Workforce Pell took effect July 1, 2026, and the U.S. Department of Education's final rule was published in the Federal Register on May 19, 2026. Each governor must approve eligible programs after consulting the state workforce board, and most institutions cannot enroll students until that approval pipeline is operational. This tracker follows where each state stands. Read the ED announcement.
As of August 5, 2026, twenty-seven jurisdictions have an operational approval process: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas have opened or closed a program application window (the U.S. Department of Education approved the nation's first program, Iowa Central Community College's EMT certificate, on August 4; Arizona opened a state certification window July 31; Pennsylvania posted the first final approved list on July 8, approving 2 of 40 submitted programs), Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee opened application processes at the July 1 launch, Kentucky opened an online application under an emergency regulation effective June 30, Georgia opened its institution application at apply.workforcepellga.com, Maryland opened rolling applications July 10 through the Maryland Workforce Exchange, New Mexico opened rolling applications through its higher education department portal, South Dakota and Nebraska opened application portals on July 7 and 8, Nevada opened Phase 1 for NSHE institutions, Florida has published an eligible-program inventory, Louisiana operates a state-originated determination process (no institutional applications in year one), New Jersey's eligible-program list was due to the U.S. Department of Education July 1, Alabama has launched a program-by-program approval process, and Idaho and Indiana are running pilots (the Indiana pilot is limited to two public two-year colleges). Most other states have named a lead agency or are advancing enabling legislation.
The U.S. Department of Education's final rule for Workforce Pell was published in the Federal Register on May 19, 2026; the rule is effective July 20, 2026, and eligible workforce programs became eligible July 1. Implementation now sits with each state: governors, in consultation with their state workforce boards, must approve eligible programs before institutions can seek USED approval. On July 1, 2026 Federal Student Aid released the State Workforce Pell Certification Form (Electronic Announcement GENERAL-26-44): the governor or designee completes the form for each approved program and provides it to the institution, which uploads it with its E-App submission, so certification flows through institutions rather than a single central state-list transmission. A separate final rule published July 1 (91 FR 40136) implements the law's earnings-based accountability for Direct Loans and is distinct from the Workforce Pell eligibility rule. The Workforce Pell rule phases in stricter accountability over time, with the Value-Added Earnings Test not binding until award year 2030-31. Read the FSA announcement.
Opportunity Data provides independent Workforce Pell policy mapping, program-capacity analysis, crosswalk audits, and executive briefings.
Click a status filter to narrow the table. Each row links to the most authoritative source available for that state.
| State | Status | Phase | Lead Agency | Last Action | Current Holdup | Notes & Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama AL | Live | Approval Process Launched ↗ Open Portal | Alabama Department of Workforce (administrator; Gov. Ivey certifies), with the Alabama Workforce Board and ACCCP | Jun 30, 2026 | ADOWPer-program applications reviewed against 70/70 outcomes and the In-Demand Occupations List, then governor certification and USED submission; approved-program directory published as approvals issue |
On June 30, 2026 Governor Ivey and the Alabama Department of Workforce (ADOW) launched Alabama's Workforce Pell approval process. Alabama uses a program-by-program approval and directory model: an institution applies to ADOW for each program, the governor approves under 34 CFR 690.93, and an approved-program directory is published as approvals issue. To be approved, a program must train for an occupation on the statewide or regional In-Demand Occupations List (about 231 occupations statewide, set by the Alabama Committee on Credentialing and Career Pathways via a five-criteria Demand Rubric), have existed in its current form for the preceding 12 months, meet 70% completion and 70% job placement (employed the second quarter after exit, P20W Council methodology), satisfy employer hiring requirements, and lead to a stackable, portable credential. Registered Apprenticeship related technical instruction automatically meets the in-demand and employer-alignment criteria (the Title IV institution must deliver over 50% of instruction; 70/70 still applies), and noncredit credentials qualify via the WIOA industry-recognized-credential definition. Press release, Governor's memo. Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Arizona AZ | Live | Certification Window Open (Jul 31 to Aug 24) ↗ Open Portal | Office of Economic Opportunity, with the Workforce Arizona Council (Governor's OSI / Talent Ready Arizona) | Jul 31, 2026 | OEOState certification applications accepted July 31 through August 24; certified programs to be notified after September 17; state certification precedes federal submission |
OEO opened the Workforce Pell state certification application window on July 31, 2026: Pell-eligible institutions with qualifying short-term programs submit applications through August 24, 2026, and certified programs are to be notified after September 17, 2026; state certification precedes submission to the U.S. Department of Education. Certification applications cover institution eligibility, labor market alignment, employer engagement and validation, student outcomes, and consumer disclosures (contact: gina.flores@oeo.az.gov). This followed the draft-policy public comment that closed July 20; program alignment is anchored to Arizona's Labor Market Job Rankings, and no final occupation list has been published. Earlier steps: OSI's Talent Ready Arizona page and institutional Interest List (closed June 5), and a Governor's Office and OEO working group developing policy with the Workforce Arizona Council. Source, OSI page Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Arkansas AR | Live | Initial Window Closed Jun 30 ↗ Open Portal | Arkansas Division of Higher Education | Jun 30, 2026 | ADHEInitial window closed June 30; review timeline not yet posted; the July 24 AHECB agenda contained no Workforce Pell item; next quarterly meeting October 23 |
The Arkansas Division of Higher Education ran an initial Workforce Pell application window June 1 through June 30, 2026, now closed. Institutions submitted a completed application form and a supporting-artifacts PDF to workforce.grants@adhe.edu; partial applications were not reviewed. Eligible programs run 150 to 599 clock hours (or equivalent credit hours), at least 8 but fewer than 15 weeks, and begin July 1, 2026, screened against the Arkansas Workforce Pell High-wage and/or In-Demand Occupations List for AY 2026-27. As of July 24 ADHE has not posted a review timeline or announced a second window. The Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board met July 24; its posted agenda book contained no Workforce Pell item, and the following quarterly meeting is October 23, 2026. Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Colorado CO | Live | Applications Open (Jul 15 to Aug 15) ↗ Open Portal | Colorado Workforce Development Council | Jul 15, 2026 | CWDCApplication window opened July 15 on the published schedule and runs through August 15; state review fall 2026, then governor certification and USED review |
CWDC published Colorado's Final Workforce Pell Implementation Policy and opened the new Eligible Training Provider List platform at coloradoetpl.org on July 1, 2026 as the state certification portal. The per-program application window opened on the published schedule July 15 and runs through August 15, 2026; state review runs fall 2026, followed by governor certification and USED review. Occupations must meet any combination of two of high-wage, high-skill, or in-demand, and applications require participant-level completion and placement data for the prior two program years (against the 70% thresholds), evidence of guaranteed credit articulation, and employer-input evidence. The state is running technical-assistance office hours with Education Strategy Group July 21, July 31, August 10, and August 14; contact wfpell@state.co.us; recordings of the July 6 and July 21 implementation webinars are posted on the CWDC page. HB26-1317 separately advances a unified postsecondary talent system. On July 17 the CWDC page also carries the published eligible-occupations list with a CIP-to-SOC crosswalk: 434 SOC occupations, each marked as meeting two of the three statutory criteria. Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Florida FL | Live | Inventory Issued; Certification Underway ↗ Open Portal | Florida Department of Education (State Board of Education) | Jul 8, 2026 | FL DOE / SBOEState-identified program inventory published; institutions certify listed programs and FDOE validates against federal requirements and state policy before USED review |
