By: Roberto J. Rodríguez, Assistant Secretary, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development, U.S. Department of Education

Since day one, increasing the size and buying power of the Pell Grant has been a priority and a core feature of the Biden-Harris Administration’s broader agenda to tackle college access and affordability, and support success for all students. With bipartisan support from Congress, the Administration has increased the maximum Pell Grant to $7,395 for the current academic year. This is a $900 boost to the maximum award and the largest in a decade, reaching approximately 1.2 million additional students to help them attend college and earn their degree. The Administration continues to advance President Biden’s goal of doubling the maximum Pell Grant award by 2029 and believes this is one of the best federal investments that can be made to build a strong middle class and a strong economy.

Since 1973, the Federal Pell Grant program has been a foundation of support to address college affordability and college costs for millions of low- and moderate-income undergraduates in their pursuit of a higher education. Currently, the Pell Grant is projected to reach more than 7 million students with nearly $37 billion in college aid across America.

The significant increases to the Pell Grant mean greater college opportunity for everyday students:

“I would not be in college without the Pell Grant. My chances at college would’ve been null and void. I need people to understand how reliant people are on that grant and federal aid to go to school. Increasing federal funding is just the start to supporting students… It’s very easy for people to have their potential limited due to the lack of funding.”

– Kaila Pouncy, University of Alabama, Class of 2023

“Doubling the Pell Grant would alleviate my financial burden, and would open up my schedule for more studying hours and my involvement on campus.”

– Daisey Rios-Alvarez, Wingate University, Class of 2025

Learn more about the state-by-state impact of this historic expansion of Pell, including the total number of students reached and total amount of Pell aid disbursed, and view state level information to learn more about year over year increases in Pell eligibility.