Tag Archives: Pell Grants

Despite $400 boost, Pell Grants fall far short of original goal to make college more affordable for low- and middle-income students

Despite $400 boost, Pell Grants fall far short of original goal to make college more affordable for low- and middle-income students

Back around when the Pell Grant was created by Congress in 1973 to help students from low-income families pay for higher education, it covered 80% of the costs of attending a public four-year college or university. And it covered over 40% of the costs of going to a private one. Today, thanks to increases in tuition costs and Pell Grants not […] … learn more→

Congress lifts long-standing ban on Pell grants to people in prison

Congress lifts long-standing ban on Pell grants to people in prison

When Congress decided in 1994 to ban federal student aid for people behind bars, it was part of a wider political agenda to “get tough on crime” – even though crime rates had begun to fall in the 1990s. The number of people behind bars grew, but, without access to federal student aid, higher education programs in America’s correctional facilities dwindled. […] … learn more→