The Federal Pell Grant program is the oxygen that keeps the dreams of millions of students across the country alive. It is the cornerstone of affordable college for students.
In the 2023 calendar year, the Federal Pell Grant program provided approximately $31 billion in aid to roughly 6.5 million undergraduate students, making it the largest source of federal grant aid for postsecondary education. Of that $31 billion, exactly $12,545,599 was allocated to eligible Brookdale students.
What is a Pell Grant? The Federal Pell Grant is a need-based grant provided by the U.S. government to help undergraduate students pay for college. Unlike loans, Pell Grants do not need to be repaid.
The amount awarded is based on factors, such as the student’s financial need, the cost of college attendance and enrollment status. The maximum grant awarded is $7,395 for a full semester.
Without these grants, millions of students would not have the resources necessary to attend even a semester. Of all college students in America, 31.6 percent qualify and utilize the Pell Grant, with over 60 percent using some form of grant and government aid.
The harsh reality is, with recent changes in government and the dismantling of the Department of Education, these types of government-assisted funding will be harder to come by. According to Inside Higher Education, “In January, the Congressional Budget Office projected a $2.7 billion budget shortfall for the program next fiscal year, its first shortfall in over a decade. By fiscal year 2026–27, the CBO projects that the program will be short $10 billion unless Congress puts more money toward the grants.”
The Pell Grant program is particularly crucial to marginalized students. Sixty percent of Black students and over half of all Latin American students in America rely on the grants.
For Sandro Louis, a Brookdale graduate in 2024 from Neptune, the government provided grant was what kickstarted his college career. “Coming from Haiti, it would have been tough to get through college without support. Because of these grants, I was able to support myself and get through a lot without worrying if I would have to stop going to school at some point.” Louis graduated from Brookdale with excellent grades and was also a member of the Jersey Blues men’s soccer team for two seasons.
Pell Grants boost college enrollment, reduce dropout rates and improve student incomes. Enabling students to work less and take more courses. These grants also accelerate graduation and improve college completion rates.
“Before college, I was working full time. Being able to be the first one in my family to go to college in America meant so much to me and my family,” Louis said.
Another 2024 Brookdale graduate, Catherine Stehle, from Manasquan said that she is fearful of how recent government changes can impact students. “I just know how much these systems that are in place helped me get through, and I’m worried for students who won’t get the same opportunity because of the government’s plans.”
Pell Grants cover just over a third of all students who attend Brookdale, making this issue incredibly close to home for students. This also means that on average, there are more Brookdale students utilizing the grants compared to the number across all schools in the country.
