Pell Grants: Overall Student Eligibility Increased after Free Application for Federal Student Aid Simplification. Q&A Report to the Ranking Member, Committee on Education and Workforce, House of Representatives. GAO-26-107928
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| Title: | Pell Grants: Overall Student Eligibility Increased after Free Application for Federal Student Aid Simplification. Q&A Report to the Ranking Member, Committee on Education and Workforce, House of Representatives. GAO-26-107928 |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Melissa Emrey-Arras, US Government Accountability Office (GAO) |
| Source: | US Government Accountability Office. 2026. |
| Availability: | US Government Accountability Office. 441 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20548. Tel: 202-512-6000; Web site: http://www.gao.gov |
| Peer Reviewed: | N |
| Page Count: | 18 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Intended Audience: | Policymakers |
| Document Type: | Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Federal Aid, Grants, Educational Finance, Eligibility, Student Financial Aid, College Applicants, Need Analysis (Student Financial Aid), Program Improvement, Family Income, Race, Ethnicity, Family Characteristics |
| Laws, Policies and Program Identifiers: | Pell Grant Program |
| Abstract: | The federal Pell Grant program is the largest source of federal grant aid supporting students' access to higher education. Pell Grants are a type of need-based aid that help primarily undergraduate students from lower-income families pay for college expenses. Eligibility for Pell Grants is determined when students complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Congress passed the FUTURE Act in 2019 and the FAFSA Simplification Act in 2020 to make it easier for students to apply for federal aid. The Department of Education (Education) rolled out the simplified FAFSA in late 2023 for aid applications submitted for school year (SY) 2024-25. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) was asked to examine how student eligibility for Pell Grants changed after the simplification. To conduct this work, GAO reviewed relevant federal laws and Education policies, procedures, and guidance to understand how changes to the FAFSA form and student aid formula could affect students' eligibility for Pell Grants. GAO also analyzed aggregated federal financial aid data from Education on FAFSA completions and Pell Grant eligibility for SY 2023-24 (the last under the old formula) and SY 2024-25 (the first under the new formula). This analysis also examined Pell Grant eligibility by household income and assets, number of other family members in college, and race and ethnicity. GAO also interviewed Education officials and representatives of five organizations with expertise on student aid issues. This report provides the findings on changes in Pell Grant eligibility overall and by a variety of student or family characteristics after FAFSA simplification. |
| Abstractor: | ERIC |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | ED680564 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | The federal Pell Grant program is the largest source of federal grant aid supporting students' access to higher education. Pell Grants are a type of need-based aid that help primarily undergraduate students from lower-income families pay for college expenses. Eligibility for Pell Grants is determined when students complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Congress passed the FUTURE Act in 2019 and the FAFSA Simplification Act in 2020 to make it easier for students to apply for federal aid. The Department of Education (Education) rolled out the simplified FAFSA in late 2023 for aid applications submitted for school year (SY) 2024-25. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) was asked to examine how student eligibility for Pell Grants changed after the simplification. To conduct this work, GAO reviewed relevant federal laws and Education policies, procedures, and guidance to understand how changes to the FAFSA form and student aid formula could affect students' eligibility for Pell Grants. GAO also analyzed aggregated federal financial aid data from Education on FAFSA completions and Pell Grant eligibility for SY 2023-24 (the last under the old formula) and SY 2024-25 (the first under the new formula). This analysis also examined Pell Grant eligibility by household income and assets, number of other family members in college, and race and ethnicity. GAO also interviewed Education officials and representatives of five organizations with expertise on student aid issues. This report provides the findings on changes in Pell Grant eligibility overall and by a variety of student or family characteristics after FAFSA simplification. |
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