Don’t close the gate on Palomar College Students
As someone who’s spent 37 years in education—as a teacher, union leader, and now as a trustee at Palomar College—I know the transformative power of education. I also know that it doesn’t matter how transformative education can be when barriers are put in the way of hardworking students who are just trying to build a better life. Currently, one of the most important tools our students rely on—the Pell Grant—is under serious threat.
The so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” being debated in Washington includes provisions that would make it significantly harder for many Palomar students to access the aid they need to stay in school and complete their education.
Who Are We Talking About? Our Students.
At Palomar College, over 3,000 students—about 16% of our student body—depend on Pell Grants. For first-time, full-time students, that number jumps to 31%. The average award ranges from $3,900 to more than $5,100. These funds help students pay for tuition, textbooks, and sometimes even housing or food. For many, it’s the difference between continuing their education or dropping out.
The proposed changes in the Big Beautiful Bill would make it much harder for these students to qualify:
The minimum credit load to receive a full Pell Grant would increase from 12 to 15 units per semester. That sounds small, but for students balancing work, family, and life, those extra units can be the difference between manageable and impossible.
Students enrolled part-time (fewer than 7.5 units) would lose eligibility altogether. Currently, those students receive prorated support, which helps keep them moving forward. Under this proposal, they’d get nothing.
The maximum Pell award would be reduced by nearly $1,700 starting in the 2026–27 school year.
Aid eligibility would be tied more strictly to a student’s financial aid index and course load, meaning fewer students would qualify for meaningful support.
Pell would be expanded to some short-term programs, many of which are unaccredited and carry the risk of poor outcomes—draining funds from students in programs with proven results.
These aren’t just policy shifts. They are direct threats to students we all know. The student who takes 9 units a semester while working 30 hours a week to support their family? They could lose their grant. The student who took a leave of absence to care for an ill parent, then returned to complete their degree on a part-time schedule? Their aid could disappear.
Real World Implications
Palomar College is more than a school—it’s a community asset. We prepare future nurses, teachers, EMTs, cybersecurity professionals, and skilled tradespeople for the workforce right here in North County. If fewer students can afford to finish their education, fewer graduates will be ready to fill the roles our local economy needs. Fewer families will be able to climb into the middle class.
For decades, Pell Grants have helped lift people out of poverty and put them on the path to stable, meaningful careers. These new changes do the opposite—they erect barriers that punish students for not fitting a traditional mold.
Let’s Keep the Gates Open
Last February, community college trustees from across the nation went to Washington DC with a strong message: We should be strengthening the Pell Grant program, not restricting it. We should be removing barriers, not creating new ones. Community college students already face enough challenges. Stripping away the financial aid they rely on only makes it harder for them to succeed. It seems our advocacy fell on deaf ears.
Let’s be clear: the path to economic mobility should not depend on a student’s ability to meet rigid credit-hour rules or perfect life circumstances. Success isn’t always linear. Sometimes it takes longer. Sometimes it’s messy. But every student deserves the opportunity to succeed.
If we truly believe in equity, opportunity, and access to education, or even if your don’t care about those things and simply focus the need for workforce development, we need to say no to these harmful changes. Now is the time to speak up. Let’s protect the programs that open doors—not pass legislation that locks them shut.
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed on this blog are solely my own and do not reflect the official policy, position, or views of Palomar College, the Palomar College Board, or any other affiliated organization. All content provided is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as representing the views of Palomar College or its governing board.