Florida took a state-identified approach rather than an institution-application model: the Department of Education published a 2025-2026 Workforce Pell Program Inventory naming 31 eligible programs across 18 federal CIP areas (verified against the inventory file July 18), built from existing program frameworks, the Florida Master Credentials List (MCL), labor market data including the Targeted Occupations List, and statewide priority occupations including Hometown Heroes occupations under section 420.5096, Florida Statutes. The programs run 150 to 562 clock hours and are mostly career certificates (firefighter, phlebotomy, commercial vehicle driving, EMT, nursing/patient-care assistant, welding, water and wastewater treatment, and public-safety roles). FDOE held a certification and state validation webinar July 8, 2026 (recording now posted): institutions offering programs on the state-approved inventory complete the federal certification form and submit it to WorkforcePell@fldoe.org, and FDOE reviews and validates against federal requirements and state policy. Eligible programs are reviewed annually. Governor certification and USED review still precede student enrollment. Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Georgia GA | Live | Applications Open (TCSG) ↗ Open Portal | Technical College System of Georgia (WorkSource Georgia), with the State Workforce Development Board | Jul 2026 | TCSG / WorkSource GAInstitution application open at apply.workforcepellga.com; TCSG eligibility review, then the SWDB Workforce Pell Advisory Committee (quarterly), the full board, and governor certification; approved-program list marked TBA |
On July 2, 2026 the Technical College System of Georgia announced Georgia's Workforce Pell implementation, and its Office of Workforce Development (WorkSource Georgia) published a dedicated Workforce Pell site with program policy and eligibility criteria tied to Georgia's High Demand Career List; the page states the State Workforce Development Board, at the governor's direction, ensures programs meet requirements. By July 15 the institution application had opened at apply.workforcepellga.com (no deadline posted): TCSG reviews applications against state and federal eligibility requirements, passing applications go to the State Workforce Development Board's Workforce Pell Advisory Committee, which meets quarterly, then to the full board and the governor for certification, and the institution submits the state certification to USED. The approved-program list remains TBA; the full State Workforce Development Board's remaining 2026 meetings are August 20 (Rome) and October 19, the scheduled venues for board action. The route is administrative: HB 1345, which would have authorized the board by statute, stalled before the 2025-26 biennium adjourned in April. Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Idaho ID | Live | Pilot Applications Open (WDC) | State Workforce Pell Coordinating Council (Career Technical Education + Idaho Workforce Development Council co-chairs) | Jun 10, 2026 | SWPCCPilot cohort applications being accepted; EO 2026-05 council maintains the approved-program registry; broader rollout to follow |
On June 10, 2026 Governor Little signed Executive Order 2026-05 establishing the State Workforce Pell Coordinating Council (SWPCC), co-chaired by the Division of Career Technical Education and the Idaho Workforce Development Council, to recommend eligibility standards, maintain an approved program registry, and ensure federal compliance. WDC approved an early eligibility policy (in-demand careers matrix) and began accepting program applications around June 1, 2026, initially approving a small pilot cohort before broader rollout. Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Illinois IL | Live | Applications Open (Jul 15 to Aug 31) ↗ Open Portal | Illinois Interagency Workforce Pell Team (Governor's Office, ICCB, IBHE, DCEO, IDES, ISAC, IWIB) | Jul 15, 2026 | Interagency WFP TeamFirst-round applications open July 15 through August 31 for award years 2026-27 and 2027-28; interagency review, then state approval and submission to USED |
On July 15, 2026 the Illinois Interagency Workforce Pell Team published the final Workforce Pell Program Approval Manual and opened the first-round institution application window, July 15 through August 31, 2026, covering award years 2026-27 and 2027-28. Community colleges, universities, and approved private business and vocational schools apply through a posted application form, with an overview webinar July 21; ICCB hosts the state hub with an institutional readiness checklist, student-data template, a frequently-asked-questions document posted August 3, and weekly Monday office hours through August 24. Eligibility screens against the eligible occupations list (Appendix A): counted from the posted file, 195 distinct occupations (O*NET-SOC 2019 codes), built on the state's WIOA Demand Occupation Training List and including petition-based local additions. The draft manual's public comment ran June 2 to 11. Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Indiana IN | Live | Pilot; First USED Submission Reported ↗ Open Portal | Indiana Department of Workforce Development (with Commission for Higher Education) | Jul 27, 2026 | DWD / CHEIvy Tech's medical-assistant program reported submitted to USED (Jul 27 press), the first state-routed federal submission publicly reported; three programs state-approved per Jul 9 press; the CHE page still posts no approved-program list |
On July 1, 2026 Governor Braun formally launched Workforce Pell in Indiana, announcing he has approved Ivy Tech Community College and Vincennes University to apply for program consideration through the U.S. Department of Education for 2026-27, prioritizing five sectors: advanced manufacturing, building and construction, health and life sciences, IT and business services, and transportation and logistics. Braun earlier signed HEA 1266 (2026) to align state and federal processes after SB 161 died at the February 27 sine die. The Commission for Higher Education, with DWD and the State Workforce Board, runs the application portal; a joint CHE and DWD committee reviews submissions for approval by the Governor, then USED conducts final validation. Statewide expansion to all eligible institutions is planned for early-to-mid 2027; the governor-and-Secretary-approved program list will be posted on the CHE page (none yet). The State Workforce Development Board's July 16, 2026 meeting materials report an initial program eligibility list determined at 28 six-digit SOC codes and 36 CIP codes. SWDB materials. WISH-TV reported July 9, 2026 that state officials had approved the first three programs, pending federal validation: certified clinical medical assistant at Ivy Tech, certified clinical medical assistant at Vincennes, and an electrical maintenance technician bootcamp at Vincennes; the approvals are press-reported and no state page yet lists them. Open Campus reported July 24, 2026 that Ivy Tech's certified clinical medical assistant program spans its 18 campuses, and Inside Higher Ed reported July 27 that Ivy Tech has submitted the program to the U.S. Department of Education, the first state-routed federal submission publicly reported anywhere, with federal approval hoped for by fall; timing estimates now run from as early as August (Ivy Tech, per Mirror Indy) to January 2027 (Vincennes). WISH-TV, Inside Higher Ed, Open Campus, Source, press release Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Iowa IA | Live | First Federal Approval in the Nation (Aug 4) ↗ Open Portal | Iowa Department of Education | Aug 4, 2026 | USEDOne program is fully approved (Iowa Central Community College EMT, approved by the U.S. Department of Education August 4, Pell usable immediately); the other eight state-approved first-cycle programs await federal action, and the state page says the next application round "will open soon" |
