The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) is applauding currently introduced legislation that would extend lifetime Pell Grant eligibility from 12 to 16 semesters and allow students with a Pell Grant award during undergraduate education to use remaining Pell Grant eligibility towards a first graduate degree.
Dr. Suzanne Ortega
The Pell to Grad Act was introduced by Reps. Haley Stevens (D-MI) and Jimmy Gomez (D-CA). CGS urged lawmakers to pass the bill.
“The expansion of Pell is critical to helping low-income students reach their fullest potential,” said Dr. Suzanne T. Ortega, president of CGS. “Being able to use any extra years of eligibility towards a graduate program will enable students the opportunity to get jobs that require a graduate degree at entry level. This is also a win for the U.S. workforce and the growing need for workers with specialized skills at master’s and doctoral levels.”
Careers requiring a graduate degree are projected to comprise the fastest-growing segment of the workforce through 2028, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
