The College Affordability and Accessibility Act increases the maximum Federal Pell Grant to $14,800 for the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 award years, with automatic increases tied to inflation in subsequent years. The bill primarily affects lower-income undergraduate and graduate students who rely on Pell Grants to pay for college, extending eligibility to include postbaccalaureate students under certain conditions. Starting July 1, 2026, students who received Pell Grants for fewer than 16 semesters during their undergraduate degree can continue receiving grants to pursue an initial graduate degree. The legislation also removes the 12-semester eligibility limit and increases it to 16 semesters, giving students more time to complete their studies while maintaining grant support. No specific new federal funding appropriation is mentioned in the bill text itself.
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