Thursday, March 3, 2011
The U.S. Congress is preparing to vote on wide- reaching budget cuts that will affect millions of college students across the country.
Both the president and republicans in congress have put forth proposals to cut funds to the Federal Pell Grant Program. While any cuts to this program will be harmful, Obama’s proposal will result in slightly less damage than the Republican’s.
The Federal Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to low-income college students. Different from loans, these grants do not have to be repaid. According to studentaid.ed.gov, the amount awarded depends on a student’s financial need, costs to attend school, status as a full-time or part-time student, and plans to attend school for a full academic year or less. The maximum Pell grant award for the 2010-2011 year is $5,500.
According to the Kansan, 7,220,000 students nation-wide received Pell Grants in 2009-2010. This includes 4,284 University of Kansas Pell Grant recipients.
Under Obama’s plan, maximum aid will remain at $5,500, while the Republican proposal slashes maximum aid to $4,500. This is important because the maximum grant is also the Expected Family Contribution cut off level for eligibility. Under Obama’s plan a student with an EFC of $5,000 would be eligible for a grant, but not under the Republican proposal. As cited by the Kansan on Feb. 21, 1.7 million students would lose their eligibility for grants under the Republican proposal.
Obama’s proposal would end supplemental Pell Grants starting in summer 2012. Since 2009, students planning to attend summer school could apply for a second Pell Grant to pay for school year-round. 650 KU students received a supplemental Pell Grant last year.
The loss of supplemental Pell Grants will certainly hurt students who need to attend school year-round, but will be less damaging than the loss of eligibility for any Pell Grants to 1.7 million students under the Republican proposal.
Drastic cuts to the Federal Pell Grant Program will result in fewer people attending college and therefore fewer college graduates. This will only add to the budget deficit in the long run by reducing economic growth and negatively affecting future entries into the job market.
The current cost of the Pell Grant Program to the federal government is about $45 billion. Obama’s proposal would cost about $35 billion and the Republican proposal about $25 billion.
The Republican proposal might save the government more money at first, but at what costs in the long run? Obama’s proposal, while still harmful, is a compromise.
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Comments
Editorial: Cutting Federal Pell Grant Program will hurt future job market
I'm sorry, I didn't know the constitution gave the federal government the authority to give taxpayer money to people, even if they are "poor."
Editorial: Cutting Federal Pell Grant Program will hurt future job market
You are forgiven.
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