Federal Pell Grants, which have helped generations of low- and moderate-income CU Boulder students afford higher education, turned 50 years old on June 23, 2022.
The Pell Grant program helps more than 4,000 CU Boulder students annually and nearly 7 million recipients nationwide.
鈥淧ell Grants represent a critical component of public education鈥檚 mission to help low- and moderate-income families achieve upward mobility,鈥� said Chancellor Phil DiStefano. 鈥淩emoving barriers to higher education for Pell-eligible students makes our democracy stronger and more pluralistic.鈥�
The impact of the grant, however, has not matched inflation over time. When the Pell program was founded in the 1970s, the maximum award covered more than three-quarters of the average cost of attending college.听
Today, the maximum Pell Grant鈥�$6,895 for the 2022鈥�23 award year鈥攃overs just about one-third of the average cost of attendance.
Several higher education industry groups, including the Association of American Universities (AAU) and Association of Public & Land-grant Universities (APLU), have recently advocated for doubling the maximum amount, a position CU Boulder supports as a member of both organizations.
Students who may be eligible for Pell Grants or other undergraduate grants should visit the Office of Financial Aid to learn more.
