help Pay for College?
President's FY12 Budget Says "Yes" while House FY11 Cuts Say "No"
February 14, 2011
House Vote Puts Pell Grants in Peril
January 25, 2011
