"Somewhere on a desk in the federal Department of Education building in Washington D.C. sits a pile of unopened mail from incarcerated student loan borrowers," Open Campus reports.

..."Since Pell Grants for incarcerated students were reinstated two years ago, the approval of Pell-eligible prison education programs has been slow. Colleges are required to navigate a complex application and approval process involving state corrections departments, accrediting agencies and the U.S. Education Department. As of December 2024 — the last time the official list was updated – the department approved 64 programs at 21 colleges. 

Sheila Meiman, prison education specialist at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), confirmed that while programs are still being approved, the future is uncertain. 'We have concerns that significant reductions in staff could negatively impact the government’s ability to administer those programs,' Meiman said. 

These delays have real consequences for incarcerated students, including delaying their education, she added."

NASFAA's "Notable Headlines" section highlights media coverage of financial aid to help members stay up to date with the latest news. Articles included under the notable headlines section are not written by NASFAA, but rather by external sources. Inclusion in Today's News does not imply endorsement of the material or guarantee the accuracy of information presented.

Publication Date: 3/21/2025