Pell to Grad Act

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to increase the period of eligibility for Federal Pell Grants, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Pell to Grad Act 2. Period of eligibility for grants Section 401 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1070a (1) in subsection (a), by inserting or as a postbaccalaureate student in accordance with subsection (c)(1), as an undergraduate, (2) in subsection (c)— (A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows: (1) The period during which a student may receive Federal Pell Grants shall be the period required for the completion of the first undergraduate baccalaureate course of study being pursued by that student at the institution at which the student is in attendance except that— (A) any period during which the student is enrolled in a noncredit or remedial course of study as defined in paragraph (2) shall not be counted for the purpose of this paragraph; and (B) the period during which a student may receive Federal Pell Grants shall also include the period required for the completion of the first postbaccalaureate course of study at an eligible institution that meets the definition of institution of higher education in section 101, in a case in which— (i) the student received a Federal Pell Grant during the period required for the completion of the student’s first undergraduate baccalaureate course of study for at least 1 but fewer than 16 semesters, or the equivalent of at least 1 but fewer than 16 semesters, as determined under paragraph (5); (ii) the student would otherwise be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, but for the completion of such baccalaureate course of study; and (iii) the period during which the student receives Federal Pell Grants does not exceed the student’s duration limits under paragraph (5). ; and (B) in paragraph (5), by striking 12 16 3. Conforming amendment to law as modified by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (a) In general Section 401 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1070a Public Law 116–260 (1) in subsection (b)(8)(A), by inserting or as a postbaccalaureate student in accordance with subsection (d)(1), as an undergraduate, (2) in subsection (d)— (A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows: (1) The period during which a student may receive Federal Pell Grants shall be the period required for the completion of the first undergraduate baccalaureate course of study being pursued by that student at the institution at which the student is in attendance except that— (A) any period during which the student is enrolled in a noncredit or remedial course of study, as described in paragraph (2), shall not be counted for the purpose of this paragraph; and (B) the period during which a student may receive Federal Pell Grants shall also include the period required for the completion of the first postbaccalaureate course of study at an eligible institution that is an institution of higher education as defined in section 101, in a case in which— (i) the student received a Federal Pell Grant during the period required for the completion of the student’s first undergraduate baccalaureate course of study for at least 1 but fewer than 16 semesters, or the equivalent of at least 1 but fewer than 16 semesters, as determined under paragraph (5); (ii) the student would otherwise be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, but for the completion of such baccalaureate course of study; and (iii) the period during which the student receives Federal Pell Grants does not exceed the student’s duration limits under paragraph (5). ; and (B) in paragraph (5)(A), by striking 12 16 (b) Effective date The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect as if included in the enactment of division FF of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 ( Public Law 116–260

Summary: Pell to Grad Act This bill raises from 12 to 16 the total number of semesters during which a student may receive a Pell Grant. It also allows income-eligible graduate students who received Pell Grants during their undergraduate education to utilize their remaining Pell Grant eligibility toward their first graduate degree, subject to this 16-semester duration limit. Currently, Pell Grants are available only to undergraduate students, subject to the 12-semester duration limit.