Advocates say new rules around a federal financial aid program will help more Ohio residents get workforce training that may lead to a job.
Federal Pell Grants help low-income students pay for higher education. The awards have long been limited to courses running for a minimum of 15 weeks or 600 “clock hours.”
Beginning in mid-2026, recipients will be able to use their awards to help pay for approved short-term workforce training programs of eight to 14 weeks in length. The initiative is commonly referred to as “Workforce Pell,” though the funding comes from the same pot of money as non-workforce grants.
Federal leaders say expanding access will open up pathways to “high-wage, in-demand skills” and ultimately help students get jobs such as emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and automotive mechanics. These types of short-term courses are mostly offered at community colleges and technical schools.
It’s a win-win for both the state’s residents and its workforce, according to Avi Zaffini, president and CEO of the Ohio Association of Community Colleges. He said short-term courses help Ohioans get into a job quicker while giving employers more well-trained workers.
“Workforce needs are becoming more acute, and the skills required are constantly needing to be refreshed,” he said.
It also offers community colleges, including Ohio’s 22 institutions, another income stream. The COVID-19 pandemic hit these campuses particularly hard, though enrollment’s now trending upward for Ohio’s largest two-year public colleges.
Workforce Pell Grant eligibility requirements include stackable pathways, post-grad data
The Trump administration included the Workforce Pell expansion in its “One Big Beautiful Bill” that became law earlier this year. The legislation requires programs to earn approval from state governments as well as the U.S. Department of Education.
Higher education institutions will need to provide all kinds of data to earn that endorsement, including proof that at least 70% of students finish a program. In the future, schools will also need to show that 70% of graduates find a job in a related field.
That’s a lot of details to track. OACC’s Zaffini said his group is already in talks with the Ohio Department of Higher Education about what this process might look like.
“How this information needs to be collected or reported on a state level, there’s going to be some work there,” he said.
Ohio community colleges take inventory of programs
Eligibility requirements extend further than providing more metrics.
Institutions will need to show that programs are “stackable,” meaning students can put completed credits toward another degree or certificate program in the future. Programs must also fall under what a state government deems to be an in-demand position. In Ohio, that list includes truck drivers, machinists and electricians.
OACC officials don’t yet know how many programs at colleges across the state may be eligible. Zaffini said his members are currently taking inventory of their offerings to see which may check all of the necessary boxes.
One of those institutions recently earned praise for its efforts. Left-leaning think tank New America applauded Northeast Ohio’s Lorain County Community College “Fast Track” programs.
Most of these 13 certificate programs – ranging from robotics operation to introductory software development – already hit many of the Workforce Pell requirements thanks to an intentional design process.
“Implementing Workforce Pell will undoubtedly feel daunting for many institutions,” New America wrote this month in a blog post. “But Lorain’s Fast Track programs show that colleges can design short, affordable, career-aligned pathways that meet even the most exacting quality criteria.”
What comes next for Workforce Pell Grants
Higher education institutions and states are operating under a tight timeline. Federal law says Workforce Pell must start in July.
A committee of national higher education leaders, employers and others met in Washington, D.C., last week to hash out specific implementation details. Those regulations must all be officially signed off on before states can start their approval process, according to Inside Higher Ed.
As for potential students, they’ll need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (or FAFSA) form to see if they qualify to receive a Pell Grant. The application for the upcoming school year is already live online.
Nationwide, most Pell Grant recipients attend either a community college or a public four-year university. During the 2022-23 school year, 80,555 Ohio students received a Pell Grant, according to the most recent federal data.