On August 4, 2026 the U.S. Department of Education approved the nation's first Workforce Pell program: Iowa Central Community College's 14-week Emergency Medical Technician certificate, announced on campus by Secretary McMahon, Acting Labor Secretary Sonderling, and Governor Reynolds, with eligible students able to use Pell dollars immediately (ED release, Governor). It is one of nine programs the state approved from the first cycle; the remaining eight await federal action, no state roster is posted, and the state page says the next round of Iowa applications "will open soon." Iowa was the first state in the country to open its Workforce Pell application: the state application opened April 1, 2026 with a May 15 institutional submission deadline for the first approval cycle (now closed), and June 2026 coverage featured colleges such as Kirkwood building 8-to-15-week offerings in health care, manufacturing, IT, and the trades. The first cycle drew 20 program applications from seven colleges, an Iowa Department of Education spokesperson told Open Campus (July 2). Per the state page, programs go to the state workforce board and Governor, then to USED, and "a list of eligible programs will be linked when available" (not yet posted); students apply through the FAFSA, which opens October 1. Eligibility is anchored to Iowa's Workforce Pell H3 Occupation List with SOC-CIP crosswalk, 243 high-demand, high-wage, high-skill occupations (those mapping to eligible programs in its SOC-CIP crosswalk). As of late July the Iowa DOE page states the next round of State of Iowa applications "will open soon"; a list of eligible programs will be posted when available. Inside Higher Ed reported July 27, 2026, citing the Iowa Department of Education, that Iowa unanimously approved nine programs at the state's community colleges from the first cycle; the approving body, vote date, and program list are not named, and the state page does not yet reflect the approvals, so the count is press-attributed pending a state posting. Source, Inside Higher Ed Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Kentucky KY | Live | Applications Open (KWIB) ↗ Open Portal | Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board / Education and Labor Cabinet | Jun 30, 2026 | KWIB / ELCEmergency regulation 787 KAR 2:050E, effective June 30, establishes the process; online institution application open; KWIB office review within 30 days of a complete application, then governor decision |
Kentucky moved from workgroup to an operational process by emergency regulation: 787 KAR 2:050E ("General provisions for operation of the Workforce Pell Program"), filed by the Education and Labor Cabinet and effective June 30, 2026, establishes the approval framework, and KWIB published a Workforce Pell page with a live online institution application. The KWIB office reviews a complete application within 30 days for completeness and compliance with state and federal law, then forwards it to the Governor for decision; denials may be appealed in writing within 20 calendar days, with the Governor ruling within 60 days, and institutions must reapply six months before their program participation agreement expires. Programs must train students for a high-wage, high-skill, or in-demand occupation as defined by Kentucky (the page links the state high-wage and in-demand occupation workbooks rather than a curated Workforce Pell list), demonstrate employer alignment, and report outcomes to the Kentucky Center for Statistics. Regulation, The companion ordinary regulation is scheduled for a public hearing on August 31, 2026, with written comments accepted through that date. Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Louisiana LA | Live | Process Operational; State-Originated (Year 1) ↗ Open Portal | Louisiana Workforce Commission (Louisiana Works) | Jul 15, 2026 | LWCYear 1 program list is state-originated: Louisiana Works assembles each program record, and a Jul 15 launch announcement says the Board of Regents has identified the first group of eligible programs (roster not yet posted); unsolicited institutional applications begin with award year 2027-28 |
The Louisiana Workforce Commission runs an operational, state-originated Year 1 process: its published submission policy (implementing 34 CFR 690.90 to 690.97) states that Louisiana "will not accept unsolicited institutional applications in Year 1." Louisiana Works originates each Year 1 program record and certifies completion and placement through UI wage records; the Education to Workforce Alignment Advisory Council is consulted at least 30 calendar days before the Workforce Investment Council meeting, the WIC approves or denies, and the Governor certifies approvals to USED within 15 calendar days. Institution-initiated portal submissions begin with award year 2027-28 on a published schedule; denial appeals are due within 30 calendar days. The site also carries the program-approval process, the high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand methodology, written policies on stackable and portable credentials and academic-credit award, and a Public List of Qualifying Occupations & Sectors enumerating twelve four-digit CIP program families, largely in construction trades, industrial and vehicle maintenance, precision metal work, and ground transportation; the list is CIP-family based rather than an occupation list, so it is tracked here and not on the comparison page. An LWC webinar walked through the process June 4. On July 15, 2026 Louisiana Works issued a statewide launch announcement with the Board of Regents and LCTCS stating that the Board of Regents has identified the first group of eligible short-term training programs; the announcement (carried by press; no laworks.net posting located, and the LWC page still shows a July 9 update date) cites grants of about $2,200 for most programs and up to $4,300 by duration, concentrated in skilled trades with some health care. The Year 1 roster itself has not been posted. Earlier activity ran through the Board of Regents and LCTCS (August 2025 board update). Source, launch announcement Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Maryland MD | Live | Applications Open (MWE, Rolling) ↗ Open Portal | Governor's Workforce Development Board (leads implementation on the Governor's behalf), with MD Labor, MHEC, and the MLDS Center | Jul 10, 2026 | GWDBRolling applications through the unified ETPL and Workforce Pell application on the Maryland Workforce Exchange; GWDB technical review and cross-agency Workforce Pell Review Committee recommendation, with quarterly state determinations issued in August, November, February, and May |
The Governor's Workforce Development Board issued Policy Issuance 2026-01, Maryland's Workforce Pell Program Determination Policy, dated July 10, 2026, and its Workforce Pell page states Maryland is now accepting applications from eligible institutions. Maryland uses a single unified ETPL and Workforce Pell application on the Maryland Workforce Exchange, accepted on a rolling basis; GWDB staff conduct a technical review, the cross-agency Workforce Pell Review Committee issues a consensus recommendation to the GWDB Chair, and quarterly state eligibility determinations are issued in August, November, February, and May. Institutions then submit state-certified programs to USED under GENERAL-26-44, MHEC publishes approved programs within 30 days of ED's determination, and the first continuing-eligibility reviews arrive as early as August 2027. The policy (SB 0509 of 2026, Chapter 724, provides the statutory frame) adopts ED's regulations by reference and sets state definitions: high-skill is O*NET Job Zone 3 or higher, and in-demand requires projected annual openings in the top 30 percent statewide plus growth at or above the statewide average, with a Governor's Strategic Designation pathway for occupations the GWDB designates as strategically critical; Registered Apprenticeship programs automatically meet the occupation-alignment and employer-alignment criteria. Appendix D publishes the occupation table: counted from the policy file, 274 occupations, of which 269 are flagged as high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand. Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Michigan MI | Live | Window 1 Closed; Letters Aug; Window 2 Jan 2027 ↗ Open Portal | MiLEAP / LEO (with Michigan Workforce Development Board) | Jul 2026 | MiLEAP / LEOWindow 1 closed June 15 with approval or denial letters by August 2026; Window 1 programs must upload student data via MiTC July 1 to August 1; Window 2 runs January 15 to February 12, 2027 (letters by April 1, 2027) |
Michigan LEO published its 2026-27 Program Determination Policies and ran institutional applications via Michigan Training Connect (MiTC); the first window closed June 15, 2026, with approval or denial letters expected by August 2026. The LEO page now also posts a student-data upload requirement for Window 1 programs (July 1 to August 1, 2026 via MiTC) and a second application window, January 15 to February 12, 2027, with letters by April 1, 2027. Eligibility runs against the state's 2026-27 Eligible Occupations list, 267 occupations filtered to non-degree entry. Lead is shared between MiLEAP, LEO, and the Michigan Workforce Development Board. Contact: MiLEAP-WFPell@michigan.gov. Window 2 runs January 15 to February 12, 2027 with letters by April 1, 2027; Window 1 programs must upload participant outcome data to MiTC between July 1 and August 1, 2026 to be approved. Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Minnesota MN | Live | Window Extended to Aug 15 ↗ Open Portal | Office of Higher Education (with GWDB and DEED) | Jul 2026 | OHE / GWDB / DEEDProvider application deadline extended to 12:00 pm Aug 15; completeness review, Workforce Pell Review Committee evaluation, recommendation to the Governor's Office, then USED submission |
