# The Pell Plus Act: What It Means for College Students

Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, this bill would create a new financial aid program called "Pell Plus" that essentially doubles the federal grant money available to certain college students. If you're eligible for a regular Pell Grant (the main federal grant for low-income students), you'd automatically get an additional Pell Plus Grant in the same amount. So if you normally qualify for a $3,000 Pell Grant, you'd also receive an extra $3,000 Pell Plus Grant for that year.

However, there are specific requirements to qualify. You have to be a first-year undergraduate student at a participating college, and you must be on track to finish your degree within four years. You also need to have completed at least four semesters (two years) of your studies before you become eligible. The program is designed to help students who are making steady progress toward graduation, not those who are falling behind or taking longer than expected to complete their degree.

Here's the catch: colleges that participate in Pell Plus would have to match the federal government's contribution. For every dollar the government gives you through Pell Plus, the college must provide an equal amount using its own money—through scholarships, grants, tuition waivers, or donations. This means colleges are essentially doubling their investment in these students. Additionally, the total aid you receive (regular Pell Grant, Pell Plus Grant, and the college's contribution) cannot exceed what it actually costs to attend that school, so the amounts could be reduced if you're already getting other aid.

The bill also requires participating colleges to keep students informed about whether they're staying on track to graduate in four years and to warn students in their third year if they're falling behind, so they know they might lose the Pell Plus funding for their fourth year.

Pell Plus Act of 2023

Joyce, David P.

Pell Plus Act of 2023This bill establishes the Pell&nbsp;Plus program to award an additional Federal Pell Grant (i.e., a Federal Pell Plus Grant), which shall be matched by the participating institution of enrollment, to eligible&nbsp;students.A student is eligible to receive a Federal Pell Plus Grant if the student (1) is enrolled in their first undergraduate course of study at a Pell Plus institution, (2) is maintaining progress toward completion of their course of study in no more than four academic years, and (3) has completed at least four semesters (or the equivalent) of such course of study.Further, the bill outlines the requirements for an institution to participate as a Pell Plus institution, including that the institution must notify students whether they are maintaining progress toward completion of their course of study.The bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to award a Federal&nbsp;Pell Plus Grant to an eligible student in an amount equal to the student's Federal Pell Grant award. If the student's combined Federal Pell Grant and Federal Pell Plus Grant exceed the cost of attendance, then ED must reduce the amount of the student's Federal Pell Plus Grant.The bill specifies that these Federal Pell Plus Grants must count toward current duration limits.