"For years, concerns over rising college costs and student loan debt have been driving some high schoolers away from a four-year degree in favor of shorter, less expensive alternatives," CNBC reports.

... "For students concerned about the cost of schooling, the new workforce Pell Grant program is 'super valuable funding,' said Jill Desjean, director of policy analysis at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators."

"'I can imagine that this would open new opportunities for students who just couldn’t afford these programs in the past and didn’t have other ways to pay for them,' Desjean said — particularly if 'the field they want to go to doesn’t require a two- or four-year degree.'"

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: 1/15/2026