Study Details | Pathways to Work

101053.02-Study of Pell for Ve

Study quality: Low

Low

Reason for the rating: This study received a low study quality rating because it is a high-attrition randomized controlled trial that does not demonstrate that the program and comparison groups were sufficiently similar before the program.

Program: Pell for Very Short-Term Programs

Characteristics of study participants:

At least a high school diploma or equivalent

Services provided:

Tuition assistance/financial aid

Setting: Tested in multiple settings

Methods and Standards Protocol version used for review: Version 2.0

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Study design

Design:

Randomized controlled trial

Study group formation:

A total of 28 postsecondary schools nationwide participated in the study of Pell for Very Short-Term Programs. The schools identified eligible students and randomly assigned them to an offer of an experimental Pell Grant or not. Random assignment was stratified by study school and occupational training program of interest. A total of 2,399 students were enrolled in the study, with 1,488 assigned to the program group and 911 assigned to the comparison group.

Time period of study:

The study ran from November 2012 to December 2021. Study enrollment ran from November 2012 to March 2017. Study administrative data collection occurred from November 2012 to December 2021. Education outcomes were measured over a 30-month follow-up period; earnings and employment outcomes were measured over an average follow-up period of 6.5 years after enrollment, ranging from approximately 3.5 to 8 years after enrollment.

Pathways to Work only reports results from studies with a study quality rating of high or moderate.

Sample characteristics

Age

Mean age

32 years

Sex

Female	36%
Male	64%

Education

Had a high school diploma or GED

98%

Specific employment barriers

Were military veterans

Program implementation

Implementing organization:

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Federal Student Aid; school office of financial assistance staff

Program services:

The treatment condition waived a requirement for programs to include a minimum of 600 clock hours over 15 weeks, allowing Pell Grants to be used for very short-term programs (8 to 15 weeks). The waiver allowed Pell Grants to be applied toward short occupational programs leading to a certificate or credential aligned with local or regional workforce needs.

Mandatory services:

None

Comparison services:

The comparison group was not offered the experimental Pell Grant waiver in their financial aid package. Students met Pell Grant income requirements but were not eligible for a Pell Grant in the absence of the experimental waiver. Students in the comparison group could receive any other financial aid for which they were eligible, as determined by study schools.

Study publications

Thomas, Jamie, Naihobe Gonzalez, Breyton Williams, Nora Paxton, Jensen Hu, Andrew Weigand, and Leela Hebbar (2024). The effects of expanding Pell Grant eligibility for short occupational training programs: New results on employment and earnings from the Experimental Sites Initiative (NCEE 2025-005), U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance. Available at: https://ies.ed.gov/sites/default/files/ncee/document/2025/01/NCEE%202025-005r.pdf

Thomas, Jamie, Naihobe Gonzalez, Breyton Williams, Nora Paxton, Jensen Hu, Andrew Weigand, and Leela Hebbar (2024). The effects of expanding Pell Grant eligibility for short occupational training programs: New results on employment and earnings from the Experimental Sites Initiative - Appendix (NCEE 2025-005a), U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance. Available at: https://ies.ed.gov/sites/default/files/ncee/document/2025/01/2025005appendices.pdf

Thomas, Jamie, Naihobe Gonzalez, Nora Paxton, Andrew Weigand, and Leela Hebbar (2020). The effects of expanding Pell Grant eligibility for short occupational training programs: Results from the Experimental Sites Initiative (NCEE 2021-001), U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance. Available at: https://ies.ed.gov/sites/default/files/migrated/nces_pubs/ncee/pubs/2021001/pdf/2021001.pdf

Thomas, Jamie, Naihobe Gonzalez, Nora Paxton, Andrew Weigand, and Leela Hebbar (2020). The effects of expanding Pell Grant eligibility for short occupational training programs: Results from the Experimental Sites Initiative - Appendix (NCEE 2021-001a), U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance. Available at: https://ies.ed.gov/sites/default/files/migrated/nces_pubs/ncee/pubs/2021001/pdf/2021001_appendices.pdf

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Study of Pell for Very Short-Term Programs