SAA Urges Next Administration to Boost Student Aid in FY 2026

While Congress is still working to approve the final FY 2025 appropriation bills, the Student Aid Alliance (SAA) is already gearing up for FY 2026.

SAA, which ACE helps lead, sent a letter last week asking the next administration to provide robust increases for federal student aid in its FY 2026 budget proposal.

"Now, more than ever, the programs that help low- and middle-income students access and succeed in postsecondary education need additional funding to ensure students can pursue their higher education goals," reads the letter, which was signed by more than 40 organizations.

The letter requests:

• Increasing the maximum Pell Grant award to at least $13,000, which would restore much of the purchasing power in the program and increase college affordability;

• Providing significant increases to Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants and Federal Work-Study; and

• Boosting funding for other critical programs, including TRIO, Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, and Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need.

"We strongly believe that this support will enable low-income students to succeed on their postsecondary education journey and contribute to the economy and their communities," the groups wrote.

Members of SAA are also continuing to advocate for robust support for federal student financial aid in FY 2025 appropriations. Last week, Congress passed a continuing resolution, pushing a decision on FY 2025 funding to December, though members of the House and Senate have signaled their positions.

In June, a House subcommittee advanced a spending bill that included substantial cuts to several key higher education programs, while the Senate Appropriations Committee in August passed a separate spending bill with funding levels substantially higher than the House bill but below the SAA's FY 2025 recommendations.

In the meantime, SAA, a coalition of higher education organizations united in support for federal student aid, is mobilizing its network to encourage constituents to contact their representatives, emphasizing the critical role that financial aid plays in ensuring access to education for all students. It will be critical in the new congress for continued advocacy, where members meet directly with lawmakers to share stories and highlight data that showcases the importance of investment in federal financial aid programs.