Breaking: ’One Big, Beautiful Bill’ Expands Pell Grant Access—Thousands of Students Now Eligible

Congress just threw the doors wide open. The newly passed 'One Big, Beautiful Bill' slashes barriers to Pell Grants, unlocking federal aid for a fresh wave of students. No more means-testing gymnastics—just cold, hard eligibility expansion.

Who benefits? Mid-income strivers, career-changers, and anyone previously juuust outside the cutoff. The Department of Education’s spreadsheet jockeys are already scrambling to update their formulas.

Of course, Wall Street’s already pricing in the student loan derivative implications—because nothing says ‘investing in futures’ like betting against Gen Z’s debt-to-income ratios.

Bottom line: This could be the biggest redistribution of education funding since… well, ever. Assuming the bureaucrats don’t ‘lose’ the paperwork.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Students taking certificate or license programs that last eight to 15 weeks will be eligible for Pell Grants, starting in the 2026-2027 academic school year.
• These students will receive smaller awards than full-time students at more traditional, long-term degree programs.
• The Secretary of Education will decide which programs are eligible using criteria such as those that lead to a well-paying and in-demand job.

Students seeking financial aid to pay for a certificate or license program will have a new option next year.

The "One Big Beautiful Bill" establishes a new "Workforce Pell Grant Program." It opens up eligibility for Pell Grants to students with exceptional financial need who are completing short certificate or workforce programs, starting in the 2026-2027 academic school year.

Previously, Pell Grants could only be used for programs that were at least 15 weeks long. This excluded short certificate or licensing programs that could be used for jobs like nursing assistants, IT support, or HVAC technicians. The new program provides grants for programs that are between eight and 15 weeks long.

Here are some of the terms and conditions:

• Similar to Pell Grants for part-time students in long-term degree programs, the amount a student receives decreases depending on the length of the program.
• Students in graduate programs or who have already received a graduate degree will be ineligible for the Workforce Pell Grants.
• Eligible programs must be at accredited higher education institutions that receive Title IV grants.
• State governors and the Secretary of Education will set requirements to determine eligible programs, such as:
• The program leads students to jobs in high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industries.
• It prepares students for employment in occupations that only require the one certificate or license that the program offers.
• At least 70% of the program's previous students got a job within 180 days of completion.
• The program is reasonably affordable for its students.