Federal Pell Grant Awards

by Louise
(Chicago)

As the parent of a 25 year old who wishes to go back to college and get her degree, I feel as though these federal Pell grant award changes are going to hurt would-be students like her.

When an adult goes back to school, often a community college is the only viable alternative. People in their twenties and thirties cannot just dump their responsibilities and go away to school; they have to make sure their bills are paid and their families are taken care of. Just partially covering tuition and nothing else is not going to make them think that returning to college is possible.

These are not the students who will be getting scholarships or other school aid in addition to their federal Pell grant. They cannot afford to take out loans the way an 18 year old can (because 18 year olds have no debts yet). While the extra $550 might not even be noticed by an 18 year old going away to a private college, it could make the difference to a young adult with a family, trying to decide between going back to school or taking a second part time job. This law had the chance to change people's lives, but it doesn't.