The Effects of Expanding Pell Grant Eligibility for Short Occupational Training Programs: Results from the Experimental Sites Initiative (NCEE 2021–001) (Thomas et al., 2021)

Study Profile What's in a study profile?
Causal Study Rating:
High Causal Evidence
Study Type:
Causal Impact Analysis
Outcome Findings:
Education and skills gains: Mod/high-Favorable impacts
Citation
Thomas, J., Gonzalez, N., Wiegand, A., Paxton, N., & Hebbar, L. (2021). The Effects of Expanding Pell Grant Eligibility for Short Occupational Training Programs: Results from the Experimental Sites Initiative (NCEE 2021–001). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance. [Experiment 1]

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There is no conflict of interest.

Highlights

  • The study’s objective was to examine the impact of expanded Pell Grants on program completion. This profile focuses on experiment 1 (short-term programs for post-bachelor’s students). The authors investigated similar research questions for another contrast, the profile can be found here.
  • The study was a randomized controlled trial that assigned students to the treatment or control group. Using data from school administrative records and the National Student Clearinghouse, the authors conducted statistical models to compare outcomes between the groups.
  • The study found that the expanded Pell Grant was significantly associated with increased program completion at the study school.
  • This study receives a low evidence rating. This means we are not confident that the estimated effects are attributable to the expanded Pell Grant; other factors are likely to have contributed.

Intervention Examined

Expanded Pell Grant

Features of the Intervention

Pell Grants are a type of federal financial aid for low-income students who are seeking an undergraduate degree or a semester long credential. In 2011, the U.S. Department of Education conducted experimental expansions to Pell Grant eligibility. One expansion allowed low-income adults with a bachelor's degree to receive Pell Grants for short-term occupational training programs. The short-term programs could last for up to a year or two years if the student was attending a program part time. The expanded Pell Grant program was implemented at 35 schools nationwide.

Features of the Study

The study used a randomized controlled trial to examine the impact of the expanded Pell Grant on program completion. The study targeted low-income adults who completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and showed interest in occupational training programs. Of the 437 eligible students, 277 students were assigned to the treatment group and 160 students were assigned to the control group. Students in the treatment group were offered the expanded Pell Grant by their school as part of their financial aid package, while students in the control group were only offered financial aid provided by the school. In the treatment group, over half of the students were women (63%) with an average age of 36 years and an adjusted gross income of $21,956. Students in the control group were primarily women (70%) with an average age of 35.9 years and an adjusted gross income of $18,186.

Study data were obtained from school records on academic progress and attainment, school administrative records, and the National Student Clearinghouse. Study authors used statistical models to compare outcomes between the students in the treatment group and students in the control group.

Findings

Education and skills gains

  • The study found a significant relationship between receipt of the expanded Pell Grant and program completion at the study school, where students in the treatment group were more likely to complete their program than students in the control group.
  • The study found that both men and women in the treatment group were significantly more likely to complete their program at the study school than those in the control group. This was also true for participants over 25, as well as dislocated workers in the treatment group.

Considerations for Interpreting the Findings

Although the study was a randomized controlled trial, the study had high attrition. In such cases, a study can still receive a moderate causal evidence rating if the analysis controls for possible differences in background characteristics of the treatment and control groups. However, the authors did not account for preexisting differences between the groups before program participation or include control variables for race/ethnicity as required by CLEAR. These preexisting differences between the groups—and not the expanded Pell Grant—could explain the observed differences in outcomes.

Causal Evidence Rating

The quality of causal evidence presented in this report is low because it was a randomized controlled trial with high attrition and the authors did not ensure that the groups being compared were similar before the intervention. This means we are not confident that the estimated effects are attributable to the expanded Pell Grant; other factors are likely to have contributed.

Additional Sources

Thomas, J., Gonzalez, N., Wiegand, A., Paxton, N., & Hebbar, L. (2021). The Effects of Expanding Pell Grant Eligibility for Short Occupational Training Programs: Results from the Experimental Sites Initiative–Appendix (NCEE 2021–001a). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance.
Reviewed by CLEAR: June 2026

Research Guidelines

Review Protocol: Living Systematic Annual Search and Review Protocol

Review Guidelines: Causal Evidence Guidelines