The National Center for Education Statistics recently released a report describing the characteristics of college graduates who have received Pell Grants and comparing them to non-Pell Grant graduates. Here are some of the findings from their study:
- 36 percent of 1999-2000 bachelor’s degree recipients received at least one Pell Grant while in college.
- Pell Grant recipients had greater undergraduate “risk characteristics,” including delaying post-secondary enrollment or failing to graduate from high school than non-recipients
- Pell Grant recipients whose parents did not attend college took longer to finish their Bachelor’s degree than recipients whose parents held a least a bachelor’s degree. They also enrolled in graduate school at a lower rate.
- When controlling for these risk factors — including parents level of higher education — Pell Grant recipients actually graduated more quickly than non-recipients.
While I don’t think getting a Pell Grant will make or break your graduation time statistic, it is undoubtedly a great way to pay for college. And if President Obama gets his way, there will soon be more students who are Pell Grant eligible — more than ever before.
Learn more about the Pell Grant for low-income students from FinancialAidFinder.