Is your institution Pell ready?
Starting July 1, 2026, short-term workforce programs can qualify for federal Pell Grants for the first time in history. This free check tells you exactly which of your programs qualify — and what to do before the deadline.
What is Workforce Pell?
Bipartisan legislation expanding Pell Grant eligibility to short-term workforce programs — 150 to 599 clock hours, 8 to 15 weeks in length. For the first time, students in career-focused, non-degree programs can access federal grant funding.
Colleges that prepare early will be positioned to enroll Pell-eligible students from Day 1. Those that wait will lose those students to institutions that are ready.
State Criteria
- High-skill or high-wage occupation
- Demonstrated employer demand
- Stackable credential toward a degree
- Credits that count toward a recognized credential
Federal Criteria
- Program offered for at least 1 year
- ≥70% student completion rate
- ≥70% graduate placement rate
- Graduate earnings exceed the cost of tuition
What you get
A complete Pell Readiness Check — specific to your institution's catalog and your state's eligibility landscape.
Full Program Catalog Review
Every short-term program in your catalog evaluated against Workforce Pell's clock-hour and duration thresholds.
Clock-Hour & Duration Check
We flag programs that fall short of the 150–599 clock-hour range or outside the 8–15 week window — and those that need minor adjustments to qualify.
Pell Eligibility Scoring
Each program scored against both state criteria (high-skill occupation, employer demand, stackable credentials) and federal criteria (completion, placement, earnings).
Gap Identification
Programs you should consider adding — high-demand occupations in your region that qualify for Pell and aren't in your catalog yet.
Competitive Readiness Comparison
How your institution's Pell-eligible footprint stacks up against comparable colleges in your region.
Summary Report & Next Steps
A prioritized action plan — which programs to submit for Pell eligibility first, which need structural changes, and which are ready to go on Day 1.
Why act now
Workforce Pell is one of the most significant shifts in community college funding in decades. The colleges that prepare now will define the competitive landscape for years.
July 1, 2026 is the starting line
Institutions must have eligible programs designated before the deadline. That process takes time — curriculum review, state approval, federal submission. The window to prepare is now.
First-movers capture the students
Pell-eligible students will search for qualifying programs. Colleges that are ready on Day 1 will show up. Colleges that aren't ready will watch those students enroll somewhere else.
Enrollment impact is immediate
Short-term programs are price-sensitive. Pell eligibility removes the biggest barrier for working adults — cost. Qualifying programs routinely see enrollment lift once Pell is available.
$200K–$500K+ per eligible program
Each Pell-eligible program that fills cohorts generates significant new federal aid revenue. Multiply that across your catalog — the financial upside is substantial.
How it works
Tell Us Your Institution
Email us your college name and state. We locate your current program catalog and document every short-term offering you list.
We Evaluate Against Pell Criteria
Our team cross-references your programs against federal clock-hour thresholds, state high-skill/high-wage occupation lists, completion and placement benchmarks, and earnings data.
Get Your Readiness Report in 48 Hours
You receive a complete Pell Readiness Check — which programs qualify, which need changes, and exactly what steps to take before July 1, 2026.
No login. No sales call. Just data.
Email us your institution name and state. We handle the rest.
After your Pell Check
The Pell Readiness Check is your starting point. Once you know where you stand, Wavelength can help you move fast.