After the draft public comment closed May 7, 2026, the interagency workgroup finalized the Program Determination Policy and the Office of Higher Education opened a secure data portal June 1. The provider deadline, originally 12:00 pm on June 30, 2026, was extended: as of July 10 the OHE page states providers must submit the application and all required documentation by 12:00 pm on August 15, 2026. No announcement accompanied the change; the extension is documented by the page text itself against its June 30 archived copy. Next steps per OHE are completeness review, Workforce Pell Review Committee evaluation, and recommendation to the Governor's Office for certification and USED submission; OHE will publish the certified-program list within 30 days after final USED approval. Programs must align with the 2026-27 Priority Occupations List (22 occupations drawn from DEED), and tuition must be below three-year Value-Added Earnings. Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Mississippi MS | Live | Applications Open (AccelerateMS) ↗ Open Portal | AccelerateMS (Governor's designated state entity), with the State Workforce Investment Board | Jul 1, 2026 | AccelerateMSApplications accepted from July 1; completeness review, program review, and SWIB consultation precede governor certification; window dates published per approval cycle |
On June 30, 2026 Governor Reeves announced that the State Workforce Investment Board had approved Mississippi's Workforce Pell policy framework and that institutional applications open July 1, 2026, with AccelerateMS coordinating implementation as the Governor's designated state entity. The published process runs a completeness review (institutions get 10 business days to cure deficiencies), a program quality and eligibility review, SWIB consultation, governor determination and certification under 34 CFR 690.93, and a 15-business-day appeal window. Mississippi Today and Open Campus reported July 31 that no program has been approved yet, that roughly a dozen of the community college system's 250 to 300 workforce programs are expected to be eligible by 2027, and that AccelerateMS expects the first Workforce Pell-funded programs no earlier than January 2027. SWIB identified three priority sectors: construction, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare. AccelerateMS published the application forms (including the SWIB consultation attestation and governor certification templates) and a preliminary list of 15 potentially eligible programs by CIP and SOC code; inclusion on that list does not constitute approval. Press release, Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Nebraska NE | Live | Applications Open (NDOL Portal) ↗ Open Portal | Nebraska Department of Labor (Commissioner Thurber), with the Nebraska Workforce Development Board | Jul 16, 2026 | NDOL / NWDBApplications accepted through the NDOL portal; submissions due at least 45 days before a quarterly Nebraska Workforce Development Board meeting (next: Sep 18 and Dec 4, 2026) |
On July 8, 2026 Governor Pillen's office issued the formal launch release and the Nebraska Department of Labor published the NE Workforce Pell portal with an online application, six policy documents, and the 2026-27 Initial Eligible Occupation and Program List (effective date May 20, 2026): counted from the posted list, 49 distinct occupations across 129 SOC-CIP pairings, screened through the state's H3 (high-wage, high-skill, high-demand) framework; the governor's release cites 40 occupations mapped to 97 program categories. Applications are due no later than 45 days before a quarterly NWDB meeting (the next meetings are September 18 and December 4, 2026), and programs must meet the 70 percent completion and 70 percent placement thresholds. Metropolitan Community College is the first institution, with four programs (commercial driver's license, CompTIA Tech+ with Google IT Support, pharmacy technician, and phlebotomy technician) pending federal approval. On July 16, 2026 NDOL added an institutions-and-employers FAQ to the portal detailing the dual duration tests (150 to 599 clock hours and at least 8 but fewer than 15 weeks, both required), the 12-month prior-operation requirement, and portability evidence standards (attestations from at least two unaffiliated employers, labor-market posting evidence, or hiring-pipeline agreements). Source, governor's release Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Nevada NV | Live | Phase 1 Open (NSHE) ↗ Open Portal | Governor's Office of Workforce Innovation (GOWINN), with NSHE and DETR | Jul 1, 2026 | GOWINNPhase 1 (NSHE institutions only) opened July 1 per the published schedule; applications by email to nvworkforcepell@detr.nv.gov; Phase 2 for all non-credit providers is undated |
GOWINN's published phased rollout opened Phase 1 of the application process on July 1, 2026, limited to Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) institutions, with Phase 2 later expanding to all non-credit training providers. Applications and supporting documentation go to nvworkforcepell@detr.nv.gov, a DETR data-sharing agreement is required, and GOWINN, on behalf of the Governor, certifies alignment with labor market needs. As of July 6 the GOWINN page still carries its pre-launch wording and no launch-day announcement has been posted, so the opening rests on the published schedule rather than a fresh state confirmation. Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| New Jersey NJ | Live | Determination Done; Certification Stage | NJ Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) and NJ Department of Labor & Workforce Development | Jul 1, 2026 | OSHE / NJDOLInstitution program data collected (May 1); the governor's eligible-program list was due to USED July 1; no public confirmation or published list as of July 31 |
OSHE and NJDOL ran a program-determination process as joint leads: institutions submitted program and student data by a May 1 deadline so the state could build its eligible-program list, which the governor was to submit to the U.S. Department of Education by July 1, 2026. As of July 31 no public confirmation of the submission or a published program list has been posted, and OSHE's latest broadcasts (July 10) do not mention it. The State Employment and Training Commission, the state workforce board, received an overview of the program's launch year at its June 17 meeting (announced in OSHE's June 10 broadcast, still the latest Workforce Pell broadcast as of July 31). Under FSA's July 1 guidance (GENERAL-26-44), state certification is delivered as a governor-signed form to each institution for upload with its E-App submission rather than as a single central list transmission, so a public state-list posting may not accompany the step. Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| New Mexico NM | Live | Applications Open (Rolling, NMHED Portal) ↗ Open Portal | NM Higher Education Department (with NM Department of Workforce Solutions) | Jul 2026 | NMHED / NMDWSRolling AY 2026-27 applications through the NMHED Academic Affairs portal (account registration precedes submission); review runs several months through federal approval, no fixed deadline is posted, and the state-approved program list is forthcoming |
NMHED and NMDWS jointly convened a Workforce Pell Advisory Group of higher ed and industry stakeholders. The Group has met biweekly since April, most recently June 17, 2026, developing approval processes, eligibility definitions, oversight, and outcome metrics, and has posted working documents: draft High Skill-High Wage definitions and a verification-process framework (June 3 meeting) and a definitions-and-scenarios document (June 17). Between June 30 and July 24, 2026 the NMHED page added occupation definitions presented without a draft label (high-wage: median wage at or above the statewide all-occupation median; in-demand: top quartile of projected annual openings for the MSA or workforce region, with above-average projected growth) and a "How institutions apply" section directing institutions to register for the Academic Affairs online portal and await account approval. By July 28, 2026 the dedicated application page points institutions to the production Academic Affairs portal (academicaffairs.nmhed.us, no longer the test environment) with account-request registration, and states that applications are accepted on a rolling basis for award year 2026-27, with review taking several months from initial submission through final federal approval and a state-approved program list forthcoming on the NMHED site; no fixed deadline or window is posted. With a live submission channel open to institutions, the process is counted as operational. Contacts nmhed.policy@hed.nm.gov and nmdws.economicresearch@dws.nm.gov. Source, Advisory Group Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| North Carolina NC | Live | First Window Closed; Review Aug 12 ↗ Open Portal | NCWorks Commission (lead, designated by Governor Stein); NCCCS | Jul 15, 2026 | NCWorks CommissionFirst-cycle application window closed July 15; submissions reviewed August 12, then quarterly; governor certification and USED submission follow |
