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Workforce Pell: Pell Grants for short programs
614 clock-hour certificate programs in IPEDS run 150 to 599 hours, the band Workforce Pell covers; each still needs its state's and the Department of Education's approval.
The rules
Since July 1, 2026, Pell Grants can pay for some short programs (8 to 14 weeks, 150 to 599 clock hours) that your state's governor and the U.S. Department of Education have approved.
The law is P.L. 119-21, section 83002, amending section 401 of the Higher Education Act; the final rule is at 91 FR 29254 (May 19, 2026), effective July 20, 2026.
A program must run at least 8 but under 15 weeks and 150 to 599 clock hours (34 CFR 690.92); be approved by the governor as meeting in-demand, stackable and employer-aligned tests (690.93); show at least 70 percent completion and 70 percent job placement (690.94); and keep tuition and fees at or below its graduates' value-added earnings, their median earnings minus 150 percent of the poverty line (690.95).
The Department of Education announces approvals program by program and publishes no national list.
Approved program lists by state
No Workforce Pell list is loaded for any state yet. When a state or the Department publishes one, programs on it get a dated badge here, with the list's name and date.
- Alaska: no list loaded
- Alabama: no list loaded
- Arkansas: no list loaded
- Arizona: no list loaded
- California: no list loaded
- Colorado: no list loaded
- Connecticut: no list loaded
- District of Columbia: no list loaded
- Delaware: no list loaded
- Florida: no list loaded
- Georgia: no list loaded
- Hawaii: no list loaded
- Iowa: no list loaded
- Idaho: no list loaded
- Illinois: no list loaded
- Indiana: no list loaded
- Kansas: no list loaded
- Kentucky: no list loaded
- Louisiana: no list loaded
- Massachusetts: no list loaded
- Maryland: no list loaded
- Maine: no list loaded
- Michigan: no list loaded
- Minnesota: no list loaded
- Missouri: no list loaded
- Mississippi: no list loaded
- Montana: no list loaded
- North Carolina: no list loaded
- North Dakota: no list loaded
- Nebraska: no list loaded
- New Hampshire: no list loaded
- New Jersey: no list loaded
- New Mexico: no list loaded
- Nevada: no list loaded
- New York: no list loaded
- Ohio: no list loaded
- Oklahoma: no list loaded
- Oregon: no list loaded
- Pennsylvania: no list loaded
- Rhode Island: no list loaded
- South Carolina: no list loaded
- South Dakota: no list loaded
- Tennessee: no list loaded
- Texas: no list loaded
- Utah: no list loaded
- Virginia: no list loaded
- Vermont: no list loaded
- Washington: no list loaded
- Wisconsin: no list loaded
- West Virginia: no list loaded
- Wyoming: no list loaded
Programs in the 150 to 599 hour band, by type
- Nail tech: 255 clock-hour certificates
- Esthetician: 78 clock-hour certificates
- Barbering: 70 clock-hour certificates
- CDL: 49 clock-hour certificates
- CNA: 30 clock-hour certificates
- Phlebotomy: 27 clock-hour certificates
- Welding: 23 clock-hour certificates
- Cosmetology: 19 clock-hour certificates
Source: IPEDS COST1 2024-25 program lengths. Being in the hour band does not make a program approved.