Workforce Pell is designed to support low-income students pursuing a short-term job training program in career fields that are high demand, high skill or high earnings.
RichVintage/E+/Getty Images
The final rule that will be used to implement Workforce Pell—an expanded version of the long-standing financial aid program—was finalized Monday. Starting July 1, students enrolled in certain high-demand, short-term job training courses will have access to federal Pell Grants.
Historically, Pell was only available to low-income students pursuing an associate or bachelor’s degree. But now, under the new regulations, aid from the same pot of funding will be extended to learners in certificate programs that last between eight and 15 weeks and are preapproved by both the state and federal governments.
“The Trump Administration’s postsecondary education agenda is straightforward: we should shift away from high-cost, low-value programs to low-cost, high-value programs,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a news release about the final rule. Through Workforce Pell, “American students will soon be able to graduate with little to no debt and be well-prepared to start earning in one of today’s in-demand jobs in weeks, not years.”