On June 23, 2026 Governor Stein and the NCWorks Commission announced that Workforce Pell applications are open: institutions apply through the existing Eligible Training Provider List at nc.works/ETPL and submit the additional Workforce Pell information. The first-cycle window closed July 15, 2026 on schedule; submissions are reviewed August 12, then on a quarterly cycle (October 15 submissions reviewed November 18). The Commission has posted no submission counts or program roster; Work Shift reported July 30 that as of mid-July 29 of the state's 58 community colleges had submitted 116 programs, and that roughly 330 of the community college system's more than 50,000 short-term programs (about 1 percent) meet the eligibility requirements. (Work Shift describes the 116 programs as submitted for federal approval; the Commission's published schedule has state review on August 12 before governor certification and USED submission.) The Assembly reported July 9, citing an updated NCCCS analysis, that fewer than 1 percent of NC community college programs meet all eligibility requirements, down from a 4 percent February estimate. The framework rests on Commission Policy CPS 04-2026 and an eligible occupations list of 364 occupations (health care, skilled trades, engineering, and more). The cycle is quarterly: submissions by October 15, 2026 are reviewed at the November 18 Commission meeting, with January 15 and April 15, 2027 deadlines following. Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Ohio OH | Live | Applications Open; First Submissions Reported | Ohio Department of Higher Education (with OACC) | Aug 3, 2026 | ODHEApplications accepted year-round and reviewed as received; per press reporting, nine programs from five institutions were submitted by mid-July, with six marked incomplete and three rejected, and no program approved yet; no roster posted |
The Ohio Department of Higher Education published Workforce Pell guidance and accepts program applications from Title IV-eligible institutions year-round, reviewed as received: an institution applies to ODHE, which determines whether each program is eligible. Signal Ohio reported August 3 the first submission figures: nine programs from five institutions (Stark State, Sinclair, Edison State, Butler Tech, and C-TEC of Licking County) in fields including truck driving, firefighting, and EMT; ODHE marked six applications incomplete and rejected the other three, so no Ohio program has been approved yet. Programs must align with occupations on Ohio's Top Jobs list, lead to a stackable, portable credential that articulates to academic credit, and document employer validation (job postings, employer letters, workforce board letters, or advisory-board minutes; Registered Apprenticeships are deemed to meet the employer requirement per the ODHE policy). highered.ohio.gov returned a site-wide 404 from about June 30 through at least July 6 and is reachable again as of July 7; the guidance was unchanged by the outage. Contact workforcepell@highered.ohio.gov. Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania PA | Live | Approved List Posted (2 of 40) ↗ Open Portal | PA Department of Education + State Workforce Development Board | Jul 8, 2026 | PDE / SWDBApproved list posted: 2 of 40 submitted programs approved for 2026-27; denied institutions may appeal within 30 days of notification; federal approval still required before Workforce Pell funding |
PDE posted the final approved program list for 2026-27 on its published July schedule (page updated July 8, 2026): 11 institutions submitted 40 programs, and 2 were approved, both heavy and tractor-trailer truck driving programs (Douglas Education Center's Commercial Driver's License and Rosedale Technical College's Truck Driving; CIP 49.0205, SOC 53-3032). Institution applications had run March 9 to April 17, 2026 against PDE's 19-occupation list (entry wage at least $23,475 and 100+ projected annual openings), one of the most curated in the country. Denied institutions may appeal within 30 days of notification; appeals may not challenge the underlying regulation, and denied programs may reapply in later cycles. PDE notes that placement on the commonwealth list does not by itself authorize Workforce Pell funding absent subsequent federal approval. Source, approved list (xlsx) Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| South Carolina SC | Live | Applications Open (SCWOS) ↗ Open Portal | SC Department of Employment and Workforce (administrator), under the Coordinating Council for Workforce Development by governor delegation, with the State Workforce Development Board | Jul 23, 2026 | DEW / CCWDDEW's revised page (July 23) presents the SCWOS application as open with no window language, while State Instruction 25-18's quarterly-window terms remain posted; SWDB committee and a CCWD working group review concurrently and the CCWD Executive Committee makes the final determination |
Governor McMaster delegated core Workforce Pell responsibilities to the Coordinating Council for Workforce Development (CCWD), in consultation with the State Workforce Development Board, with DEW administering the program. State Instruction 25-18, issued June 26, 2026 and effective July 1, 2026, sets quarterly application windows through SC Works Online Services (opening the first business day of each quarter for 15 business days) toward a state Eligible Workforce Pell List, with a one-year initial eligibility period followed by continued-eligibility review. Initial implementation targets a pilot eligible-occupations list of 24 occupations concentrated in health care, construction and heavy equipment, welding and machining, and commercial driving. On July 20, 2026 DEW issued a news release announcing Governor McMaster's designation of DEW as the state entity implementing Workforce Pell, with the CCWD and SWDB working groups supporting the CCWD Executive Committee's provider determinations. The Q3 window's 15-business-day term under the instruction ran through July 22, and on July 23, 2026 DEW revised the page: the quarterly-window and next-window language no longer appears and the application is presented as open through SCWOS with the provider attestation form, while State Instruction 25-18, still posted, continues to set quarterly windows opening the first business day of each quarter. No posted document reconciles the two readings, and no application counts or Eligible Workforce Pell List entries have been published. Contact WFPell@dew.sc.gov. Source, DEW release Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| South Dakota SD | Live | Inaugural Window Open (Jul 1 - Aug 31) ↗ Open Portal | SD Department of Labor & Regulation (Governor / Secretary of Labor determine) | Jul 7, 2026 | DLRInaugural application window runs Jul 1 to Aug 31 with determinations by Oct 30; DLR expects first submissions to USED in November 2026 |
On July 7, 2026 Governor Rhoden announced that Workforce Pell applications are open, and the Department of Labor and Regulation published a full process: a Workforce Pell Policy (updated June 6) with application windows, a Qualifying Occupations List (counted from the posted list, 56 occupations via the labor-market pathway; Governor strategic designations and Registered Apprenticeship related instruction are additional pathways), the application plus Competency Review, Articulation to Credit, and Employer Validation forms, and SDWORKS/ETPL integration. Occupations qualify when high-skill (O*NET Job Zone 3+), high-wage (at or above the state median), and in-demand (positive projected change plus above-average openings) are all met; every application needs at least three Employer Validation Forms. The inaugural window runs July 1 to August 31, 2026 with determinations by October 30; recurring windows are March 1 to April 30 and September 1 to October 31. The list is updated at least every two years. Source, policy Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Tennessee TN | Live | Applications Open (TDLWD/THEC) ↗ Open Portal | TN Department of Labor and Workforce Development + Tennessee Higher Education Commission; State Workforce Development Board grants final state approval | Jul 2026 | TDLWD / THECPortal open with no posted deadline; joint TDLWD and THEC review, State Workforce Development Board approval, then governor certification and USED submission; the board's remaining 2026 quarterly meetings are August 28 and November 6 |
