Federal Pell Grants, awarded to students demonstrating exceptional financial need, have not kept pace with the rising costs of higher education in Tennessee according to a new study by the Education Trust.
The organization’s research also found evidence that financial barrier is hindering the graduation rate of Pell-eligible students. They graduate at a rate of 22 percent below students who don’t receive the grant according to the study.
“For Tennessee’s students from economically vulnerable backgrounds, the rising cost of attending college – inclusive of tuition, fees, books, and living expenses – threatens equal opportunity and the promise of higher education,” wrote the Education Trust. “Rising tuition and fees, combined with skyrocketing living expenses, disproportionately impact students who are unable to count on the financial support of their families.”
The organization surveyed 532 college students to understand the financial barriers these students face to conduct the study. The organization also found the average Pell Grant only covers about 20 percent of college costs at a four-year institution in Tennessee, where the grant used to cover nearly 80 percent. This leads students to enroll in fewer classes each semester to accommodate a work schedule that will cover the remainder of the costs according to the study.
Of the Pell grant recipients surveyed, 30 percent reported working more than 30 hours per week while balancing academics. Inevitably, a heavy work schedule in addition to academics creates barriers for students to fully focus on their collegiate careers.
“It has been really hard these four years just because you want to put 100% into your academics but there’s a lot of things financially that we don’t have the privilege of not caring about,” said a 4-year university student in Middle Tennessee surveyed by the Education Trust. “I don’t have that privilege to not worry if my mom can’t pay rent this month – it takes away from the focus and concentration of school. Balancing work and being a student, that’s been really difficult.
Pell Grants largely support students of color. Nationally, the grant supports 51 percent of Black students, 46 percent of Latino students and 51 percent of Native American students.
Economically disadvantaged students rely on scholarships and grants to support their educational pursuits. This includes textbooks, school supplies, housing, and other means of support.
A surveyed student attending a public university in East Tennessee told the Education Trust they are forced to weigh what their necessities are and sometimes forgo what most would consider essential school materials because of financial constraints.
“Basically anything that is an accessory I had to opt out of. I opted out of textbooks because they are each $100. I asked someone to let me use theirs – I looked at people’s computers or asked a professor if I could see what the reading was about. I didn’t have the textbooks because it had to be an accessory,” the student said.
Survey respondents said that because of financial constraints, more than 61 percent considered discontinuing their education and nearly 69 percent enrolled in fewer courses at the beginning of the semester elongating their time in college and increasing the amount of time they are under financial and academic stress.
The Education Trust offered several recommendations to Tennessee policymakers to shrink the achievement gap and stop jeopardizing students’ access to post-secondary degrees. These recommendations include increasing allocations of award amounts and aligning eligibility and renewal requirements.
