With federal student loan application completions plummeting and college affordability slipping further out of reach, Arizona education advocates are joining a national chorus demanding Congress center student success — not just access — in higher education reform.
A coalition of more than 30 organizations including UnidosUS, The Hope Center, uAspire and the Institute for College Access & Success has delivered a joint letter to congressional leaders urging immediate investments in Pell Grants, student basic needs and financial aid infrastructure.
In Arizona, where more than 120,000 undergraduates received Pell Grants last year and more than half of community college students struggle with food insecurity, advocates say the stakes are particularly high.
“Student success fuels Arizona’s economy," said Rich Nickel, President and CEO of Education Forward Arizona. "When more students complete education or training after high school, they earn more, fill in-demand jobs and strengthen local economies. This is especially vital in rural and underserved areas."
Pell grants: vital but inadequate
Pell Grants have long been the federal government’s primary tool for helping low-income students afford college. These grants do not need to be repaid, and in Arizona they serve as a lifeline for students in community colleges and state universities.
But the average Pell Grant now covers less than 30% of the total cost of attending a four-year public university — including housing, food, transportation and course materials.
The average Pell Grant amount for the nation in 2024 was $4,491, according to the Eduction Data Initiative. The maximum amount students can receive is nearly $6,900. That still leaves a gap for the roughly $12,000 or more for Arizona's three state universities in what they charge for tuition.
The coalition is calling for a significant increase in the maximum Pell award and for the grant to be indexed to inflation and cost of living — particularly in high-growth, high-cost states like Arizona.
FAFSA drop threatens enrollment
Perhaps most urgently, Arizona has seen one of the steepest FAFSA completion drops in the nation for the class of 2024 — a nearly 35% decline, according to the National College Attainment Network.
That drop could mean thousands of students never start college this fall.
Local organizations such as College Depot in Phoenix and Toledo Tomorrow in southern Arizona are working overtime to help families navigate the new process, but advocates say federal support and simplification must continue.
Housing, hunger and mental health
Access alone isn’t enough, Arizona advocates say — students need support beyond the admissions letter.
A recent Hope Center survey found that 54% of Arizona community college students experienced food insecurity in 2024, and nearly 1 in 5 faced housing instability.
Mental health is another rising concern, with many campuses lacking the resources to meet demand.
Localizing the national push
The Arizona Board of Regents has set a goal of increasing degree attainment across the state — but funding has not kept pace. Per-student state support in Arizona remains below the national average and community colleges continue to bear the brunt of enrollment and retention pressures.
That’s why Arizona education leaders say now is the moment to act.
"Pell Grants help make access possible." Nickel said. "A 20% increase in postsecondary enrollment could boost Arizona’s economy by $5 billion annually. Supporting Pell means supporting a stronger, more equitable future for Arizona.”
A letter to Congress, and a challenge to Arizona
The coalition’s joint letter has been sent to key congressional leaders, including members of the Senate HELP and House Education Committees. It outlines clear recommendations: increase and modernize Pell, restore trust in FAFSA, invest in basic needs support and hold colleges accountable for outcomes.
But Arizona advocates say the state also has work to do — including strengthening partnerships between K–12 schools and colleges, expanding state aid programs and embedding equity in all levels of education policy.
Critics disagree
Not all policymakers agree with the coalition’s push. Arizona is facing a tight fiscal landscape and many leaders argue higher education reforms should focus on cost-cutting and efficiency — not expanded federal spending.
As of now, no Arizona conservative lawmakers have publicly opposed efforts to expand Pell Grants. While many in the GOP nationally have expressed skepticism about broadening the program without added accountability, Arizona’s Republican delegation has remained largely silent on the issue. Their general fiscal conservatism suggests caution, but there’s no named or documented opposition from Arizona lawmakers at this time. We reached out to Sen. Janae Shamp, R‑Surprise, for comment but did not receive a response.
Nationally, several conservative lawmakers have argued that students facing food or housing insecurity should rely on existing social services rather than expanded education aid. Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga., recently criticized school meal programs, while House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and others have promoted tighter eligibility for SNAP and other safety nets, framing them as the appropriate channels for basic needs — not Pell Grants.
Critics also contend that housing, food, child care and mental-health support are the domain of social safety net programs — not universities. They argue this extra layer of funding and federal requirements risks bureaucratizing campuses and overshadowing academic missions.
"The federal government should be looking to rein in and restructure — rather than expand — the tens of billions of dollars of taxpayer subsidies it currently pours into higher education each year," said Matt Beienburg, director of education policy at the Goldwater Institute. "The federal government should be focusing on addressing the disastrous consequences and distorted incentives already created by its student loan policies rather than continuing to prop up enrollments in programs that fail to provide a meaningful return on investment to students and the public alike."
Editor’s note: A grant from the Arizona Local News Foundation made this story possible. The foundation awarded 15 newsrooms to pay for solutions-focused education reporters for two years. Please send your comments to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
By 
