2008 Woodie Awards
President Bush pushes for a possible Pell Grant raise
Brittany Lacey
Issue date: 2/15/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
More money. Two words most people like to hear and exactly what President Bush has been pushing for - a Pell Grant raise.
In the past, the average amount of money given to students by the Pell Grant has not raised substantially. But now, the administration is responding to years of stagnant support for grants to lower-income college students with an increase in Pell Grants, which will go to the neediest students.
Increasing the average Pell Grant to cover 70 percent of average in-state tuition, as the federal Commission on the Future of Higher Education has proposed, would cost $9-billion to $10.2-billion a year, according to an analysis by the American Council on Education.
The Pell Grant is currently only rewarding students with $2,445. An amount that does not fully cover the average public-college tuition. Today, public school tuition costs about $5,491, so the grant only covers about 44.5 percent of it.
Under the proposed budget, the Pell Grant will jump from the current $4,050 to $4,600 by 2008. And by 2012, it could raise to $5,400.
"I think that any increase of money is a good idea," said Katy Guest, freshman, Plymouth, Mass. "I know a lot of kids who can't afford to go to college because of the prices."
Guest said the majority of her friends go to work after high school because they can't afford the high tuition and some, who did go to college, had to drop out because of it being too expensive.
Colleges and universities have long pushed for an increase in the Pell Grant, but they have been disappointed by President Bush's proposals.
"This Pell Grant will definitely affect college students because some need more of a push to attend school," said Christina Soares, freshman, Naugatuck. "Some students feel that they can't afford college so why bother applying themselves. But if the opportunity is there for them to have the funds to attend, then maybe they will try harder when it comes to receiving an education."
Sylvie Hangen, associate dean of financial assistance, she said that if the Pell Grant finally goes through, it would be a positive success for students.
"In the past they have had plans on funding this grant, but it has unfortunately not gone through," said Hangen. "I hope it does go through because it's a good opportunity for students."
In terms of how much any increase on the Pell Grant would help Sacred Heart students, Hangen said, "The funding of this grant could affect where students go to school, but I'm not sure it would be enough money to help out on the tuition prices here."
The only problem with the Pell Grant is that a certain criteria needs to be met. It will only help out what the government deems as "low-income" families.
"Personally I think that it shouldn't be limited to low-income students," said Steve Coppola, sophomore, Guildford. "Regardless of how much parents make, college is expensive."
In the past, the average amount of money given to students by the Pell Grant has not raised substantially. But now, the administration is responding to years of stagnant support for grants to lower-income college students with an increase in Pell Grants, which will go to the neediest students.
Increasing the average Pell Grant to cover 70 percent of average in-state tuition, as the federal Commission on the Future of Higher Education has proposed, would cost $9-billion to $10.2-billion a year, according to an analysis by the American Council on Education.
The Pell Grant is currently only rewarding students with $2,445. An amount that does not fully cover the average public-college tuition. Today, public school tuition costs about $5,491, so the grant only covers about 44.5 percent of it.
Under the proposed budget, the Pell Grant will jump from the current $4,050 to $4,600 by 2008. And by 2012, it could raise to $5,400.
"I think that any increase of money is a good idea," said Katy Guest, freshman, Plymouth, Mass. "I know a lot of kids who can't afford to go to college because of the prices."
Guest said the majority of her friends go to work after high school because they can't afford the high tuition and some, who did go to college, had to drop out because of it being too expensive.
Colleges and universities have long pushed for an increase in the Pell Grant, but they have been disappointed by President Bush's proposals.
"This Pell Grant will definitely affect college students because some need more of a push to attend school," said Christina Soares, freshman, Naugatuck. "Some students feel that they can't afford college so why bother applying themselves. But if the opportunity is there for them to have the funds to attend, then maybe they will try harder when it comes to receiving an education."
Sylvie Hangen, associate dean of financial assistance, she said that if the Pell Grant finally goes through, it would be a positive success for students.
"In the past they have had plans on funding this grant, but it has unfortunately not gone through," said Hangen. "I hope it does go through because it's a good opportunity for students."
In terms of how much any increase on the Pell Grant would help Sacred Heart students, Hangen said, "The funding of this grant could affect where students go to school, but I'm not sure it would be enough money to help out on the tuition prices here."
The only problem with the Pell Grant is that a certain criteria needs to be met. It will only help out what the government deems as "low-income" families.
"Personally I think that it shouldn't be limited to low-income students," said Steve Coppola, sophomore, Guildford. "Regardless of how much parents make, college is expensive."
Be the first to comment on this story