Tennessee launched Workforce Pell administratively after its enabling bills failed: SB 2193 / HB 2617 (Taylor / Hill) died at the April 23 sine die, and on July 1, 2026 TDLWD and THEC jointly announced the program launch and opened an application portal carrying a Workforce Pell Grant Framework Policy, application guidance with checklists and templates, an employer validation form, and an FAQ. Programs must meet 70% completion and 70% job placement (within 180 days per the release), employer validation, stackable-credential, and in-demand, high-skill, or high-wage alignment requirements. The state published its CIP-SOC crosswalk on the portal in mid-July (the July 2 archived copy still listed it as under development): counted from the page table, 393 CIP codes mapping to 306 SOC occupations, an alignment-checking tool for institutions rather than a curated occupation list. Review is jointly led by TDLWD and THEC with final state approval by the State Workforce Development Board, which meets quarterly; its remaining 2026 meetings are August 28 and November 6, the scheduled venues for first board approvals. As of July 22 the portal posts no deadline and no approved programs ("Approved Workforce Pell programs will be posted here once available"). Press release, Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Texas TX | Live | Applications Close Sep 1 ↗ Open Portal | Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (with TWC and TWIC) | Aug 2026 | THECB / TWC / TWICThe THECB portal now posts a September 1 application deadline for the extended window; more than 60 programs submitted to date per THECB, with the first state certifications reported (Weatherford College notified July 23, three programs per local press); governor certification and USED submission follow |
THECB published the Workforce Pell Grant Program guidance and opened the institutional Eligibility Certification Form via Qualtrics, with a two-step submission (eligibility certification plus program and student data). The submission window closed June 19, 2026 (extended from June 5), and on July 24, 2026 Governor Abbott announced Texas is extending the application period; the THECB portal is again marked Accepting Applications with a posted deadline of September 1, 2026, and submitted programs continue through THECB review, Texas Workforce Investment Council input, and the recommended list to Governor Abbott for final certification and USED submission. The portal notes THECB certification is not final approval: final certification and approval come from the governor and the U.S. Department of Education. Per THECB, institutions had submitted more than 60 programs as of late July (many in health care, advanced manufacturing, transportation, and information technology, per a THECB spokesperson to El Paso Matters), and the first state-level certifications have been reported: the Weatherford Democrat reports THECB notified Weatherford College on July 23, 2026 that its HVAC, Basic Machining, and Advanced Machining programs meet state certification requirements, with the college then starting its federal submission; El Paso Community College reports two programs (phlebotomy and certified nursing assistant) submitted and awaiting decisions. THECB posts no certified-program list. TWIC's posted schedule lists its remaining 2026 meetings as September 11 and December 4, so formal council action at a public meeting would land September 11 at the earliest, though TWIC input need not occur at one. Eligibility runs against the TWC statewide Target Occupations List: THECB's published WPG Eligible Occupations and Programs crosswalk maps 25 eligible occupations to roughly 363 CIP program codes. Governor Abbott separately announced ~$17M in state short-term training grants (TRUE/TIME). Source, extension release, Weatherford Democrat Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Alaska AK | In Progress | Framework In Development | Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education + Alaska Workforce Investment Board, with the Governor's Office | Jul 23, 2026 | ACPE / AWIB / Governor's OfficeACPE staff, AWIB leadership, and a Governor's Office representative meet regularly to develop the framework for institutions to submit programs for state approval, plus an oversight and monitoring structure; no portal, occupation list, or formal designation posted |
ACPE's Summer 2026 commission meeting packet (meeting held July 23, 2026) reports that ACPE staff, Alaska Workforce Investment Board leadership, and a Governor's Office representative "are meeting regularly to develop the framework for institutions to submit eligible programs for state approval and create the oversight and monitoring structure to ensure ongoing eligibility," with updates going to all Alaska Title IV institutions quarterly. This extends the joint effort first described in the April 16, 2026 spring packet, which named establishing the review and approval process as the quarter's significant focus area; the Governor's Office is now explicitly at the table. Alaska also attended the NGA Workforce Pell Implementation Lab in Washington, DC on May 5 to 7, 2026. University of Alaska remarks in the winter commission minutes estimate at least 110 potentially qualifying short-term programs. No portal, occupation list, or formal designation has been posted. Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| California CA | In Progress | On Appropriations Suspense File | CCC Chancellor's Office / CSAC / CWDB | Aug 3, 2026 | CA SenateAB 1534 was referred to the Appropriations suspense file August 3 (a fiscal hold; disposition at the suspense hearing, typically late August) |
AB 1534 (Irwin) passed the Assembly floor 61-10 on May 21, 2026 with EDGE Coalition co-sponsorship. In the Senate, the Education Committee reported it do pass 7-0 on June 25, and on July 1, 2026 the Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee passed it 5-0 and re-referred it to Senate Appropriations, which on August 3, 2026 referred the bill to its suspense file (a fiscal hold; suspense-file dispositions typically come at a late-August hearing). Governor Newsom's May Revision budget includes $664,000 to support state Workforce Pell implementation. Separately, the California Student Aid Commission has posted an informational Workforce Pell page, the first state-agency administrative surface: it summarizes student and program eligibility (programs must have operated at least one year as of June 30, 2026 and be approved by the State of California) with webinar and FAQ marked coming soon, states that CSAC determines Workforce Pell program eligibility, and scheduled a dedicated Workforce Pell rollout discussion at its August 6 Commission Retreat; the Community Colleges Chancellor's Office has issued no implementation memo. Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Connecticut CT | In Progress | Agency Named | CT Office of Workforce Strategy | Mar 19, 2026 | OWSDrafting state guidance |
Governor Lamont named the Office of Workforce Strategy (OWS) as the state lead, coordinating with CT Office of Higher Ed, DOL, CSCU, UConn, and regional workforce boards. Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| District of Columbia DC | In Progress | Draft Policy Comment Closed Jul 21 | Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education (coordinates and certifies on the Mayor's behalf), with the DC Workforce Pell Grant Steering Committee (DME, WIC, OSSE, DOES, DMPED) | Jul 8, 2026 | DMEDraft policy public comment ran July 8 to 21; revised policy due by September 1, application form to follow, first submission deadline by September 30; reviews up to 60 days with a 15-day appeal window, two application cycles per year |
The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education posted a full draft DC Workforce Pell Policy (dated July 8, 2026), a draft eligible-occupations list, and an institutional readiness checklist for a 14-day public comment period, July 8 through July 21, 2026, following an interagency working group convened regularly since spring 2026. DME coordinates implementation and issues certifications on the Mayor's behalf, working through a cross-agency DC Workforce Pell Grant Steering Committee (DME, the Workforce Investment Council, OSSE, DOES, and DMPED). Per the draft, a revised policy follows by September 1, 2026 with the first submission deadline by September 30; applications are considered twice a year, reviews take up to 60 days, and applicants have a 15-day appeal window. The draft occupations list, built from Lightcast, WIC, and OSSE data and to be maintained on the WIC site, names 31 occupations (counted from the draft file) concentrated in construction, IT and business, transportation, and health care; the draft also provides for portability, letting DC residents use Workforce Pell at programs approved by Maryland or Virginia. Comments went to DCworkforcepell@dc.gov. Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Hawaii HI | In Progress | Working Group | DLIR Workforce Development Division / Workforce Development Council (with DOE, UH, and UH Community Colleges) | May 21, 2026 | DLIR / WDCAdministrative working group active; governor, in coordination with WDC, to establish the approval framework; next WDC board meeting tentatively September 10 |
