College grants and scholarships are always in high demand for students seeking financial aid. In particular, grants stand out because they, unlike student loans, are given out to students without requiring them to be paid back in the future. Due to this demand, President Obama has proposed a few changes for the Pell Grant program. Pell Grants are meant to help out families of deserving students that live in disadvantaged areas or suffer from financial dishevelment. Students can apply for grants online or by mail by filling out a FAFSA, (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form. Those who do have their applications analyzed and receive aid accordingly. As such, the president’s decision could help students in need receive more aid then they had in the past.

The U.S. Department of Education, if the proposal passes, will receive a large increase in funds that can be used to help students who need it most. Per student, the maximum funds being made available through the Pell Grant are estimated to be around $5,710 starting in 2011 as opposed to the most recent approximation of around $5,350 per student. Though it may not seem like a huge increase, any college student can tell you that receiving $400 extra dollars from the government that doesn’t require pay back can and will go a very long way.

Along with this, the president also wants to be able to expand the number of students who qualify for the Pell Grant. The Chronicle of Higher Education quotes the president saying that the college grant should be, “An entitlement that receives an automatic budget allocation each year to meet the number of students who qualify.” This means that, if Congress approves, an extra million students should be included in the program’s benefits. Some $115 billion would then be dispersed to financially needy students over the course of the next ten years. Also, the White House states that nearly ninety-nine percent of eligible students for the Pell Grant would receive an increase in funds to continue their educational growth.

This remains consistent with the president’s most recent State of the Union Address which stated, “In the 21st century, the best anti-poverty program around is a world-class education.” College education is and will continue to be a priority for years to come. Thus, to provide the necessary education for our youth, our country must be able to provide an appropriate amount of aid to the students most in need. Changes like these will be the key to advancing our country more and more and we must do what we can to support them.