On July 1, Pell Grant eligibility will extend to incarcerated students ending a ban that prevented most incarcerated individuals for receiving federal aid for continuing education. This momentous change invalidates the ban put in place in 1994.
This change will make 760,000 eligible incarcerated students eligible for $7,395 in Pell Grant awards.
A Bureau of Justice Statistics study found a 43% reduction in recidivism rates for inmates who participated in prison education programs. The higher the education, the lower the recidivism:
- 14% for those obtaining an associate degree
- 5.6% for those obtaining an bachelor’s degree
- 0% for those obtaining a master’s degree
