Riverside Community College District Calls for Full Funding of Pell Grants Amid Rising Student Need
04/10/2026
A historic number of members of the U.S. House of Representatives have voiced their support for fully funding the Pell Grant program, which provides essential financial assistance to millions of college students. Currently, roughly one-third of all undergraduate students in the United States depend on Pell Grants to afford higher education, making this support more important than ever.
The demand for Pell Grants has grown significantly in recent years, particularly following the enactment of the FAFSA Simplification Act of 2020. By making it easier for students to complete the FAFSA application and access financial aid, the law has resulted in more students seeking Pell Grant assistance. This surge, however, has created a projected budget shortfall. To maintain the current maximum award of $7,395, Congress must allocate billions in additional funding.
Riverside Community College District (RCCD) strongly supports increased funding for the Pell Grant program and commends the House of Representatives for their leadership. At the same time, the District emphasizes that Congress must avoid repeating past measures that have negatively impacted community college students. Previous shortfalls led to cuts that excluded students without a high school diploma, ended Year-Round and Summer Pell Grants, and reduced lifetime eligibility from 16 semesters to 12. These actions disproportionately affected students with the greatest financial need and should not be repeated.
During last year’s budget reconciliation process, Congress also considered eliminating Pell Grant eligibility for students taking fewer than eight credits per semester. This change would have impacted nearly 400,000 part-time community college students, many of whom balance work, family, and school exactly the students the Pell Grant program was designed to help.
As Congress prepares the fiscal year 2027 budget, lawmakers will determine the maximum Pell Grant award and whether the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill receives sufficient funding. These decisions will be critical to ensuring Pell Grants continue without compromising other essential health, education, and workforce programs.
RCCD urges Congress to act decisively to protect and expand Pell Grant funding, ensuring that students who rely on this vital financial support can continue pursuing their educational and career goals.
Published by External Relations & Strategic Communications