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Hundreds of thousands of low- to middle-income students could lose vital financial aid under the Republican-backed “Big Beautiful Bill,” a sweeping congressional budget plan that includes major changes to Pell Grant eligibility.
The bill, approved by the House in May and now under Senate consideration, would tighten requirements for the federally subsidized Pell Grants by requiring students to enroll full time — increasing the threshold from 12 to 15 credit hours per semester. The shift could have devastating effects for many working adults, parents, and others attending part-time due to life constraints.
“Community colleges are the on-ramp to the middle class,” said Martha Parham, a spokesperson for the American Association of Community Colleges. “This bill risks slamming the brakes on that path.”
Who’s Affected
Over 10 million people attend community colleges nationwide. These institutions are the most common entry point into higher education for low-income, older, or non-traditional students. Students can currently receive between $740 and $7,395 per year through the Pell Grant program, which was created in 1973 and named after the late Sen. Claiborne Pell.
The average annual cost of attending a community college is $4,050, a fraction of the $11,610 average for in-state public universities. But even that lower cost is often out of reach without federal aid.
“I don’t have any other options,” said Lakina Mabins, 41, a mother of five and recent valedictorian at Kennedy King College in Chicago. “I couldn’t take out a loan if I wanted to because you have to have good credit.”
A Barrier to the Working Class
Students like Maria Baez, 41, of the Community College of Philadelphia, say they could be forced to drop out if the eligibility rule changes.
“I want so badly to further my education so that I can have a career,” Baez said. “But I don’t even have a backup plan.”
“The majority of students receiving the grant are working people who only have the option of attending school part time,” added Michael Weaver, 34, a student at Stanly Community College in North Carolina.
Additional Higher Ed Cuts in the Bill
In addition to the Pell Grant changes, the Big Beautiful Bill would also eliminate subsidized federal student loans, forcing students to accumulate interest from day one.
“It’s going to be extremely hard for people to get out of debt with these changes,” said Astra Taylor, co-founder of the Debt Collective, a group that advocates for debt cancellation.
The changes come amid a broader Republican push to reduce government spending, with bill architects arguing the new rules would save $300 billion and reduce the tax burden on Americans who subsidize student aid.
Critics Say Policy Punishes the Poor
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), chair of the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, has not commented publicly on the Pell Grant changes this week, though he has touted the bill’s fiscal savings.
Critics, however, say the plan punishes the working poor and undermines the goal of education as a path out of poverty.
“The government wants me off assistance, but they are creating more debt and making it harder for me to better myself,” said Mabins, who lives in public housing and receives SNAP benefits. “I have goals — in five years, I see myself with a master’s degree and working in my career field.”
What’s Next
With the bill still being debated in the Senate, advocates for community colleges are urging lawmakers to reconsider the Pell Grant provision before final passage. If unchanged, the measure could disqualify hundreds of thousands of students who rely on part-time enrollment to pursue higher education while juggling work, caregiving, and other responsibilities.
“This bill is not just about numbers,” Parham said. “It’s about real people and whether they get a shot at a better life.”
