The Pell Institute College Success Grant

Name: The Pell Institute College Success Grant

Award Amount: Varies, based on institutional need and the scope of the proposed project

Information And Eligibility:
The Pell Institute College Success Grant is an institutional grant program designed to strengthen college access, retention, and completion outcomes for first-generation college students and students from low-income backgrounds. Administered by the Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education, this grant supports colleges and universities that are committed to equity-driven innovation and evidence-based strategies that address long-standing barriers to student success.

Rather than providing direct aid to individual students, this grant funds campus-based initiatives that improve academic persistence and degree completion. Supported programs often focus on areas such as first-year transition support, academic advising reform, mentoring and coaching models, data-informed early alert systems, financial literacy education, and wraparound student support services. Institutions are encouraged to design initiatives that are scalable, sustainable, and adaptable to other campuses serving similar student populations.

Eligible applicants are colleges and universities with a demonstrated commitment to serving first-generation and low-income students. Institutions must show that the proposed program builds upon existing efforts while introducing innovative approaches that can measurably improve student outcomes. Strong proposals clearly articulate the challenges being addressed, the populations served, and how the initiative will close opportunity gaps across access, retention, or graduation milestones.

Grant recipients are selected through a competitive review process that evaluates institutional capacity, leadership support, program design, and anticipated impact. The Pell Institute places particular emphasis on the use of data and assessment strategies to track outcomes and inform continuous improvement. Projects that include partnerships across departments, student services, academic units, or external community organizations are often viewed favorably.

Funding may be awarded for a defined project period and may be renewable based on demonstrated progress, continued need, and the availability of grant funds. Grant recipients may also be asked to participate in knowledge-sharing activities, reports, or convenings that contribute to broader national conversations about college opportunity and student success.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Applicant must be an accredited college or university.
• Institution must demonstrate a strong track record of serving first-generation and low-income students.
• Proposed initiative must focus on improving access, retention, persistence, or graduation outcomes.
• Institution must demonstrate leadership support and capacity to implement the proposed program.
• Programs must include clear goals, assessment metrics, and sustainability planning.

Application Requirements:

• Completed institutional grant application.
• Comprehensive project proposal outlining goals, program design, and implementation plan.
• Detailed budget and justification of requested funds.
• Description of target student population and anticipated outcomes.
• Plan for data collection, evaluation, and long-term sustainability.

Additional Details:

• Grant funding supports institutional programs rather than individual student scholarships.
• Award amounts vary based on scope, scale, and available funding.
• Projects may be eligible for renewal based on performance and continued institutional need.
• Institutions may be invited to share findings and best practices with the broader higher education community.

Deadline: January

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