Posted on 02/09/2015 11:33:07 AM PST by Academiadotorg
Pell grants are a lifeline for many American students, costing billions of taxpayer dollars, but what do we have to show for it? A policy paper by the American Enterprise Institute’s Kevin James points out that Pell grants do not help students looking to transition to a career field.
James noted that “almost one-third of Pell Grant dollars are going to students pursuing career education,” or in other words, students who are going into technical fields and blue-collar jobs. Overall, as a different study from the New America Foundation noted, 42% of Pell Grant recipients are seeking a two-year associate’s degree, or about $10 billion is invested in these vocational career students. The study also pointed out the strict guidelines of the Pell Grant put these vocational students in a tough situation.
As the study said:
“These restrictions around how students can apply their Pell grants and loans are often at odds with the needs of career education students, who may be better served by short-term, modularized, and/or self-paced programs. Unlike many traditional-age students, career education students often do not have two or four years to spare for full-time study. They also tend to be older and more experienced than their counterparts in traditional academic programs. A more appropriate financing system would link financial aid to demonstrations of learning that can be captured in high-quality credentials with value in the labor market.”
It looks like the article is saying that students taking technical or vocational training can get Pell Grants if they are taking the course at a community college or 4-year college. They cannot get Pell Grants for non-college training programs.
Whether that’s good or bad, I can’t say. However, it’s not the same as saying Pell Grants aren’t available for technical or vocational training. If a student wants to take welding, HVAC service, or auto mechanics at his local community college, he can qualify for a Pell Grant under the standard criteria.
I WILL say that Pell grants is probably money better spent than throwing money away monitoring the reproductive tendencies of Turtles that live near the South Carolina coast, or studying how often blind transgender Lesbians have sex, ect. lol
Ideally we’d spend money on none of the above, but if I had to choose a ‘lesser evil’, I’d pay for folks to attend college.
The author is ignorant of the reason we have Community Colleges and Pell Grants. The computer/software education, RNs, paralegals, Criminal Justice two year degree (cops/probation officers,), EMT, Firefighters, Water Treatment Operators/Wastewater Treatment, A/C/Refrigeration, Electricians, and other blue collar job certificates/degrees... so the poor can be educated to perform work that will help them support themselves and not be a burden on the food stamp, welfare, and Section 8 give aways.
The average student can correct their lower grades with preliminary classes before a program starts. The BLET is also taught at a lot of CCs. A much better system than our Universities that allow such leftist lunatics run the curriculum. A lot of Conservatives teach at Community Colleges, or did in the past creating a learning atmosphere, I did. There is no tenure, one must actually perform the teaching and do a good job to stay. You are reviewed by the students, and others.
The author has no real understanding of the value of Pell Grants to the Country and jobs...or how the programs at Community College really work. THE LOCAL JOB MARKET NEEDS THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO GET QUALIFIED WORKERS, AND MANY ARE HIRED DIRECTLY AFTER GRADUATION.
Pell Grants also help those going to four year University get their first two years of what are known as ‘BASIC CORE CLASSES’, which are necessary for any four year degree in America. These are ‘College Transfer’ degrees, and once finished the person can move to their Major and Minor at the University level. The savings of those two years is usually more than $10,000-15,000 on their bachelor degree. Which means a lot lower student loans...or maybe no debt at all.
The CC student lives at home and commutes... He/She is not involved in sororities or parties on campus.....a huge savings for parents.
Community College is great because the actual material is taught and not politics or left/right agendas. Some of that is changing though in past few years. High School students can take these college classes through the HS’s that support their local CC. They get both HS and college credit, which allows them to move into a job in two to three years....and work full time. Actual job qualifications within a year to three years, and ready to work.
America has had this program for many decades and our capitalism has benefited more than lost, even if taxpayers have paid. A student can take a full load of classes for less than $1200-1500 a year, and think about... how much entitlements would have cost if they hadn’t learned a trade, a profession, or prepared for college without student loans...now that Zero is forgiving the student loans. The savings is astronomical!
The US Government should simply eliminate all grants, subsidies and loan guarantees.
Let Higher Education survive on tuition and state money alone.
Nothing else.
And make them file an income tax return EVERY YEAR.
My Pell Grants were more than paid off by my tax rate.
One student I went to school with regularly got Pell grants. She used them to furnish her Section 8 apt.
NO she didn’t, you must be speaking of another grant, because Pell Grants are paid directly to the college.
Yes she did. I saw the furniture.
Back in 1984.
