Senate Votes No Increase in the Maximum Pell Grant

Recently the House of Representatives passed an appropriations bill that authorized a $100 increase in the maximum Pell Grant award for low-income students. Despite escalating college costs at both public and private universities, there has been no increase in the maximum Pell Grant award for the past five years.

These awards now provide up to $4,050 in scholarship grants for low-income college students. About 27 percent of all Pell Grant recipients are African Americans.

This past week, the Senate Appropriations Committee came out with its version of the spending bill for student aid programs. It included no increase in the maximum Pell Grant award. The two versions eventually will be settled by a House/Senate conference committee.