The Pell to Grad Act would expand federal Pell Grant eligibility to cover a student’s first postbaccalaureate course of study at an eligible institution, in addition to the period already used for completing a first undergraduate bachelor’s degree. It does this by inserting postbaccalaureate study into the period during which Pell Grants may be received, subject to certain conditions. The bill also increases the maximum duration of Pell Grant eligibility from 12 semesters (roughly six years of full-time study) to 16 semesters (roughly eight years). Noncredit or remedial coursework would not count toward the Pell eligibility period, and the postbaccalaureate extension would apply only if the student had received Pell during their undergraduate study for at least 1 but fewer than 16 semesters, would otherwise be Pell-eligible but for finishing the bachelor’s degree, and the total Pell period would not exceed the new 16-semester limit. In short, the bill is designed to help students who need additional postbaccalaureate credentials (such as certifications or programs after earning a bachelor’s degree) by extending Pell eligibility to those programs, under specified conditions, and by increasing the overall Pell eligibility window.
Key Points
- 1Expands Pell Grant eligibility to include the first postbaccalaureate course of study, in addition to undergraduate study.
- 2Increases the Pell Grant duration limit from 12 to 16 semesters.
- 3Noncredit and remedial coursework are not counted toward the Pell eligibility period.
- 4Postbaccalaureate eligibility applies if the student: (a) previously received Pell during undergraduate study for 1–15 semesters, (b) would otherwise be Pell-eligible but for completing the bachelor’s degree, and (c) the total Pell period does not exceed the 16-semester limit.
- 5Applies to an eligible institution that is an institution of higher education as defined in the statute, consistent with existing eligibility rules.