The FAFSA Simplification Act led to a major expansion of eligibility for the Pell Grant program, which aims to help lower-income students afford their college education, according to the Government Accountability Office.
The GAO reports that about 10 million students were eligible for a grant for the 2024-25 school year. Their analysis also found a 6% increase compared to the previous school year, or about 570,000 more students. Democrats on the House Education and Workforce Committee requested the report.
The surge is despite fewer students completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid process at the time due to ...