Build Back Better Bill Would Punish Low-Income Students Attending Proprietary Postsecondary Schools

CECU | Career Education Colleges and Universities

Build Back Better Bill Would Punish Low-Income Students Attending Proprietary Postsecondary Schools

10/28/2021

Arlington, VA — The Build Back Better bill text that was released earlier today includes a harmful provision that will punish low-income and minority students attending proprietary postsecondary institutions. Specifically, the bill will prohibit such students from accessing the $550 increase in Pell Grants that will be available to students attending all other institutions. This is an unprecedented proposal, as Congress has never proposed punishing low-income students because of the institution they choose to attend.

“Excluding students attending proprietary postsecondary institutions from increased Pell Grant awards will punish hundreds of thousands of low-income students and runs counter to the goals of the Build Back Better agenda,” said CECU’s President and CEO, Dr. Jason Altmire. “Congress should reject this short-sighted proposal, which will have a disparate impact on nontraditional and minority students. We look forward to working with Democratic leadership to reform the Build Back Better plan so that all students in all sectors will be eligible for the expanded Pell Grant.”

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About Career Education Colleges and Universities
Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU) is the national association serving the proprietary higher education sector.

Please direct media inquiries to Devin Miller, Director of Communications at Devin.Miller@career.org.