U.S. House Seeks $500 Increase to the Maximum Pell Award
Thursday, June 23, 2022
Posted by: Catherine Brown and Ray AlQaisi
Reading time: 3 min. 
Congress is currently working through the federal funding process (i.e., appropriations) for the 2023 fiscal year (which begins Oct. 1). Yesterday, the House appropriations subcommittee on labor, health and human services, and education released its draft funding bill. Notably, the bill addresses significant policy priorities for NCAN. This is a testament to the incredible and unwavering advocacy efforts, such as those led by NCAN members and students.
The bill includes the following considerable investments:
- $500 increase to the maximum Pell Grant award. If enacted, this will represent the largest increase in more than a decade and a 14% increase over the last two years.
- $34 million more for the Federal Work-Study program, for a total of $1.2 billion.
- $25 million more for Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program (FSEOG), for a total of $920 million.
- $225 million more for Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), including Historically Black Colleges & Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, for a total of $1.1 billion.
- $161 million more for TRIO and $30 million more for GEAR UP, for a total of $1.3 billion and $408 million respectively.
- $200 million to continue the Postsecondary Student Success Grants to support evidence-based activities to improve postsecondary retention and completion rates.
- $56 million more for AmeriCorps State and National Grants, for a total of $523 million.
- The bill also allows DREAMers to be eligible for Pell Grants, work-study, TRIO, GEAR UP, and other federal financial aid, including student loans.
What Happens Next
The bill will now move to the House floor for consideration and then must be reconciled with a Senate bill. It may take months before a final education spending bill is finalized, but the process is off to a good start.
How You Can Engage in Advocacy
It's the 50th anniversary of the Pell Grant program! NCAN and the education community are celebrating the enormous impact Pell has had on increasing access to postsecondary education. Since 1972, it’s helped more than 80 million students pursue their educational goals. We are also focused on advocating for its future. Here’s how you can help! Please visit NCAN's Action Center and easily contact your federal representatives expressing support for Pell. Text is already drafted, it only takes a minute! Recap from Last Fiscal Year
Back in March, after prolonged congressional negotiations, President Biden signed the fiscal year 2022 federal funding deal into law. The bipartisan agreement included a $400 increase to the maximum Pell Grant for the 2022-23 award year, bringing it to $6,895. This is the largest single boost to the max award in more than a decade (2009-10 award year).
NCAN members and our students have long made the case for greater investment in the Pell Grant program.
In advance of fiscal year 2023, President Biden released his budget proposal, which outlined the administration’s commitment to double the maximum Pell Grant by 2029. If adopted by Congress, the budget would significantly increase the maximum Pell award to $8,670 for the 2023-24 award year. The budget also asks Congress to expand federal student aid access to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, sometimes referred to as DREAMers.
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