Workforce Pell Eligibility Screener

Estimate your Workforce Pell Grant award for short-term credential programs (8–14 weeks, 150–599 clock hours), now eligible under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-21), effective July 1, 2026. Bachelor's degree holders qualify for the first time.

Data: Federal Pell Grant 2026–27 · ED Dear Colleague Letter (Jan 2026) · OBBBA P.L. 119-21 (signed July 4, 2025) · Workforce Pell Final Rule (March 9, 2026)

Financial Profile STEP 1

Dependency Status

Independent

Dependent

Most Workforce Pell applicants are independent (age 24+, married, veteran, or self-supporting adult)

Family Size

Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) — $ Student's AGI (and spouse if married), most recent tax year

Or enter SAI directly (overrides AGI) From your FAFSA Student Aid Report · Calculate precise SAI (AL-02) →

Pell Grant Years Already Used Lifetime limit: 6 years (12 full-time semesters). Workforce Pell counts toward this limit.

Highest Degree Earned Under OBBBA, bachelor's holders can receive Workforce Pell. Graduate/professional degree holders cannot.

Program Details STEP 2

Program Clock Hours

300 hrs

Workforce Pell range: 150–599 clock hours. Programs ≥ 600 hrs use standard Pell formula.

Program Duration (weeks)

10 wks

Must be 8–14 weeks (OBBBA: at least 8 weeks, less than 15 weeks).

Target Occupation Category Workforce Pell requires enrollment in a high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand occupation program per DOL/state designation.

Program Cost ($ — optional) Enter to calculate grant coverage %, out-of-pocket cost, and cost recovery analysis.

Eligibility Checklist STEP 3

Check all items that apply. Each is a Title IV federal student aid requirement.

I am a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or eligible non-citizen

I am not currently in default on any federal student loan

I do not owe an unresolved Pell Grant overpayment

My target program is at an accredited, Title IV-eligible institution

I will complete (or have completed) the 2026–27 FAFSA

Estimated Student Aid Index (SAI)

—

Estimated from AGI + family size

Base Pell Eligibility (annual)

—

2026–27: max $7,395 · min $740 · cutoff $14,790 (OBBBA)

Proration Ratio

—

min(weeks ÷ 24, hours ÷ 900)

Estimated Workforce Pell Award

—

Base Pell × proration · rounded to nearest $5

Proration Breakdown

Factor	Your Program	Full-Year Denominator	Ratio	Binding?
Program Weeks	—	24 weeks	—	—
Clock Hours	—	900 hours	—	—

The lower of the two ratios is binding. Award = base Pell × binding ratio, rounded to nearest $5. (Source: ED Illustrative Examples, Nov 2025)

Lifetime Pell Usage

Recommended Next Steps

ℹ
1
Complete your 2026–27 FAFSA at studentaid.gov to confirm your official SAI and Pell eligibility.
2
Ask your institution for their Workforce Pell-eligible program list — required by the ED Final Rule, effective July 1, 2026.
3
For a precise SAI, use the FAFSA SAI Simulator (AL-02) →
4
Model the credential's full return on investment at the Credential ROI Suite (AL-01) →

Policy Mandate v2.0 · what is this?

Workforce PellEligibility Screener

Likely Eligible for Workforce Pell

Workforce Pell
Eligibility Screener