Pell Grant Cuts Could Provide Negative Effects for Minorities

Written by: Jasmine Walker

Courtesy: School Grant Resource

The controversy over the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (H.R. 3221) also known as SAFRA continues. The circulation of news regarding Pell Grant cuts bring worry to many aspiring and current college students, especially minorities.


Pell Grants “provide need-based grants to low-income undergraduate students to promote access to postsecondary education,” stated the Department of Education. Without the assistance of Pell Grants a large majority of students will not have the opportunity to go to college, something that now seems more like a privilege rather than a honor.


The budget cuts play a large role in this dilemma; it continues to take money away from education. It seems like it is always first in line for cuts. Education is an asset that is suppose to be so imperative in our country, but yet they slowly continue to take from it.


According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, the bill “would save the government money by ending the subsidies given to private lenders that distribute federal student-loan funds, and instead would require all colleges to use the Education Department’s own direct-lending system.” This would save them a total of $87 billion over the course of 10 years.


Students will have a better chance at applying for a loan than receiving grant assistance, which will ultimately lead to increased debt and a higher rate of college dropouts.


This however may work out well for the sake of rebuilding the state’s budget but minorities will be left behind. They will be unable to pay for school and unable to secure a back up plan with the decline in employment opportunities.

Soon there will not be many positive options available for minorities. The Government should be called out and held responsible for their lack of sympathy towards education.