ProPelled: The Effects of Grants on Graduation, Earnings, and Welfare

This working paper from the Upjohn Institute for Employment Research examines the effects of receipt of the federal Pell Grant on future earnings of low-income students and a cost-benefit analysis for the program. Researchers found that Pell Grant receipt greatly increases the chance of graduation and that within 10 years, the taxes from earnings of former Pell Grant recipients will fully recoup the total federal expenditures on the original grants. In addition, the social welfare implications of grant aid are discussed.