Florida’s high school Class of 2026 completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at the highest rate FCAN has ever recorded.
At the same time, Florida has begun implementing Workforce Pell, an expansion of the federal Pell Grant program. Since July 1, Workforce Pell has extended Pell eligibility to short-term workforce training programs that prepare students for high-skill, high-wage or in-demand jobs. As of Sept. 17, Gov. Ron DeSantis had announced Florida’s list of nearly 110 eligible programs. Once institutions certify their offerings meet established federal criteria, and are approved by the U.S. Department of Education, Workforce Pell Grant dollars may be awarded to eligible students.
On Sept. 24, FCAN’s webinar, FAFSA and Workforce Pell: What Florida Students and Institutions Need to Know, brought together FCAN researchers and national and state experts to explain what the numbers mean for Florida and what students, counselors and colleges should expect to come next.
FAFSA
Nearly 6 in 10 Florida seniors completed the FAFSA last cycle.
As of July 31, nearly 60% of Florida seniors, or about 119,000 students, had completed the FAFSA, FCAN research analyst Keyna Wintjen reported. The rate rose 6.4 percentage points from the year before and more than 20 points over two years. Those applications helped Florida students secure an estimated $191.1 million or more in Pell Grants by the same date.
Florida’s FAFSA growth ranked third in the nation.
The number of FAFSAs completed statewide grew about 12.5% this year, the third-largest increase of any state, according to Bill DeBaun, senior director of data and strategic initiatives at the National College Attainment Network (NCAN). DeBaun called the national gains a “collective victory” for the counselors, advisors, LCANs and partners working with students.
“To be ranked 30th, when just a couple of years ago Florida was ranked in the 40s, really does show some positive momentum,” DeBaun said of Florida’s national standing. He credited three factors for the national, and state, rebound:
- The form opened early, giving schools a longer window to complete it
- Counselors and advisors have grown familiar with the redesigned form
- Federal officials have removed more obstacles for students and parents
Middle-income families gained the most Pell eligibility.
The simplified federal aid formula expanded Pell eligibility most for students from families earning $60,000 to $125,000, said Catherine Brown, NCAN’s senior policy and advocacy director. Families in this range may assume they earn too much to qualify, which makes them a key audience for counselors and local college access networks this fall.
The 2027-28 FAFSA is open now.
Students can file at studentaid.gov, the earliest the form has ever opened. Brown said the form takes about 15 minutes and includes several improvements:
- Students can text invitations to parents and other contributors
- Parents with an individual Taxpayer Identification Number can transfer tax data directly from the IRS
- Families with less than $1,000 in cash no longer have to report it
A small number of students will be flagged by a new federal fraud screen and asked to show a government ID, so Brown recommended students bring one to FAFSA completion events.
Workforce Pell
Florida’s data system positions the state well for implementation.
Florida links education records with employment records and maintains statewide lists of in-demand occupations and quality credentials, said Dr. Carrie Henderson, managing principal of TSG Advisors – Education. That foundation has allowed the state to identify about 110 short-term certificates offered at Florida College System institutions and school district technical colleges.
Each college certifies its own programs.
Approval moves through three steps:
- The state places the program on its approved list
- Each college certifies that its own version meets federal standards for completion, job placement and graduate earnings
- The U.S. Department of Education gives final approval
“Just because a program is on the state inventory list does not automatically mean that program is eligible at every state college or technical college,” Henderson said.
Colleges and districts are now reviewing their programs for certification. As of Sept. 24, specific programs had not yet received final approval. Note: on September 29th, Eastern Florida State College announced that they had received federal approval for four programs – way to go Titans!
About 200 program offerings already meet federal standards.
Henderson analyzed 589 program offerings, meaning a certificate as offered at a particular college, using state data on completion and job placement. She found:
- About 200 offerings, serving roughly 15,000 students, meet both standards
- About 160 offerings, serving roughly 8,000 students, have room to grow on completion or job placement
- About 230 offerings are too small to appear in state data
Job placement within 180 days of completion is the standard colleges are watching most closely.
Workforce Pell adds to the aid Florida students already receive.
If every eligible program participates, Henderson estimated Workforce Pell would provide $6.6 million to $14 million a year to current Florida students, most likely about $10 million. About 94% would go to students at state colleges.
Traditional Pell remains the largest source of federal grant aid for Florida students. Many programs students ask about run longer than 600 hours and already qualify for traditional Pell. For both grants, the FAFSA is the first step.
Pathways for more programs are in development.
