“To increase the total maximum Federal Pell Grant and extend flexibility for eligibility.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section revises the formula for the total maximum Federal Pell Grant award per student for award years beginning on or after July 1, 2026 (i.e., 2026–2027 and subsequent award years). For award years 2026–2027 and 2027–2028, the maximum award is $14,800 reduced by the amount specified as the maximum Federal Pell Grant in the last enacted appropriation act applicable to that award year; for award year 2028–2029 and subsequent award years, $14,800 is first increased by the annual adjustment percentage (newly defined in section 401(a)(2) as the estimated percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for the most recent full calendar year prior to the award year, as determined by the Secretary using the definition in section 478(f)) and then reduced by the appropriated maximum amount.
This section expands Federal Pell Grant eligibility—need-based aid for low-income students pursuing postsecondary education—to certain postbaccalaureate students and increases the maximum lifetime eligibility period to 16 semesters (from 12). Specifically, it (1) allows Pell Grants for the period required to complete a first postbaccalaureate course of study at an eligible institution of higher education if the student received at least 1 but fewer than 16 semesters of aid during their first undergraduate baccalaureate program, remains otherwise eligible notwithstanding completion of that program, and does not exceed the 16-semester limit; and (2) excludes periods of enrollment in noncredit or remedial courses from counting toward the limit. (Thus, more students may access up to 800% of their scheduled Pell award over their lifetime, rather than the prior 600% cap.)