Workforce Pell Grant Program

Paying for College for Students

Introduction

The Workforce Pell Grant is a version of the Federal Pell Grant designed to help students quickly gain skills through short-term programs that lead to in-demand jobs. Unlike the traditional Pell Grant, students who already have a bachelor’s degree may still be eligible.

Oversight & Rulemaking

The AHEAD Committee met in December 2025 and January 2026 to discuss Workforce Pell program eligibility and implementation. The committee reviewed proposed program criteria and shared recommendations. While these recommendations reflect areas of agreement among committee members, they are not final rules.

The U.S. Department of Education will use the committee’s input, along with public feedback submitted during the upcoming Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) period, to develop final regulations. Once final rules are issued, they will include timelines and guidance for implementing Workforce Pell.

Program Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, programs must:

  • Be offered by an accredited institution eligible for Title IV Federal student aid.
  • Have been offered by the institution for at least one year.
  • Be 150–599 clock hours (7.5 – 29.5 credits hours) in length.
  • Last at least 8 weeks but fewer than 15 weeks.
  • Lead to a stackable, portable credential recognized by multiple employers, or prepare students for entry-level employment that requires one specific credential.
  • Transfer credit into future certificate or degree programs.
  • Be approved by the state governor as aligned with in-demand jobs and employer needs.
  • Meet performance benchmarks:
    • ≥70% program completion rate within 150% of its expected completion time.
    • ≥70% job placement rate within 180 days of program completion.
    • Program Cost ≤ value-added earnings of graduates 3 years prior.

Keep in Mind

Workforce Pell is not a new or separate source of federal funding. Awards are drawn from the existing Federal Pell Grant program, which means:

  • Eligible students may receive either Workforce Pell or traditional Pell in a given term, but not both.
  • Workforce Pell Grant follows most of the general Federal Pell Grant rules.
  • Using Workforce Pell counts toward a student’s Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility Usage (LEU) limit of 600%.
  • Students cannot receive both general Pell Grant and Workforce Pell Grant at the same time.

To ensure funding supports programs aligned with workforce needs, certain programs and conditions are excluded:

  • Remedial, ESL, correspondence, or study abroad courses.
  • Programs offered by unaccredited institutions.