The Florida Department of Education is developing approval processes for registered apprenticeships, private colleges licensed by the Commission for Independent Education, and noncredit workforce programs. For apprenticeships, the state is working through how the grant applies to apprentices, who are exempt from fees under Florida law.
FCAN thanks Bill DeBaun, Catherine Brown and Dr. Carrie Henderson for joining this conversation.
Your Questions, Answered
What does a program need to qualify for Workforce Pell?
It must run 150 to 599 clock hours, or eight to 15 weeks. At least 70% of students must finish within 1.5 times the normal program length, and at least 70% must be employed within 180 days of finishing. The program must have operated for at least 12 months, and graduates must earn more than they likely would have without it to justify the cost. The credential must count toward further education and be recognized by multiple employers.
How is Workforce Pell different for students?
Awards are prorated to program length, so they are smaller than traditional Pell awards. Workforce Pell counts toward the 12-semester lifetime Pell limit, and the same academic progress and withdrawal rules apply. Students planning to continue to a degree should consider when to use their Pell benefits.
Where can I find eligible programs, and which fields are covered?
The state’s inventory is on the Florida Department of Education’s Workforce Pell page. Manufacturing has the most programs, followed by law and public safety, health science, and arts, A/V technology and communication. Agriculture and transportation and logistics also appear. Reminder: state-approved programs must still be certified by the federal government at an institution-by-institution level.
What is the maximum Pell Grant, and is it changing?
The maximum award is just under $7,400 and has held steady for three years. Congress faces a projected $15 billion Pell shortfall, and NCAN is advocating for full funding. Pell, including Workforce Pell, is for undergraduate and short-term training.
What’s new on the 2027-28 FAFSA?
The form is open now at studentaid.gov, the earliest release on record. Students can text invitations to parents and other contributors. Parents with an individual Taxpayer Identification Number can transfer tax data directly from the IRS.
How do we respond to families who say the FAFSA is complicated or invasive?
The form takes about 15 minutes to complete and can be finished in one sitting. It pulls tax information directly from the IRS, verifies Social Security numbers instantly and shows students their Pell eligibility as soon as they submit. FAFSA pulls data from existing sources and is not requesting new or invasive information.
What options do undocumented students have?
Students without lawful immigration status are not eligible for federal aid. Recent changes make it easier for mixed-status families to apply, including removing the word “legal” from the state residency question. Private scholarships may be available.
What should K-12 college and career readiness teams do differently this year?
While it’s too early to add Workforce Pell to senior advising conversations, you should start by asking local colleges which Florida-eligible programs they are submitting for federal approval. A small number of FAFSA applicants will be flagged by a new federal fraud screening detectors and asked to show a government ID, so encourage students to bring one to FAFSA events.
How are institutions handling data and reporting challenges?
Colleges should work with their institutional research offices now to pull historical completion and placement records, especially for programs too small to appear in state data. Colleges on 16-week terms may need to restructure programs to fit the 15-week limit.
What should scholarship providers know?
Because Workforce Pell awards are prorated, students may have remaining costs that scholarships can help cover. Providers may want to review whether their awards include short-term certificates and how they combine with a prorated grant.
Is there funding for nonprofits or colleges to complement Workforce Pell?
Workforce Pell money goes to students through eligible institutions and does not fund nonprofits directly. Certain Florida institutions, as members of multi-state consortia, will benefit from the $265 million in federal funding awarded through six rounds of the Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grant program.
How can nonprofits partner with colleges on paid student internships?
Federal Work-Study allows colleges to place students in community service jobs with nonprofit employers through an agreement with the college. Florida colleges already have mechanisms for establishing employer partnerships and work-based learning opportunities. Start with the college’s financial aid or career services office. Beginning with the 2026-27 award year, federal rules provide that a student can become ineligible for Pell if nonfederal grants or scholarships equal or exceed the student’s cost of attendance.
How are unusual circumstances handled?
Students who cannot provide parent information because of circumstances such as abandonment or an unsafe home can indicate this on the FAFSA and receive a provisional result. They must then contact the financial aid office at their intended college, which decides the case and may ask for a letter from a counselor, social worker or other third party. More information can be found in the 2026-27 Federal Student Handbook.
Is pilot training covered by the new Workforce Pell?
While Professional Pilot Technology (AS) and Commercial Pilot (CCC) are part of Florida’s CTE framework (Transportation, Distribution & Logistics), they are not on the most recent list of Pell-eligible programs.
Are there materials I can share with families?
The slides and recording are linked above. FCAN’s FAFSA resources are available here.