public noticeMonday, July 20, 2026 at 3:59 PM AKDT
Effective: Accountability in Higher Education and Access Through Demand-Driven Workforce Pell: Pell Grant Exclusion Relating to Other Grant Aid; and Workforce Pell Grants
Effective: Accountability in Higher Education and Access Through Demand-Driven Workforce Pell: Pell Grant Exclusion Relating to Other Grant Aid; and Workforce Pell Grants
About this event
The document details various aspects of Pell Grant eligibility and its impact on short occupational training programs, referencing Section 102 of the HEA and 20 U.S.C. 1001-1002. It cites numerous research papers from 2004 to 2025, covering topics such as the effects of expanding Pell Grant eligibility, student persistence, civic benefits of education, labor market returns, and stackable credentials.
Key estimates include 187,000 new Pell Grant recipients annually, assumed to be new college students, based on 1.4 million completers in undergraduate certificate programs under 900 clock hours in the 2024 award year. Eligible workforce programs are defined as 150-600 clock hours (8-14 weeks), but IPEDS data categorization (less than 12 weeks, 12 weeks to 1 year) complicates precise identification, potentially leading to overcounting.
The analysis incorporates an 8% enrollment growth projection. Median program earnings are adjusted using regional price parity data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, based on metropolitan statistical areas or state levels. Data integration involves College Scorecard, IPEDS completers, and college-reported tuition/fees, utilizing 4-digit CIP codes, credential levels, and OPEIDs, though some programs may be excluded due to missing data.
Methodology for financial metrics includes estimating "Published Tuition & Fees" from median sticker prices for Title IV students and "Adjusted Median Earnings" from median earnings of Title IV completers one year post-exit, adjusted by regional price parity. A calculation projects a $2,000 earnings increase, multiplied by a 12% marginal tax rate, for 187,000 individuals over ten years, using the 2026 Federal statutory marginal income tax rate for specific income brackets. Income data for Title IV recipients is derived from FAFSA filings for the 2023-24 award year, excluding individuals with zero earnings.