TAMPA, Fla. — College could soon cost students more out of pocket.

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are deciding on a bill, dubbed the "One Big Beautiful Bill," that would drastically limit eligibility for the federal Pell Grant.

What You Need To Know

  • Lawmakers are proposing new changes to Pell Grant eligibility, including higher credit hour requirements

  • The proposal would reduce the maximum Pell Grant available from $7,300 to $5,900

  • Part-time students taking fewer classes could lose eligibility altogether

  • Schools warn this legislation could impact a large number of students who rely on Pell Grants for tuition

The Associate Vice President of Financial Aid at Hillsborough Community College, Tierra Smith, says families should keep a close eye on this legislation because it could mean students receive less money and have to take more classes.

The bill would increase the number of credit hours required to receive it — with full-time students going from 24 hours to 30 hours each year, which is about six classes per semester, and part time requiring 15 hours a year. Smith says this could impact a lot of students at HCC.

“Students who are part time, who work full time, they typically take about six credit hours a term those students would lose Pell grant in its entirety,” said Smith.

Echo Durham is a full-time student at HCC that receives Pell Grant funds, but she says taking six classes each semester is a heavy load, even for her.

This fall will be Echo’s last semester before moving on to pursue her bachelor’s degree.

She says she’s not sure what she’ll do if this legislation is passed.

“I never want to be in that kind of debt," she said. “We’re not really poor, we’re also not middle class, either, so I don’t really have the funds to pay for college, and I really want a college degree.”

The proposed legislation would also reduce the maximum Pell Grant from about $7,300 to $5,900, while requiring students to take more classes.

Right now, about one-third of HCC students receive the Pell Grant each year.

If passed, the new requirements would take effect for the 2026-27 school year.