Double Pell

Nasser Albaqqal - SJSU student

"The Pell Grant is the reason why I'm studying here at SJSU. Without it, I wouldn't be able to afford college. The rising costs of higher education necessitate action to double the Pell Grant."

Vaishnavi Sunkari - SJSU student

"Throughout high school, I always knew that I wanted to get into a four-year university but my concern was always about funding. I was so interested in studying and attaining a higher education but definitely didn't want money to get in the way of that."

Grace Pang - SJSU student

"The cost of living in San José Bay Area is notoriously high- and students are no strangers to that affordability burden. In fact, a third of SJSU Spartans experience food insecurity, according to a recent University basic needs survey. Students including me would greatly benefit from doubling of Pell, institutionalizing support and investment in our degree completion."

Fredrick Jaymar Ribleza - SJSU student

"Working full-time while being a full-time student is not enough to help me get through college and the Pell Grant helps students like me by making college more affordable. Doubling the Pell Grant will allow more people to pursue a higher education and secure a bright future."

Jordan Patterson - SJSU student

"I have faced great debt having had to take out multiple loans just to get an education. Double the Pell Grant would greatly impact my life."

Mustafa Abdulhaq - SJSU student

"Coming to United States as a refugee who's being giving an opportunity to be educated is a huge deal. As a first generation college student in my family, having a support system such as double the Pell Grant can grow my confidence and inspiration to finish the dream degree I am pursuing and other students who are in the same boat."

Pati Lopez - SJSU student

"I am a first-generation college student. I have had to navigate my way into the education system alone and without much guidance. Throughout all 4 years of college I have maintained two jobs which still was not enough to provide me stability so I have had to take out loans on top of that."

Alison Ross-Medina - SJSU student

"As a homeless student in high school, college was off the table for me if I couldn’t find ways to afford it on my own. Even with receiving the max Pell grant all 4 years, I’ve had to work 1-3 jobs at all times just to make ends meet. I would have been able to work less and focus more on school, should I have received more financial aid."

Read more testimonials

We've received hundreds and hundreds of testimonials from students, faculty, staff, and community partners about how crucial it is to increase funding for Pell Grants.

NADOHE Calls on Congress to Double Pell Grant

“To build diverse and inclusive campuses, college education must be affordable and accessible to students,” according to a statement from NADOHE.

Read this article by Arrman Kyaw on Diverse Issues in Higher Education to learn more.

Doubling Pell Isn’t Enough Without Deeper Reforms

The Pell Grant should be doubled, but it should only be applicable to institutions where Pell combined with other forms of grant aid covers 80 percent of the cost of attendance.

Read this opinion piece from David Ferreira on Inside Higher Ed to learn more.

Opinion | The Wall Street Journal Is Wrong About Pell Grants

The Wall Street Journal editorial board recently argued that increasing Pell Grants would drive up tuition costs and that the Pell program is essentially an expensive failure. But the evidence that federal higher education aid pushes tuition rates higher is very weak, and the Pell program is a proven, vitally important rung on the ladder of educational advancement in the U.S.

Read this opinion piece from David Feldman and Donald Heller on Politico to learn more.

Biden Wants to Double the Maximum Pell Grant. What Difference Would That Make?

A $13,000 Pell Grant would just about fully cover today’s average annual cost of attendance for community-college students. Students at public four-year institutions would have more than half of their tuition, fees, room, and board paid for.

Read this article from Chelsea Long at The Chronicle to learn more.

Opinion: How can we fix the college affordability problem?

It is no secret that we have a higher education affordability problem in the United States. The staggering costs can amount to $80,000 per year at private colleges and universities and $30,000 per year at public institutions. Who can afford that?

Read this opinion piece from Phillip Levine on The Hill to learn more.

Pell Grants at 50: Loss of buying power has Congress rethinking ways of paying for college

President Joe Biden's budget proposal to double Pell Grants by 2029 would help low-income families afford college but rising inflation and calls to cut spending make that goal difficult to achieve.

Read this article from Ledyard King at USA Today to learn more.