Legislation Would Boost Pell Grant Program

The AAUP has joined other education organizations in endorsing the bicameral Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2024. The act would nearly double the maximum amount awarded to Pell Grant recipients and ensure greater access to higher education for working families and students.

The Pell Grant program is a key part of financial aid, helping low-income students access higher education. However, the purchasing power of the Pell Grant has diminished over time, as the cost of college has risen. 

According to the bill's sponsors, at its peak, the maximum Pell Grant covered more than three-quarters of the price of attending a four-year public college, but today it covers less than one-third of that price. State disinvestment from higher education has also reduced the ability of students to afford education 

The full text of the legislation can be found here, and a fact sheet on the act is also available.