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Background

As of July 1, 2026, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act extends federal Pell Grant eligibility to “eligible workforce programs,” with a new set of eligibility criteria focused on short-term, direct-to-workforce programs. The goal of Workforce Pell is to enable institutions to deliver high-quality, direct-to-workforce training programs that align with state workforce needs.

The Indiana Commission in partnership with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development and in consultation with the State Workforce Board have established policies and an application process by which they will determine if programs meet the requirements outlined below. Programs submitted will be reviewed by the agencies, then forwarded to Indiana's Governor for approval. Programs approved by the Governor will be sent to the U.S. Department of Education for final federal validation.

For 2026-2027, Indiana will limit Workforce Pell program applications to its public two-year institutions – Ivy Tech Community College and Vincennes University – as part of its pilot implementation.

You can learn more about the federal rules for Workforce Pell on the Federal Register website.

Institutions will need to complete an application for each program for which they are seeking approval. All institutions must review the Workforce Pell Policy and Technical Appendices, Program Eligibility Flowchart, and the application PDF prior to starting the application process.

Submit Workforce Pell Applications Through This Link

Once submitted, a joint committee of representatives from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and the Indiana Department of Workforce Development will recommend for Governor approval if a program meets the requirements. Upon approval, the Governor will certify to the U.S. Department of Education that the program meets eligibility for Workforce Pell. 

Upon receipt of this state certification, the U.S. Department of Education will conduct its own evaluation of the program for final determination. A list of eligible Workforce Pell programs that have received approval from the Governor of Indiana and the U.S. Secretary of Education will be available on this webpage.

Workforce Pell: 2026-2027 Pilot Implementation

For 2026-2027, Indiana will limit Workforce Pell program applications to its public two-year public institutions as part of its pilot implementation. Indiana intends to open the application process to all eligible institutions after the pilot phase has concluded (early to mid-2027). 

To be eligible for Workforce Pell in Indiana, programs must:

  • Run between 150 and 599 clock hours or between 4 and 15 credit hours, with a program length between 8 and 14 weeks.
  • Lead directly to a recognized occupation in one of Indiana’s high-growth, high-demand job sectors.
  • Lead to a recognized, stackable, and portable credential that can be articulated to academic credit in a related certificate or degree.
  • Meet minimum accountability standards, including:
    • Demonstrate a 70% completion rate,
    • Demonstrate a 70% job-placement rate, and
    • Pass a tuition to value-added earnings test.
  • Be offered at a college or university located in the state of Indiana that is approved by the U.S. Department of Education to disburse Federal Pell Grant funds. 

Students must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the upcoming academic year and demonstrate financial need to qualify for Federal Workforce Pell. Students must also meet other Federal student aid eligibility requirements, complete FAFSA verification (if selected) or steps to resolve other FAFSA actions required, and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress. Students should contact the financial aid office at the institution offering the Workforce Pell program to learn more information about specific financial aid eligibility and steps to apply. 

Workforce Pell award amounts are prorated based on the program length and count toward a student’s lifetime Federal Pell Grant eligibility units. Learn more about the Federal Pell Grant calculation or contact the financial aid office at the institution offering the Workforce Pell program. 

Students cannot receive both regular Pell and Workforce Pell at the same time. While students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree may be eligible for Workforce Pell, students who have obtained a graduate-level degree are not eligible.