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No Tennessee programs approved for new workforce Pell grants

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Students and faculty walk across the campus during the first day of the fall semester at Chattanooga State Community College on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026. The school receives state money for its workforce training programs, and has seen an uptick in the share of students eligible for Pell Grants, a spokesperson said.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Students and faculty walk across the campus during the first day of the fall semester at Chattanooga State Community College on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026. The school receives state money for its workforce training programs, and has seen an uptick in the share of students eligible for Pell Grants, a spokesperson said. Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Students and faculty walk across the campus during the first day of the fall semester at Chattanooga State Community College on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026. The school receives state money for its workforce training programs, and has seen an uptick in the share of students eligible for Pell Grants, a spokesperson said.

By Joan McClane 3 min read

A new federal program that expands Pell Grant eligibility to short-term workforce training has yet to add any approved programs in Tennessee.

State officials say no applications from the Chattanooga area or elsewhere are currently under review.

Pell Grants are a type of federal financial aid for low-income students that doesn’t typically have to be repaid.

It has been more than three months since Tennessee opened applications for the new grants.

A handful of higher education institutions submitted programs for approval as of August, but none met the eligibility requirements, according to a newsletter published by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.