Claim: "In 1976, the first year that Pell Grants were fully funded, a full Pell Grant paid 72 percent of the cost of attendance at a typical four-year public college. Today, a full Pell Grant covers just 34 percent of those costs.
Fact-check: Sen. Whitehouse says full Pell Grants cover only 34 percent of public college costs, down from 72 percent in 1976
Verdict: true
Organisation: PolitiFact
Author: Edward Fitzpatrick
Date published: 2011-09-22T00:00:00