The infrastructure your institution needs to deliver Workforce Pell-eligible certificate programs.

As federal Pell Grant eligibility expands to short-term, industry-aligned certificate programs, there are four capabilities institutions need to deliver these programs and meet the federal bar.

Instructure can help you build the infrastructure you need in one connected ecosystem.

1. Enroll non-matriculated adults in minutes with Canvas Catalog.
2. Deliver training adults will finish and track outcomes with Canvas Career.
3. Build right-sized courses or curriculum with Professional Services.
4. Issue verifiable credentials the day students complete their programs with Parchment Digital Badges.

What's inside.

A visual map of the enrollment, delivery, credentialing, and outcomes-tracking infrastructure required for Workforce Pell.

Who it’s for.

Community college systems, technical colleges, and workforce-focused institutions preparing to offer Pell-eligible short-term programs.

Download the infographic now

Frequently asked questions

What are Workforce Pell Grants?

Workforce Pell Grants extend federal Pell funding to short-term, industry-aligned certificate programs that run 8 to 15 weeks (roughly 150 to 599 clock hours). The point is to help students earn a credential for a high-skill, high-wage, in-demand job faster than a traditional degree allows. One thing sets these apart from the standard Pell Grant: learners who already hold a bachelor's degree can still qualify.

What does Workforce Pell Grant eligibility require?

Eligibility has two sides, one for students and one for programs. Students complete the FAFSA, must be citizens or eligible noncitizens, meet the usual Pell financial criteria, and cannot already hold a graduate degree. Programs face a tougher test. A program must have operated for at least one year and clear the 70/70 accountability rule: at least 70 percent of students complete on time, and at least 70 percent of completers land a job within 180 days. Tuition also has to stay below graduates' median value-added earnings, measured against 150 percent of the federal poverty line three years after completion.

What's an example of a college that's built an edtech ecosystem to support statewide workforce needs?

The Alabama Community College System (ACCS) built one across all 24 of its community and technical colleges. Instead of supporting separate platforms campus by campus, ACCS runs the Instructure Learning Platform as one statewide system. Through its Innovation Center, ACCS delivers rapid skills-based training: courses that run two to six weeks, award a credential on completion, and map to the jobs Alabama employers say they need to fill. See how ACCS built its statewide learning ecosystem.

Related resources

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Ebooks & Buyer's Guides

The Workforce Pell Grant Readiness Checklist

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Blogs

How Institutions Can Support Adult Learners with New Workforce Pell Grants

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On-Demand Webinars

The Workforce Pell Ready Institution: Building the Infrastructure to Enroll, Train, and Employ Adult Learners

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