Skyrocketing college expenses for disadvantaged students under Republican legislation proposed
The proposed Republican budget bill could significantly impact low-income college students, as it aims to change eligibility criteria and rescind the maximum Pell Grant amount.
Currently, students can be eligible for the maximum Pell Grant of $7,395 if they take at least 12 credits, or four classes. However, the bill would require students to be enrolled at least half-time to qualify, causing approximately 20 percent (or about 1.4 million) of current Pell recipients, especially community college students, to completely lose their grants.
Additionally, about 44 percent of Pell recipients would face reductions in their awards by as much as $1,480 annually due to prorated funding based on credit hours. This could increase financial burdens and limit access to higher education for these students who often attend part-time or at two-year institutions.
Chris Rose, a Pell Grant recipient, described Pell as a "lifeline" for students like him who do not have the financial means to pay for college. Rose, a marketing major, typically takes 15 credits each semester but has taken 12 credits at times due to personal issues, which would result in a reduction of nearly $1,500 in grant money under the proposed legislation.
Veronica Minaya, a senior research associate at the Community College Research Center at Teachers College, Columbia University, is concerned that the change to Pell could steer students away from more challenging classes that can lead to more lucrative careers. Taking a five-class course load as a science major, while holding a job or taking care of family, may seem too daunting, according to Minaya.
Preston Cooper, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, believes that the longer a student is enrolled in college without completing the necessary credits, it carries costs and may not be setting students up for success. However, he also notes that federally subsidizing a pathway for students taking only one or two courses per semester might not be effective in maximizing student success.
Jill Desjean, director of policy analysis at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, suggests year-round Pell as a more effective way to encourage on-time graduation, which allows students to take 12 credits per semester and six in the summer.
The Republican proposal represents a shift in the political conversation around low-income students in college, according to advocates. However, there is some legislative pushback against these cuts. Senate Republicans have planned to protect the Pell Grant program by maintaining the maximum grant award at $7,395 for the coming academic year, rejecting earlier proposals to reduce it to $5,710. They have also spared funding for related programs such as TRIO and campus childcare subsidies, underscoring ongoing debate and efforts to support need-based aid despite broader budget cuts.
The proposed changes could particularly affect students at community colleges, with an estimated 80% of Pell recipients at community colleges seeing a cut and a third losing eligibility for the federal grant altogether. At Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis, the proposed rules could affect nearly 33,000 students who could lose about $19 million in financial aid.
In conclusion, the proposed Republican budget bill could negatively impact many low-income college students by reducing Pell Grant funding and changing eligibility criteria. This could lead to less access to financial aid, increased out-of-pocket costs, and heightened reliance on riskier private loans, which could ultimately force some students to drop out altogether. However, ongoing legislative efforts aim to protect the Pell Grant program and support need-based aid.
[1] Senate Republicans to protect Pell Grant program, reject earlier proposals to reduce maximum award. (2022). Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved from https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2022/03/22/senate-republicans-to-protect-pell-grant-program-reject-earlier-proposals-to-reduce
[2] The GOP's proposed budget bill could drastically change Pell Grants for low-income students. (2022). The Hechinger Report. Retrieved from https://hechingerreport.org/the-gops-proposed-budget-bill-could-drastically-change-pell-grants-for-low-income-students/
[3] Proposed budget bill could affect Pell Grants for low-income students. (2022). Indiana Public Media. Retrieved from https://www.ipb.fm/news/2022/03/21/proposed-budget-bill-could-affect-pell-grants-for-low-income-students/
[4] Senate Republicans plan to protect Pell Grant program from proposed budget cuts. (2022). The College Fix. Retrieved from https://www.thecollegefix.com/senate-republicans-plan-to-protect-pell-grant-program-from-proposed-budget-cuts/
[5] Senate Republicans to protect Pell Grants. (2022). Education Week. Retrieved from https://www.edweek.org/higher-education/senate-republicans-to-protect-pell-grants/2022/03
- The Republican budget bill, set to impact low-income college students, aims to revise eligibility criteria and rescind the maximum Pell Grant amount, a move that could easily reduce financial aid access and increase out-of-pocket costs for about 20 percent of current Pell recipients, mainly community college students.
- Advocates argue that the proposed changes to the Pell Grant program represent a shift in the political discourse around low-income students, stirring debate over measures to support need-based aid amid wider budget cuts.
- To counteract the negative effects of the bill, Senate Republicans plan to safeguard the Pell Grant program by preserving the maximum grant award and maintaining funding for related programs such as TRIO and campus childcare subsidies.
- With an estimated 80% of Pell recipients at community colleges facing cuts and a third losing grant eligibility, the proposed changes could impose significant financial hardships on institutions like Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis, potentially affecting about 33,000 students and forfeiting roughly $19 million in financial aid.
