F. Javier Cevallos: The time has come to double the Pell Grant

No program has done more to make the promise of a college education attainable for low-income families in this country than the federal Pell Grant. It has been the foundation of federal student aid for decades, opening the doors of college and opportunity to millions who otherwise could not afford it.

In Massachusetts, the Pell Grant has helped turbocharge our economy, enabling education to lift people out of poverty and helping provide the highly educated workforce our employers rely on. 

But the power of the Pell Grant has greatly diminished since it was established nearly 50 years ago. Back then the maximum grant covered nearly 75 percent of the cost of attending a public four-year college. Today, it covers less than one third of the cost, leaving students and families saddled with debt.

Rosemond Odoom Cann is among the 37 percent of students at Framingham State who are Pell eligible, and her story is a perfect example of both the importance – and the shortcomings – of the federal grant program.

A first-generation college student and native of Ghana, Rosemond nearly gave up on her goal of earning a college degree to take a job in retail, until learning that she was Pell eligible. Today, she is a sophomore at FSU pursuing her dream of becoming a lawyer.

But in order to bridge the gap between her financial aid and tuition and fees, as well as to cover her other living expenses, Rosemond works an astounding 50 hours per week across three part-time jobs. When you stack that on top of course requirements, it creates an enormous amount of stress, diminishes the college experience, and for many students, sets them up to fail.

We should be increasing our investment in people like Rosemond and the other nearly 7 million students nationwide who rely on federal Pell grants.

June 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the Pell Grant and a major push is underway by a coalition of higher education and advocacy groups to double the maximum Pell grant award to $13,000. This overdue change will go a long way in making college more affordable, reducing student debt, and helping spur the post-COVID19 economic recovery. When I asked Rosemond what this increase would mean for her personally, she said it would greatly benefit her mental, physical and social wellbeing. Students like Rosemond deserve our support.

I invite you to join the #DoublePell movement by contacting your local members of Congress and urging them to support this effort. Information and resources can be found at  https://doublepell.org/.

Dr. F. Javier Cevallos is president of Framingham State University and former chair of the board of directors for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.