North Carolina community colleges hope to benefit from a major expansion of federal financial aid this month to help students pay for job-training certifications. But only a small share of programs in the state are expected to qualify for Workforce Pell Grants right away.
Congress approved the Workforce Pell program last summer as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. It’s the first federal aid for short-term workforce credentials that lead directly to job opportunities, such as certificates to become a nurse aide or medical assistant. Pell Grants are need-based and generally don’t have to be repaid, unlike student loans. The expansion was intended to help more students enter high-demand professions quickly.
But the federal requirements for credential programs to qualify for the grants are strict. Programs must lead to an industry-recognized license or career certification, last eight to 15 weeks, and provide 150 to 599 hours of class time. Seventy percent of students must complete the program and find a job in that industry within 180 days of completing the program.
The law requires each state’s governor to determine eligible programs that prepare students for high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand occupations; Gov. Josh Stein tapped the NCWorks Commission to lead this effort.
The NCWorks Commission, a state board that oversees the state’s workforce development, has identified 364 of these occupations—far more than states like Minnesota or Pennsylvania, which each identified about 20. But not all of those occupations have credential programs in North Carolina. The commission also has determined Workforce Pell-eligible programs must be rated at least 3 out of 5 stars, based on its rating system.
The North Carolina Community College System estimated in February that 4% of existing workforce credential programs in the state would qualify for Workforce Pell—a number the system’s President Jeff Cox said “underwhelmed” him at a meeting that month. A more recent analysis by the community college system found that fewer than 1% of programs meet all eligibility requirements, NC Local reported.
Amanda Lee, president of Bladen Community College south of Fayetteville, said it has historically been a challenge to help students pay for programs that don’t lead to a two-year degree. Financial aid for short-term credentials is limited and depends on a program-specific donor or scholarship. She said students often choose longer degree programs in order to get financial aid, thus postponing their entry to the workforce.
“I worry that people are expecting this to be a wonderful solution to a challenge that we have all experienced, and I think they’re going to perhaps be disappointed when they realize that at least this first iteration of Workforce Pell is going to be very limited in the programs that actually are applicable,” Lee said.
At Durham Technical Community College, only six of 88 workforce credential programs are likely to be eligible in this initial application cycle, college President JB Buxton said. The six programs lead to certifications for electric line technicians, bioprocessing and manufacturing, nursing assistants, emergency medical technicians, phlebotomy, and medical office administrative assistants.
But courses like Durham Tech’s Central Sterile Processing program, which trains students to support surgeons in operating rooms and prepares them for a certification exam, fall short of the requirements. The course meets for 216 hours but is currently offered two days a week over the course of four months, pushing it over the 15-week maximum.
Tracking student outcomes is also a challenge.
The North Carolina Community College System matches student records with state employment data to determine if programs lead to wages that exceed 150% of the federal poverty level, measured three years after program completion. But Andrew Gardner, associate vice president of workforce strategies at the system office, said the records don’t reflect students who work out of state or become self-employed.
Buxton said Durham Tech can survey its former students for more information, but that has a low response rate.
At Bladen Community College, Lee said she expected nine programs that met the hourly and weekly requirements to qualify. But, limited by the NCWorks Commission’s star rating system and the ability to track student outcomes, she said none of the college’s 25 workforce programs are eligible to apply in the initial application cycle.
Programs must also meet the requirements for at least a year before they can be eligible for the grant. Gardner said he anticipates additional programs will qualify in the future as colleges make modifications.
“Employers want and need students yesterday,” Gardner said.
Lee said she hopes to modify Bladen Community College’s Commercial Driver’s License program to be eligible for Workforce Pell. The grant requires some form of “stackability,” meaning programs can be stepping stones to higher-level certificates. Bladen Community College is looking to offer the license as part of a longer-term transportation logistics program, Lee said.
She said while there’s demand for the credential now, the $1,352 tuition is a potential deterrent. Lee said Workforce Pell eligibility could make a “huge difference” in helping more students participate.
North Carolina community colleges must first send their applications to the NCWorks Commission. This year, applications are due July 15, and the commission will review submissions on August 12. After that, the board will review applications quarterly.
The application then goes to the U.S. Department of Education, which will confirm or deny eligibility within 120 days.
Once programs are approved, students can apply for the funding through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). A Workforce Pell Grant counts toward a student’s lifetime limit of six semesters’ worth of tuition, meaning any money used for a workforce credential wouldn’t be available later for a degree program.
Buxton said the Workforce Pell will complement existing financial aid for workforce programs in Orange and Durham counties. Orange County offered $100,000 in scholarships in the 2025-26 school year, which resulted in 240 awards across 54 Durham Tech credential programs—as opposed to the six potentially eligible for Workforce Pell at the school.
“I don’t see this ever becoming the major way we do financial aid for students, in terms of the number of courses we can provide, but I see it as a really important option,” Buxton said.
Gardner said it will take time to make students aware of Workforce Pell once programs are approved.
“If today’s the day they wake up and want to get into a program to change their life, we’re still going to be able to do that and help them with our resources,” Gardner said. “For Workforce Pell programs, there’s a little more planning and preparation that will need to take place on both parties.”
