Updated

Federal Pell Grants, which have helped millions of students from low and middle-income families afford college for decades, are now available for the first time for short-term vocational training programs designed to help students enter the workforce, reported October 22, 2026. The expansion of the Workforce Pell program represents a significant change in federal student financial aid policy. The rollout offers students new pathways to job training and employment without pursuing traditional four-year degrees.