Workforce Pell in the District of Columbia

Workforce Pell is a new federal policy created in the H.R. 1 that extends federal Pell Grant eligibility to short-term, nondegree training programs between 150 and 599 clock hours (8-14 weeks). This allows eligible learners to receive financial assistance for high-demand credentials from Title IV institutions.  

Learner eligibility:  

To quality for Workforce Pell, students must: 

• Meet the income criteria aligned with standard Pell Grant requirements 
• Hold no higher than a bachelor's degree as their highest level of education 

Program eligibility: 

Eligible programs must meet federal and state requirements, outlined in the Workforce Pell Policy.  

District of Columbia’s Workforce Pell Policy Proposal 

Under H.R. 1, the Mayor of the District of Columbia is responsible for approving Workforce Pell-eligible programs authorized to operate in the District in consultation with the State Workforce Development Board and subject to federal eligibility criteria. 

An interagency working group on Workforce Pell has convened regularly since the spring of 2026 to develop the District’s Workforce Pell Policy.  

Click here to complete the DC Workforce Pell Program Application 

Applications for the first round submission are due on September 30, 2026.

Note: This page will be updated as the federal government releases additional guidance on Workforce Pell implementation.