November 20, 2014
Discretionary SpendingOption 37
Function 500 - Education, Training, Employment, and Social Services
Restrict Pell Grants to the Neediest Students
| Billions of dollars | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2015-2019 | 2015-2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restrict Pell Grants to Students With an EFC of $3,850 or Less | |||||||||||||
| Change in Discretionary Spending | |||||||||||||
| Budget authority | -0.1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | -0.6 | -1.3 | |
| Outlays | * | -0.1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | -0.5 | -1.2 | |
| Change in Mandatory Outlays | -0.1 | -0.3 | -0.4 | -0.5 | -0.5 | -0.5 | -0.5 | -0.6 | -0.6 | -0.6 | -1.7 | -4.6 | |
| Restrict Pell Grants to Students With an EFC of Zero | |||||||||||||
| Change in Discretionary Spending | |||||||||||||
| Budget authority | -6.9 | -6.9 | -6.9 | -6.9 | -6.9 | -7.0 | -7.0 | -7.1 | -7.2 | -7.2 | -34.5 | -70.0 | |
| Outlays | -1.9 | -6.9 | -6.9 | -6.9 | -6.9 | -6.9 | -7.0 | -7.0 | -7.2 | -7.2 | -29.4 | -64.7 | |
| Change in Mandatory Outlays | -0.6 | -2.4 | -2.8 | -3.0 | -3.1 | -3.1 | -3.2 | -3.2 | -3.3 | -3.3 | -12.0 | -28.0 | |
Notes: This option would take effect in July 2015. Estimates are relative to CBO’s August 2014 baseline projections.
EFC = expected family contribution; * = between -$50 million and zero.
Under current law, Pell grant recipients with an expected family contribution (EFC) exceeding 90 percent of the total maximum Pell grant award (that is, an EFC greater than $5,157 for academic year 2014–2015) are ineligible for a grant. One version of this option would make students with an EFC exceeding $3,850—the eligibility ceiling in the academic year 2006–2007—ineligible for a Pell grant; that ceiling would be adjusted for inflation in subsequent years. A stricter version of this option would reduce the eligibility ceiling to an EFC of zero.