Some community college students could lose their financial lifeline under the 'Big, Beautiful Bill'

Hundreds of thousands of community college students are at risk of losing financial assistance under the proposed “Big, Beautiful Bill,” which would tighten eligibility requirements for Pell Grants

Hundreds of thousands of community college students are at risk of losing financial assistance under the proposed “Big, Beautiful Bill,” which would tighten eligibility requirements for Pell Grants.

Students would be required to enroll full time to maintain eligibility for the federally subsidized grants that serve as a financial lifeline for many low- to middle-income students.

The bill would increase the number of credit hours students must take each semester from 12 to 15 and could strain those who work, parent, suffer financial distress or otherwise find it difficult to increase their course loads, according to the American Association of Community Colleges.

More than 10 million people are enrolled in community colleges across the United States. Students who attend four-year colleges can also apply for Pell Grants, but community colleges are often a gateway into the higher education pipeline for low- to middle-income students.

“I don’t have any other options,” said Lakina Mabins, 41, a mother of five who worked two jobs before becoming valedictorian last month at Kennedy King College in Chicago. “I couldn’t take out a loan if I wanted to because you have to have good credit.”