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Pell Grant Eligibility Determined by FAFSA and Financial Need, Not Single Income Cutoff

Pell Grant Eligibility Determined by FAFSA and Financial Need, Not Single Income Cutoff

Eligibility for a Federal Pell Grant, a form of need-based financial aid from the U.S. Department of Education, is primarily determined by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and meeting federal student aid requirements. Pell Grants are typically awarded to undergraduate students demonstrating exceptional financial need who have not yet earned a bachelor's, graduate, or professional degree. There is no universal income cutoff for federal student aid; instead, eligibility is assessed through federal formulas that consider multiple financial and household factors reported on the FAFSA. These factors include income, certain assets, family size, dependency status, and other financial information. Schools also take into account the cost of attendance when determining the Pell Grant amount. The Student Aid Index (SAI), calculated from FAFSA information, is a key eligibility index, not the final aid amount or expected family contribution. The maximum Federal Pell Grant for the 2026–27 ...

National Council for College Access and Success Advocates for Increased Pell Grant Funding and FAFSA Security

National Council for College Access and Success Advocates for Increased Pell Grant Funding and FAFSA Security

The National Council for College Access and Success (NCAN) is advocating for significant changes to federal higher education funding and policies following recent midterm elections. NCAN is pushing for the swift passage of a fiscal year (FY) 2027 appropriations bill that would address a projected $15 billion Pell Grant shortfall and include a $50 increase in the maximum award. This increase is sought without any cuts to loan subsidies, student aid, or Pell eligibility, aiming to allow colleges and universities to finalize student aid offers promptly. Additionally, NCAN is urging Congress to restore the Congressional Budget Office's access to federal tax information for accurate cost projections. Throughout the new Congress, NCAN plans to advocate for doubling the maximum Pell Grant award by FY 2032, ensuring the security of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and providing Federal Student Aid (FSA) with necessary resources and leadership to improve its services.

College Counseling Firms Offer Specialized Guidance for Engineering Applicants

College Counseling Firms Offer Specialized Guidance for Engineering Applicants

College Counseling Firms Offer Specialized Guidance for Engineering Applicants

American Nurses Association Lawsuit Challenges Federal Student Loan Limits for Graduate Nursing Programs

American Nurses Association Lawsuit Challenges Federal Student Loan Limits for Graduate Nursing Programs

The American Nurses Association (ANA) is pursuing a legal challenge against the U.S. Department of Education regarding its decision to exclude graduate nursing degrees from the definition of professional degree programs, which impacts federal student loan limits. ANA President Jennifer Mensik Kennedy announced that a court hearing is scheduled for December 2 before U.S. District Judge Patti B. Saris in Massachusetts. This lawsuit aims to protect access to higher federal student loan limits for nurses pursuing advanced degrees. Under current federal student loan frameworks, graduate students typically face annual borrowing limits of $20,500, while those in qualifying professional degree programs can borrow up to $50,000. Nursing organizations argue that this exclusion creates financial barriers for nurses seeking advanced education, potentially affecting patient care access. Despite extensive campaigns and petitions, the Department of Education proceeded with the rule, maintaining its definition is lawful.

Brookings Institution Discusses College Affordability and Financial Aid System Complexity

Brookings Institution Discusses College Affordability and Financial Aid System Complexity

On October 27, 2026, the Brookings Center for Economic Security and Opportunity (CESO) hosted a discussion titled “The hidden price of college: Three perspectives on how families can navigate their most important financial decision.” The event featured Phillip B. Levine, Katharine Coman and A. Barton Hepburn Professor of Economics at Wellesley College; Ron Lieber, 'Your Money' columnist for The New York Times; and Christina Lopez, former dean of enrollment management at Barnard College. Cabot Family Chair and Senior Fellow Sarah Reber moderated the discussion. The panelists explored the complexities of financing college, particularly four-year degrees, and how costs vary across institutions and families. A key issue highlighted was that families often address affordability only after college acceptances are received, rather than at the start of the application process. The financial aid system was described as intricate, with efforts to achieve equity inadvertently leading to reduced transparency, making i...

Penn State's Lion Caucus Amplifies Student Advocacy for Higher Education Funding

Penn State's Lion Caucus Amplifies Student Advocacy for Higher Education Funding

Jude York, a third-year Schreyer Scholar majoring in political science and history, serves as the president of Penn State's Lion Caucus, a student organization working with the university's Office of Government and Community Relations. The caucus focuses on advocating for higher education funding at both federal and state levels. This includes supporting Pell Grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, and Federal Work-Study at the federal level, and continued state appropriations, general support funding, and performance-based funding at the state level. York emphasizes the importance of making college accessible and affordable, drawing from his own experience as an in-state student who benefited from state funding. The organization engages students in advocacy efforts through events like the Fall Advocacy Festival and opportunities to meet legislators, encouraging them to share personal stories to demonstrate Penn State's impact.

