NCAN is pleased to see that the White House’s FY 2027 budget proposal fully funds the Pell Grant program, including fixing the immediate shortfall. Fully funding Pell shows the impact of NCAN members around the country, who have been tireless in their efforts to highlight the value of Pell for their students, its importance for workforce development, and for state and local economic growth.
"We're grateful the White House recognized the importance of the Pell Grant by holding the line on funding. Fully funding the Pell Grant program reflects the deep bipartisan support for the program and is an important step towards restoring Pell’s purchasing power for students,” said NCAN CEO Kim Cook. “But level funding isn't enough — three years of flat appropriations have already cost students hundreds of dollars in purchasing power. Congress must now go further and restore Pell's value for the millions of low-income students counting on it.
Early next week, NCAN will publish an analysis of the loss in Pell’s purchasing power by state and Congressional district since 2023.
NCAN opposes the elimination of funding for TRIO and GEAR UP, proposed in the budget. These programs offer critical support for low-income students to go to and through college. Congress should reject the proposed elimination of these vital programs.
Finally, this budget is a good start, but NCAN urges Congress to go further and increase the maximum Pell Grant by $200. A fourth year of a flat maximum grant is a cut in real terms, for students facing rising costs for housing, food and transportation expenses, even as net tuition has declined.