SB 3282 and companion HB 2383, which would have created a Workforce Pell approval committee in statute, died at the May 8 sine die (DLIR testified against the bill's structure and its UI data-sharing provision). Implementation is proceeding administratively: the WDC's May 21, 2026 board materials state that the Governor, in coordination with the Council, will be responsible for establishing the approval framework and approving or denying program applications, and list Workforce Pell working-group deliberations and an Eligible Training Provider List task force among 2026 Q2-Q3 priorities, with DLIR, DOE, UH, and UH Community Colleges participating under National Governors Association guidance. Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Kansas KS | In Progress | Legislation Enacted | Kansas Office of the Governor / KS Board of Regents | May 28, 2026 | Governor / RegentsHB 2485 enacted; the May 28 TEA meeting book reports continued progress on Workforce Pell requirements through coordinated efforts among KBOR offices and the Department of Commerce, but no rulemaking, process, or application has been published |
Governor Kelly signed HB 2485, which (consolidating SB 406) replicates the federal legislation for establishing Workforce Pell eligibility requirements and directs the governor to approve short-term workforce training programs for Pell grant eligibility. At the Board of Regents' Postsecondary Technical Education Authority meeting on April 23, 2026, KBOR workforce development staff reported that Ability to Benefit and Workforce Pell initiatives "will begin soon," and the May 28, 2026 TEA meeting book reports that "continued progress is being made in advancing workforce Pell requirements through coordinated efforts among internal KBOR offices and the Department of Commerce." As of July 24 no rulemaking has appeared in the Kansas Register and no approval process or application window has been published; the TEA has no summer meeting posted after May 28. Source, TEA meeting book Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Maine ME | In Progress | Policy Vote Held Jul 30; Outcome Unposted | Maine State Workforce Development Board / Maine DOL | Jul 30, 2026 | SWDB / Maine DOLThe July 30 virtual SWDB Workforce Pell meeting was agendaed to review public comments and vote on the revised determination policy; as of July 31 no minutes, adopted policy, or announcement confirming the outcome has been posted |
The State Workforce Development Board posted the draft Maine Workforce Pell Determination Policy for public comment June 30 through July 14, 2026. The draft sets the state process to review and recommend programs for SWDB approval prior to governor certification and USED review, balancing occupational alignment, quality outcomes (completion, placement, and value-added earnings), and a transparent process; it applies to credit and noncredit programs at Title IV institutions operating in Maine or serving Maine learners. The comment window closed July 14, and the draft's July 20, 2026 target effective date (subject to final approval by USED) passed with no final policy or adoption announcement posted: as of August 6 the June 30 draft remains the current document, and WorkSourceMaine's site navigation lists a Maine Workforce Pell Program page that returns page-not-found, indicating a rollout page staged but not yet published. The board held the virtual SWDB Workforce Pell meeting on July 30, 2026 per its posted agenda: review of public comments received June 30 through July 14 (Attachment A), then review and approval of the revised Maine Workforce Pell Program Determination Policy (Attachment B), ahead of the September 18 quarterly meeting. As of July 31 no minutes, adopted policy, or announcement confirming the vote outcome has been posted, and the two pre-read attachments, the comment summary and the revised policy text, remain unpublished, so what the revision changes cannot yet be inspected. The 2026 WIOA Unified State Plan modification separately commits to integrating Workforce Pell with the state's Eligible Training Provider List. Source, comment announcement Verified Aug 6, 2026 |
| Missouri MO | In Progress | Legislation Failed; Agency Prep | Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (proposed) | Jun 10, 2026 | Bills DiedBills died at sine die May 15; MDHEWD preparing administratively for July 1 (CBHE briefed Jun 10) |
SB 1196 (Henderson) and HB 2585 (Casteel), which would have authorized the governor with the state workforce board to approve eligible Workforce Pell programs, died when the 2026 Missouri General Assembly adjourned sine die at 6:00 pm on May 15, 2026. Neither bill appears on the Truly Agreed and Finally Passed list; SB 1196's last status was "S Bills with H Amendments," stranded in the final week. MDHEWD staff briefed the Coordinating Board for Higher Education on June 10, 2026 on preparing to implement Workforce Pell administratively for July 1; no eligible-program list or portal has been published, and the next regular CBHE meeting is September 1-2, 2026. Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Montana MT | In Progress | Working Group | MT State Workforce Innovation Board / Dept. of Labor and Industry (with OCHE) | Apr 27-28, 2026 | SWIB / DLIPreliminary development of program standards, preparing the state to certify eligible programs beginning later in 2026 |
Following its Spring Quarterly meeting (April 27-28, 2026), SWIB announced it is advancing Workforce Pell implementation under Governor Gianforte's 406 JOBS initiative, describing "preliminary development of Workforce Pell Program standards for Montana, preparing the State to certify eligible programs beginning later this year"; the revised WIOA State Plan approved at the same meeting commits to using labor market information, the statewide credential registry, and joint advising for Workforce Pell navigation. The approved mid-cycle plan document (PYs 2026-2027) embeds the Workforce Pell strategy: prioritizing Pell-eligible short-term trainings aligned to 406 JOBS sectors, with the statewide credential registry and shared labor market information for navigation. As of July 28 SWIB has posted no program standards or summer meeting output. Plan, Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| New Hampshire NH | In Progress | Signed into Law | Governor / State Workforce Innovation Board (per HB 1774) | Jul 2, 2026 | Governor Ayotte / SWIBHB 1774 signed into law; per the June 9 SWIB transcript, the Office of Workforce Opportunity is developing approval-process options for the governor and reconstituting board committees; the next scheduled full SWIB meeting is October 13 |
Governor Ayotte signed HB 1774 into law in a 74-bill batch reported July 2, 2026. The law directs the governor to approve workforce training programs for federal Workforce Pell Grants. HB 1774 passed the House March 11, the Senate May 14 (amendment 2026-1728s), and was enrolled June 23; the legislature adjourned sine die June 30. No application process or agency guidance has been announced yet, but the approval process is being designed: the June 9 State Workforce Innovation Board transcript records the Office of Workforce Opportunity briefing the board, developing process options for decision-makers, and reconstituting SWIB committees, with the next full board meeting scheduled October 13, 2026; the June 9 packet also includes a 2026 High Demand Occupational List. Source, signing coverage Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| New York NY | In Progress | Governor Commitment | Governor's Office / SUNY / CUNY (NY DOL drafting plan) | Apr 2026 | Governor / AgenciesNY DOL posted draft plan; no formal lead agency designation |
2026 State of the State commits to seek Workforce Pell eligibility for early childhood education and directs SUNY and CUNY to expand related programs. NY DOL's "Workforce Pell Overview and Draft Plan" link resolves to a static ten-page SUNY slide deck presented to the State Workforce Investment Board in January 2026 (posted February 12) and still labeled draft: its governance slide assigns the Governor's Office to establish process and policies, approve programs, and certify, with an advisory committee proposed; no finalized plan or formal lead-agency designation has followed. LaGuardia Community College/CUNY received a ~$2M federal FIPSE grant to launch a Workforce Success Engine for Pell-Eligible Pathways. Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Oklahoma OK | In Progress | Coordination Venue Named | Oklahoma Workforce Commission (coordination), with State Regents and Office of Workforce Development | Dec 11, 2025 | OWCCoordination venue named in the Workforce Transformation Plan; no approval process, application, or governor action announced |
