Pell Grant Sustainability Act

This bill aims to make Pell Grants keep up with rising college costs. It says the grant’s buying power has fallen a lot: in 1974–75 it covered about 80% of basic costs at public four‑year colleges, but by 2022–23 it covered only about 31%.

Starting in the 2024–2025 school year, the maximum Pell Grant would be tied to inflation. The total max would be the amount Congress sets each year plus an added amount that starts at $1,060 in 2024–25 and then rises each year by the Consumer Price Index. The total would be rounded to the nearest $5. The bill also makes the program’s yearly authority permanent, so it continues without a set end date .

• Who is affected: Students who qualify for Pell Grants, especially lower‑income students.
• What changes: The maximum grant grows with inflation each year, with an added amount that starts at $1,060 in 2024–25, and awards are rounded to the nearest $5.
• When: Begins with the 2024–2025 award year and continues every year; the program’s authority is made permanent .