Workforce Pell

Description

Federal regulations are being developed to implement Workforce Pell as directed by the One Big Beautiful Bill (OB3) Act. These regulations will outline key requirements for institutional eligibility, program quality, and oversight, including standards for short-term program design, accreditation expectations, reporting, and accountability measures to ensure the Workforce Pell program meets its statutory goals.

Consensus was reached by the negotiated rulemaking committee on December 12, 2025.

• Topic One: Ineligibility for Federal Pell Grants Due to Receipt of Non-Federal Financial Assistance
  • § 690.5 Ineligibility due to assistance from non-Federal sources
  • § 690.80 Recalculation of a Federal Pell Grant award
• Topic Two: Workforce Pell Technical and Conforming Changes
  • § 600.10 Date, extent, duration, and consequence of eligibility
  • § 668.5 Written arrangements to provide educational programs
  • § 668.8 Eligible program
  • § 668.20 Limitations on remedial coursework that is eligible for Title IV, HEA program assistance
  • § 668.32 Student eligibility
  • § 690.2 Definitions
  • § 690.6 Duration of student eligibility
  • § 690.11 Concurrent Federal Pell Grant payments
• Topic Three: Workforce Pell Definitions
  • § 690.90 Scope and purpose
  • § 690.91 Definitions
  • § 690.92 Eligible workforce program
• Topic Four: Governor Approval of Eligible Workforce Programs
  • § 690.93 Components determined by Governors
• Topic Five: Secretary of Education Approval of Eligible Workforce Programs
  • § 690.94 Components determined by the Secretary
• Topic Six: Value-Added Earnings Calculation
  • § 690.95 Value-added earnings
• Topic Seven: Losing and Regaining Eligibility
  • § 690.96 Loss of eligibility
  • § 690.97 Regaining eligibility

Action to be taken

• Build internal awareness - Align leadership on Workforce Pell as a policy shift, not just a new aid program.
• Determine participation strategy - Decide whether the institution will offer Workforce Pell-eligible programs.
• Identify candidate programs - Review existing workforce, certificate, and non-degree offerings for eligibility.
• Engage at the state level - Track and participate in conversations shaping eligible occupations and programs.
• Review data and reporting capabilities - Confirm systems can track enrollment, completion, employment outcomes, and required reporting elements.

Effective Date

July 20, 2026

Resources

• Negotiated Rulemaking for Higher Education 2025  (AHEAD Committee)
• New OB3 Federal Statute Title VIII Committee on Health Education, Labor and Pensions: SEC. 83002. EXTENDING FEDERAL PELL GRANT ELIGIBILITY OF  CERTAIN SHORT-TERM PROGRAMS.
• U.S. Department of Education Concludes Negotiated Rulemaking Session to Implement the New Workforce Pell Grant Program; ED Press Release; December 12, 2025.
• AHEAD Week One Recap: Workforce Pell, State Roles, and Implications for Digital Learning; WCET Frontiers; December 18, 2025.
• WCET Fact Sheet:  Workforce Pell; January 2026  (WCET and SAN Member Only Resource)
  • WCET Member Only Access
  • SAN Member Only Access
• Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Accountability in Higher Education and Access through Demand-Driven Workforce Pell: Pell Grant Exclusion Relating to Other Grant Aid; and Workforce Pell Grants; March 9, 2026.
• Final Rules: Accountability in Higher Education and Access through Demand-Driven Workforce Pell: Pell Grant Exclusion Relating to Other Grant Aid and Workforce Pell Grants, May 19, 2026.
• U.S. Department of Education Fact Sheet: Trump Administration Implements Workforce Pell Grant Provisions of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act; May 19, 2026.