NCAN Report Shows Dramatic Increase in FAFSA Eligibility Rates

A 27 percent increase in the number of students qualifying for the maximum Pell Grant shows the FAFSA simplification process paid off, NCAN says.

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More than 1.5 million additional students were eligible to receive the maximum Pell Grant this academic year compared to the award cycle before the Free Application for Federal Student Aid simplification process was completed, a recent report from the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) shows. That’s a 27 percent jump over the course of two years.

NCAN contends that the data, which it collected from the Office for Federal Student Aid, proves that despite a difficult launch, FAFSA simplification is paying off. Combined with this year’s increased FAFSA application and college enrollment numbers, it counters the narrative that students and families no longer trust in the value of a college degree, the organization says.

“Students are showing they value college by their choices. When we reduce barriers to college access and affordability, more students will apply, enroll, and succeed,” Eddy Conroy, NCAN’s senior communications director, told Inside Higher Ed. “We are seeing the promise of FAFSA Simplification made real with increased enrollment, increasing FAFSA completion rates, and more students than ever eligible for Pell Grants.”

The report also shows that the number of students eligible for the minimum Pell Grant jumped from 18,453 students in 2023–24 to 326,441 in 2025–26. Overall, the number of Pell eligible students went up by about 418,000, or roughly 4 percent.

Based on strong numbers so far in the 2026–27 college application cycle, NCAN says the nation is on pace for a record application rate among high school seniors. But worries about the future remain.

Many have voiced concerns that funding for the Pell Grant program—which is likely to remain level for fiscal year 2026—could run out. Even if it doesn’t this year, NCAN warns that overall college prices are rising and, for many students, the current award isn’t enough.

“A third year of level funding at $7,395 effectively erodes the grant’s value for students,” Louisa Woodhouse NCAN’s senior associate for policy and advocacy said in the report.