Indiana students will soon be able to get federal financial aid for shorter, work-focused college programs.

Gov. Mike Braun announced July 1 that Ivy Tech Community College and Vincennes University will be the first schools in Indiana to apply for Workforce Pell funding from the U.S. Department of Education. 

Pell Grants are federal financial aid funds that generally go to families making less than $50,000 a year. The federal government authorized the expansion to Workforce Pell last year as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. 

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Workforce Pell Grants will allow students to receive federal student aid for shorter programs between eight and 14 weeks long. Under traditional Pell Grants, programs need to be at least 15 weeks long.

While Indiana hasn’t yet had specific certifications approved, the state will focus on five industries: advanced manufacturing, construction, healthcare, IT and transportation.

And while the program is starting with Ivy Tech and Vincennes, all Indiana colleges will be encouraged to submit programs to get Workforce Pell funding in 2027.

Mary Jane Michalak, Ivy Tech’s senior vice president of legal and public affairs, previously told Mirror Indy the college is looking at making certifications it already offers eligible for the new federal funding. These include certifications in welding, emergency medical technician and industrial maintenance, as well as commercial drivers license.

A Department of Education analysis showed that students could receive up to $3,980, depending on the length of the program and how many hours of instruction students receive in that time.

How do I apply?

To get Workforce Pell funding, you will need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The 2026-27 form is currently open. The 2027-28 FAFSA is expected to open Oct. 1. 

You must have at least a high school diploma or equivalent, such as a GED, to be eligible for Workforce Pell Grants. You also can’t receive a traditional Pell Grant at the same time as a Workforce Pell Grant. 

Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations. 

Claire Rafford covers higher education for Mirror Indy in partnership with Open Campus. Contact Claire by email claire.rafford@mirrorindy.org, at 317-759-0249 or on most social media @clairerafford.

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Ivy Tech, Vincennes will be first schools to offer Workforce Pell Grant programs

by Claire Rafford, Mirror Indy
July 6, 2026

<h1>Ivy Tech, Vincennes will be first schools to offer Workforce Pell Grant programs</h1> <p class="byline">by Claire Rafford, Mirror Indy <br />July 6, 2026</p> <p>Indiana students <a href="https://www.in.gov/che/state-financial-aid/state-financial-aid-by-program/workforce-pell" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">will soon be able to get</a> federal financial aid for shorter, work-focused college programs.</p> <p><a href="https://events.in.gov/event/gov-braun-launches-workforce-pell-in-indiana-unlocking-federal-financial-aid-for-shortterm-in-demand-job-training" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gov. Mike Braun announced July 1</a> that Ivy Tech Community College and Vincennes University will be the first schools in Indiana to apply for <a href="https://mirrorindy.org/workforce-pell-ivy-tech-community-college-indianapolis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Workforce Pell funding</a> from the U.S. Department of Education. </p> <p>Pell Grants are federal financial aid funds that generally go to families making less than $50,000 a year. The federal government authorized the expansion to Workforce Pell last year as part of the <a href="https://upcea.edu/workforce-pell-is-now-law-under-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-obbb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">One Big Beautiful Bill Act</a>. </p> <div class="wp-block-group alignright has-light-gray-background-color has-background"> </div> <p>Workforce Pell Grants will allow students to receive federal student aid for shorter programs between eight and 14 weeks long. Under traditional Pell Grants, programs need to be at least 15 weeks long.</p> <p>While Indiana hasn’t yet had specific certifications approved, the state will focus on five industries: advanced manufacturing, construction, healthcare, IT and transportation.</p> <p>And while the program is starting with Ivy Tech and Vincennes, all Indiana colleges will be encouraged to submit programs to get Workforce Pell funding in 2027.</p> <p><a href="https://www.ivytech.edu/about-ivy-tech/our-team/office-of-legal-and-public-affairs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mary Jane Michalak</a>, Ivy Tech’s senior vice president of legal and public affairs, previously told Mirror Indy the college is looking at making certifications it already offers eligible for the new federal funding. These include certifications in welding, emergency medical technician and industrial maintenance, as well as commercial drivers license.</p> <p>A <a href="https://www.ed.gov/media/document/2025-ahead-calculation-of-federal-pell-grant-eligible-workforce-program-112683.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Department of Education analysis</a> showed that students could receive up to <a href="https://upcea.edu/workforce-pell-grants-for-short-term-programs-a-primer-and-update-from-negotiated-rulemaking-consensus-reached-whats-in-the-draft-regulations/#_ftn4">$3,980</a>, depending on the length of the program and how many hours of instruction students receive in that time.</p> <h2 id="h-how-do-i-apply" class="wp-block-heading">How do I apply?</h2> <p>To get Workforce Pell funding, you will need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. <a href="https://studentaid.gov/fafsa-apply/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The 2026-27 form</a> is currently open. The 2027-28 FAFSA <a href="https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-takes-first-step-develop-2027-28-fafsa-form" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">is expected to open</a> Oct. 1. </p> <p>You must have at least a high school diploma or equivalent, such as a GED, to be eligible for Workforce Pell Grants. You also can’t receive a traditional Pell Grant at the same time as a Workforce Pell Grant.&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is </em><a href="https://mirrorindy.org/donors/"><em>funded through grants and donations</em></a><em> from individuals, foundations and organizations.&nbsp;</em></p> <p><em>Claire Rafford covers higher education for Mirror Indy in partnership with Open Campus. Contact Claire by email </em><a href="mailto:claire.rafford@mirrorindy.org"><em>claire.rafford@mirrorindy.org</em></a><em>, at 317-759-0249 or on most social media </em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/clairerafford/"><em>@clairerafford</em></a><em>.</em></p> <p>This &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://mirrorindy.org/gov-braun-workforce-pell-indiana-ivy-tech-vincennes-career-federal-financial-aid/&quot;&gt;article&lt;/a&gt; first appeared on &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://mirrorindy.org&quot;&gt;Mirror Indy&lt;/a&gt; and is republished here under a &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/&quot;&gt;Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;img src=&quot;https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/cropped-Mirror-Indy-square-logo-1.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;amp;ssl=1&quot; style=&quot;width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;&quot;&gt;</p> &lt;img id=&quot;republication-tracker-tool-source&quot; src=&quot;https://mirrorindy.org/?republication-pixel=true&amp;post=84813&amp;amp;ga4=G-X0R0QW371R&quot; style=&quot;width:1px;height:1px;&quot;&gt;&lt;script&gt; PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: &quot;https://mirrorindy.org/gov-braun-workforce-pell-indiana-ivy-tech-vincennes-career-federal-financial-aid/&quot;, urlref: window.location.href }); } } &lt;/script&gt; &lt;script id=&quot;parsely-cfg&quot; src=&quot;//cdn.parsely.com/keys/mirrorindy.org/p.js&quot;&gt;&lt;/script&gt;

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