NCAN Report Shows Dramatic Increase in FAFSA Eligibility Rates

"More than 1.5 million additional students were eligible to receive the maximum Pell Grant this academic year compared to the award cycle before the Free Application for Federal Student Aid simplification process was completed, a recent report from the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) shows. That's a 27 percent jump over the course of two years."

""Students are showing they value college by their choices. When we reduce barriers to college access and affordability, more students will apply, enroll, and succeed," Eddy Conroy, NCAN's senior communications director, told Inside Higher Ed. "We are seeing the promise of FAFSA Simplification made real with increased enrollment, increasing FAFSA completion rates, and more students than ever eligible for Pell Grants.""

"The report also shows that the number of students eligible for the minimum Pell Grant jumped from 18,453 students in 2023-24 to 326,441 in 2025-26. Overall, the number of Pell eligible students went up by about 418,000, or roughly 4 percent. Based on strong numbers so far in the 2026-27 college application cycle, NCAN says the nation is on pace for a record application rate among high school seniors. But worries about the future remain."

More than 1.5 million additional students became eligible for the maximum Pell Grant this academic year, a 27 percent increase over two years. The number of students eligible for the minimum Pell Grant rose from 18,453 in 2023-24 to 326,441 in 2025-26, and overall Pell eligibility increased by about 418,000 (roughly 4 percent). FAFSA application and college enrollment numbers have strengthened, putting the nation on pace for a record high application rate among high school seniors. Concerns remain about potential Pell Grant funding limits and the erosion of grant value amid rising college prices.

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