Financial aid administrators now have access to the final regulations that impact Federal Pell Grant student eligibility and establish the new Workforce Pell program.
On May 18, the Department of Education issued the final regulations in the Federal Register that have a significant impact on Federal Pell Grant eligibility.
The statutory changes, which were included in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act (previously the One Big Beautify Bill Act), include a number of changes to the Federal Pell Grant program.
- Pell Grant ineligibility when other aid covers cost of attendance – This change does not allow a student to qualify for Pell Grant funds during any period in which the student also receives grant or scholarship assistance from non-Federal sources (states, institutional, or private sources) that equals or exceeds their cost of attendance (COA) for that period. This is effective May 19, 2026.
- Workforce Pell Grants – New regulations now allow students to receive a Pell Grant for eligible workforce programs that are 150-599 clock hours in length or an equivalent number of credit hours and that take at least 8 weeks but less than 15 weeks of instructional time to complete. Per the final rule, this is effective July 20, 2026, with an option for early implementation beginning July 1, 2026.
A PDF version of the 85-page Federal Register is also available.
