
In December 2020, the 26-year-old ban on Pell Grants for incarcerated learners was lifted. Incarcerated learners will once again be able to apply for federal Pell Grants to pay for college courses. This is a major victory for incarcerated learners and their advocates.
The ban lift was part of a spending bill that also simplifies the application for federal financial aid and forgives more than $1 billion in loans for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
At Ascendium, we know that education is a driver for greater social mobility. We’re excited about what the repeal means for countless incarcerated people and the generations to follow. Ascendium is committed to supporting the development and scaling of high-quality postsecondary education in prison programs; increasing access is a key step.