Santa Rosa's Welcome Connect Center Offers Assistance with College Financial Aid Applications

Santa Rosa's Welcome Connect Center Offers Assistance with College Financial Aid Applications

Santa Rosa's Welcome & Connect Center is providing support to students navigating the college financial aid application process. The center assists with starting applications, identifying follow-up tasks, uploading required documents, and connecting students with the Financial Aid department for official eligibility or award inquiries. They help students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for federal and state aid, and the California Dream Act Application for eligible California state financial aid. The Welcome & Connect Center emphasizes that while they assist with the process, the official Financial Aid department is responsible for determining eligibility, awards, deadlines, and other critical decisions. Students can also receive help checking their status through the My Financial Aid card in Bear Cub Hub and submitting requested documents via the secure StudentForms process.

New Federal Student Loan Limits Drive Borrowers to Private Lenders, Raising Concerns for Access to Education

New Federal Student Loan Limits Drive Borrowers to Private Lenders, Raising Concerns for Access to Education

New federal student loan limits, enacted under President Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill,' are compelling a growing number of students to seek private loans to finance their education. These changes, which took effect recently, include caps on federal loans for specific programs and limits on the amount parents can borrow. For instance, professional degree programs now face a $200,000 federal loan cap, while other graduate programs are capped at $100,000. Previously, graduate students could borrow up to the full cost of their degree. The overall lifetime borrowing cap for new borrowers is set at $257,500. This shift has led to increased anxiety among students like Chloe Frabotta, a physician assistant student in New York City, who had to supplement her federal loans with private ones due to uncertainty about her program's eligibility for higher limits. The private lending market has seen a significant boom, with companies like SoFi and Sallie Mae reporting substantial increases in student loan originations.

Federal Student Aid Updates Email Addresses for Official Communications

Federal Student Aid Updates Email Addresses for Official Communications

Federal Student Aid (FSA) is updating the email addresses it uses for official communications. Previously, all outbound emails came from noreply@studentaid.gov. This fall, FSA will transition to three new sender email addresses: noreply@login.studentaid.gov, noreply@mail.studentaid.gov, and noreply@info.studentaid.gov. These new addresses are legitimate and authorized for sending official federal student aid information. Starting in 2027, financial aid administrators and other partners should expect to receive communications from additional new addresses, including noreply@info.nsldsfap.ed.gov, noreply@mail.nsldsfap.ed.gov, noreply@info.fsapartners.ed.gov, and noreply@mail.fsapartners.ed.gov. This change aims to ensure the continued delivery of time-sensitive updates and to help financial aid administrators confirm the authenticity of messages to students and parents. FSA encourages students, parents, and institutional staff to add these new email addresses to their contacts or safe-sender lists to prevent...

Community College of Aurora Foundation Raises Over $42,000 for Student Emergency Assistance Fund

Community College of Aurora Foundation Raises Over $42,000 for Student Emergency Assistance Fund

The Community College of Aurora Foundation (CCAF) successfully raised $42,130 for its Student Emergency Assistance Fund through the second annual 'Miles With Mordecai' initiative. Community College of Aurora (CCA) President Dr. Mordecai Brownlee led the effort, walking all 71 miles of the High Line Canal Trail over three days in October, accompanied by students, donors, and community partners. The funds are specifically allocated to support CCA students facing unexpected financial emergencies that could jeopardize their enrollment and educational completion. This critical funding provides gift cards for essential expenses such as food, transportation, and housing. Additionally, participating students are connected with CCA Student Advocacy coaches who offer guidance for long-term success and access to further college and community resources. Dr. Brownlee has committed to continuing this initiative annually, even after his presidency concludes in December 2026, underscoring a sustained dedication to student...

Child Tax Credit Rarely Applies to College Students; Education Credits Offer Alternative Benefits

Child Tax Credit Rarely Applies to College Students; Education Credits Offer Alternative Benefits

Many families mistakenly assume that a college student who is still a dependent automatically qualifies for the Child Tax Credit (CTC). However, the Child Tax Credit rarely applies to college students because it requires the child to be under 17 at the end of the tax year. Most traditional college students are 18 or older, making them ineligible for the CTC. While a 19-year-old full-time student can still be claimed as a dependent, this does not automatically qualify them for the CTC. For 2026, the CTC is up to $2,200 per qualifying child, with a refundable portion up to $1,700, requiring both the claimant and child to have employment-valid Social Security numbers. Instead, older dependents may qualify parents for the Credit for Other Dependents (ODC), which offers up to $500 per eligible dependent and is nonrefundable. Education credits, such as the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) and the Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC), are typically more relevant for college students, focusing on qualified higher-...

Rural Colleges Innovate to Support Student Parents Amidst Childcare Gaps

Rural Colleges Innovate to Support Student Parents Amidst Childcare Gaps

Rural-serving colleges in the U.S. are implementing creative solutions to support their student parents, who constitute a significant portion of their student body. A recent report from The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS) indicates that approximately a quarter of students at rural institutions are parents, yet these colleges are less likely to offer on-campus childcare compared to their urban counterparts. This disparity often leads to feelings of isolation among student parents. In response, institutions like New River are establishing initiatives such as dedicated family study rooms with child-sized furniture and hosting events for students and faculty with children. Stephanie Addikis, an adult career coach and community outreach specialist at New River, noted the high utilization of 'busy boxes' filled with toys, highlighting an previously underestimated presence of children on campus. The lack of comprehensive data on parenting students remains a significant challenge, though some states...