Here ya go:
“Your school can apply Federal Pell Grant funds to your school costs, pay you directly, or combine these methods. Learn more about how (and when) you’ll be paid.”
https://studentaid.ed.gov/types/grants-scholarships/pell
Just want to make sure you saw my response to you calling me a liar.
Perhaps that may be the case now, but in the past you *could* get Pell Grants for such. I did, in the early 90's...
the infowarrior
I'm not sure what they mean. Maybe your 6-week summer CNA course?
Let me say this, if someone used their Pell Grant (any school who pays the student), for furniture then they will have to repay the funds or pay for the classes and books themselves. If they don’t take the classes that money will have to be repaid.
So don’t say people can use their Pell Grant for personal reasons unless it is gas or books when a student gets what is knows as a leftover check after classes are paid for. Either way the money from a Pell Grant is not for anything but School Expenses, PERIOD.
You made it look like people can use that money for anything without consequences, and that is not true.
Don’t reply to me again about this, instead call your local Community College financial aid office. I guarantee they will set you straight.
Now you’re just making things up. Where did I say she didn’t take her classes and where did I say anyone else used the money for things other than school related expenses? And, FYI, Pell grants don’t have to be repaid or didn’t you read the link I sent you.
She did it. Period. You are looking foolish defending something you know nothing about. This was back in 1984 and she didn’t hide what she did with the money. I was working 2 jobs and going to school full time. What furniture I had was second hand while this sow was given a free ride and then some. Guess what - there is human trash out there that can work the system and use our hard earned tax dollars in immoral and unethical ways.
Not sure who you are, but when I am wrong, I apologize and if the tables were turned, I would have already apologized to you. I am actually embarrassed for you.
I know Pell Grants are not repaid....did you not read my first post...I was a Community College Instructor for years. I know what it is, and I said contact the Financial Aid Office and they will set you straight.
I do not owe you an apology.
I’ve written FinAid software packages for multiple colleges, and Kackikat is right.
The Pell payments are wired from G5 directly into a disbursement bank account that is controlled by the college. The funds are then transferred (within 3 business days per Title IV rules) to the student’s account ledger sheet to pay for tuition and other college direct expenses.
Now, it is true that technically any monies credited to the student that exceed the amount actually owed to the school during the aforesaid 3 day window must be reimbursed to the student. This can happen with Sallie Mae or parent-backed loans where the student requested more money that was required to pay for direct costs. The excess funds must be disbursed to the student, presumably for other things they want to pay for, like off-campus housing, bus fares, etc.
Pell is a grant, not a loan. So it gets kicked into the payment bucket first. Cash next. Loans go in last. So only excess loans ever get disbursed (partially) back to the student, never Pell. This is because Pell will never pay beyond a basic rate which never fully covers tuition, at least not at any college I have ever seen.
So the bottom line is that students never get a check for Pell.
Thank you.
Your quote: “The excess funds must be disbursed to the student, presumably for other things they want to pay for, like off-campus housing, bus fares, etc.”
What you said... was what I was trying to explain in my comment #14, that those funds are for gas or school expenses as you relayed, if there is a check left over after class tuition costs. If that person buys furniture, their other expenses will have to be paid out of other personal funds or a job, but the Pell Grant was not for that expenditure. And they pay that back by buying books, housing, or gas out of pocket.
My daughter was married to a lazy pothead who couldn’t keep a job. She had dropped out in her senior of HS year to marry the bum. She finally had a revelation, pursued and got her GED. She decided nursing was the way for her and she applied for and got a pell grant, enrolled at our then 2 year community college, got all her requisites done in 2 years. Was admitted into the further 2 year nursing school, completed the program and came out an RN. She was able to do it all with Pell grants. There was no way to pursue that level of school and a job at the same time. This was 18 years ago.
She is now a full fledged trauma norse and has worked some of the biggest ER’s in NM and AZ and helped save countless lives. She is currently in a large hospital as an ICU nurse and serves as the Hospital charge nurse when needed. She pulls 70-80 hrs a week making high 80-100k a year. She has more than paid back the grants thru taxes paid.
My grandaughter is following in her footsteps and her pell grant is 2,800.00 a semester. Her tuition and books for 15-16 credit hour course load is about 1900.00 and she received a 900.00 check for the balance of her semester for fees etc. If she is able to duplicate her Aunts feat, she will also be an asset, not a liability. (she got her GED at 16, is 17 1/2 now and already has CNA certification and in her last freshman semester fulfilling requisite courses).
Neither of these girls would have had a chance in the world getting thru a 4 year course of study without the grants. The feds can get quite a return on a $5k annual investment. I am sure there are some gaming the system, but they can’t for long because the grantee has to carry a specific GPA which rises each subsequent grant year to continue study.
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