Arizona students at risk as President Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ threatens Pell Grants

PHOENIX — The U.S. House GOP budget proposal includes billions of dollars in cuts to Pell Grants, which could prevent Arizona students from pursuing postsecondary education.

A Pell Grant is a form of need-based financial aid for college students that does not have to be repaid.

Advocates with Education Forward Arizona CEO Rich Nickel said the Trump administration’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” seeks to cut around $10.9 billion in Pell grants.

“Arizona does have a goal. It’s an attainment goal … that 60% of our adults in Arizona will be holding a degree or credential by 2030,” Nickel said.

Without funding that helps students attend college, the state won’t be able to attain that Achieve60AZ goal, he added.

“Amy time we de-invest in education, whether it’s here in the state or federally, we’re really just causing progress to slow down towards that goal,” Nickel said.

How will cuts to Pell Grants hurt Arizona students?

Cuts to Pell Grants could also hurt the state’s economy, as more Arizonans may be unable to afford college, limiting their career prospects, he added.

“If that happens, then what we’re looking at is more Arizona students not getting these good jobs that are coming to Arizona,” Nickel said.

Many high-profile employers are expanding operations in the state, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and Mayo Clinic.

Fewer Arizonans pursuing higher education could push these companies to bring in out-of-state workers with high-value credentials, degrees, certificates, and skills—rather than hiring locally, he added.

What are educators doing to fight cuts to Pell Grants?

Education Forward Arizona is joining 169 other organizations nationwide to urge Congress to deny the proposed cuts.

Nickel said he is hoping for a reconciliation bill that rejects the cuts to Pell grants. In fact, he hopes for a boost in funding for the program.

“This investment will ensure that almost 130,000 Arizona students, many from first-generation low-income backgrounds … won’t face the consequences of reduced Pell funding … That will help them be able to afford going to a college or university of their choice,” he said.

For now, the advocacy group is focusing on shedding light on the importance of these programs, hoping to get U.S. House Representatives to understand what these cuts could mean for Arizonans.

Funding for this journalism is made possible by the Arizona Local News Foundation.

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