The Oklahoma Workforce Commission's Workforce Transformation Plan (December 2025) designates its collaboration committee as "an important entry point for coordinating the implementation of new strategies such as the recently enacted Workforce Pell program," the first Workforce Pell reference located in an Oklahoma public document. No approval process, application, or governor action has followed. A July 2025 America Achieves announcement said Governor Stitt would issue a preparatory executive order, but no such order appears in the Secretary of State's register through June 2026, and Stitt's 2026 higher-ed orders do not mention Workforce Pell. Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Oregon OR | In Progress | Final Policy Posted Jul 29; Portal In Development | Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) with Workforce and Talent Development Board | Jul 29, 2026 | HECCFinal Oregon Workforce Pell Policy posted July 29 (effective July 1, 2026); the online program approval portal and institutional FAQ are still in development, so no application channel is open yet |
HECC posted the final Oregon Workforce Pell Policy, dated July 29, 2026 with a stated effective date of July 1, 2026, after public comment on the draft closed July 17; the implementation page now says the state framework "is now finalized." Under the policy, HECC approves programs onto an Oregon Workforce Pell Approved Program List on the Governor's behalf in consultation with the Workforce and Talent Development Board; approved programs must reapply for continued eligibility at least biennially (automated portal reminders 45 days before expiration), and a Significant Change, defined as 30 percent or more cumulative curriculum change, requires reapproval. State definitions draw on Oregon Employment Department frameworks (high-skill: postsecondary non-degree training, apprenticeship, or comparable preparation; high-wage: above the statewide or area all-occupation median, or strong wage growth; in-demand: projected annual openings above the occupation median), and an occupation may also qualify as critical to an in-demand industry sector. The online program approval portal and institutional FAQ remain "coming soon," so no application channel is open yet. Per OPB/KLCC reporting on July 1, 2026, HECC's Office of Workforce Investments (director Julia Pontoni) planned to begin reviewing program applications in August 2026, with most programs expected to reach students in 2027-28; target sectors are health care, social services, construction, and technology. Contact HECC.WorkforcePell@HECC.oregon.gov. Source, OPB Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Utah UT | In Progress | Legislation Enacted | Utah Board of Higher Education (per SB 195, 2026) | Mar 2026 | Board of Higher EdStatute authorizes Governor-to-Board delegation; USHE drafting program approval framework |
SB 195 (Workforce Development), enacted in the 2026 General Session, authorizes the Governor to delegate Workforce Pell program approval to the Utah Board of Higher Education for USHE institutions; this is an outlier higher-ed-led model documented in New America's state implementation playbook. Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Vermont VT | In Progress | Drafting Guidance | VT Office of Workforce Strategy and Development / State Workforce Development Board | Jun 1, 2026 | OWSD / SWDBDrafting state guidance |
SWDB strategic goals document filed with the legislature names Workforce Pell integration as a priority and lists implementation partners across VDOL, Agency of Education, and CCV. June 1, 2026 SWDB minutes, now posted, describe a taskforce continuing to develop timeline and policy, targeting a small pilot in mid-2027; the same minutes record that OWSD's executive director retired at the end of June, with the office transition described as delaying subcommittee work. Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Virginia VA | In Progress | Named in Draft State Plan | Virginia Works + Virginia Community College System (per draft plan) | Apr 2026 | Virginia Works / VCCSDraft WIOA Combined State Plan modification names VCCS as the Workforce Pell implementing partner; no approval process or guidance published; a password-protected Workforce Pell page is staged on the Virginia Works site |
Virginia's draft WIOA Combined State Plan modification (posted April 2026, marked draft) states that "VCCS will be instrumental in implementing Workforce Pell programs, in partnership with Virginia Works," and that the state's Workforce Data Trust credential-to-occupation mapping tools "guide training program design, including Workforce Pell implementation." This is the first Workforce Pell assignment in an official Virginia document; no approval process, guidance, or portal has been published, and neither the governor's office nor SCHEV has announced a process. As of July 24, 2026 the Virginia Works site carries a staged page at virginiaworks.gov/workforce-pell/ titled "Protected: Workforce Pell" behind a password form; its contents remain non-public as of July 31. Inside Higher Ed reported July 27 that, per VCCS, only 6 of roughly 600 credit and noncredit programs met Workforce Pell's requirements, with many programs falling just under the duration floor, and that Virginia does not plan to lengthen programs to chase eligibility. Virginia's pre-existing New Economy Workforce Credential Grant (SCHEV-administered, funding VCCS FastForward, $23.75M in FY2026) remains the state's workforce-credential infrastructure. Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Washington WA | In Progress | Industry Recommendations Delivered | Governor's Policy office (lead), with a six-agency steering committee including the Workforce Board, SBCTC, and WSAC | Jun 26, 2026 | Steering CommitteeCross-agency steering committee led by the Governor's Policy office is deciding eligibility definitions, employer validation, stackability, and list maintenance; joint employer-labor recommendations were presented to the Workforce Board June 26; no approval process or portal published |
The Workforce Board's June 26, 2026 meeting packet (posted July 2026) states that the Governor's Policy office is leading Pell for Workforce implementation, guided by a cross-agency steering committee of the Washington Student Achievement Council, the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board, the Department of Commerce, the Employment Security Department, and the Department of Labor & Industries; its key decision areas are eligibility definitions, employer validation, program stackability, and maintaining the eligible-program list. At that meeting the Washington Roundtable and the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO presented joint industry recommendations (a discussion item, addressed to Governor Ferguson): rely on the federal eligibility criteria rather than adding state criteria in year one, then build a structured employer and sector demand-validation system, with enabling investments in advising capacity, wraparound supports, and rural access. The Workforce Board hosts the state's public Workforce Pell page and posted an information session March 20, 2026; no approval process or portal has been published. Remaining 2026 board meetings are August 26, October 28, and December 10. Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| West Virginia WV | In Progress | Legislation Enacted | WV Workforce Development Board (under Governor) | Apr 1, 2026 | WV Workforce Dev BoardSB 490 enacted; agency rulemaking |
Governor Morrisey signed SB 490, codifying federal law and giving the governor (via the WV Workforce Development Board) authority to approve short-term training programs for Workforce Pell. Morrisey marked the law with an early-June 2026 signing ceremony at New River Community and Technical College alongside companion micro-credentialing legislation. Agency rulemaking and program approval are the next steps. The state workforce board held a brief July 14 special session described as a vote on pending action items; its agenda and minutes are unposted, so any Workforce Pell connection is unconfirmed, and the next quarterly meeting is September 16, 2026. Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Wisconsin WI | In Progress | Criteria In Development; July Target Passed | Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (lead); final determinations by Governor Evers with the Governor's Council on Workforce Investment | Jul 6, 2026 | DWDDWD says eligibility criteria are still being established before colleges can submit programs and the application has no official start date; the July opening DWD hoped for passed without an application channel opening |
On July 1, 2026 the Wisconsin Technical College System president welcomed "the launch of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's (DWD) portal for Workforce Pell programs," and Wisconsin Watch reported that DWD leads the process, with Governor Evers and the Governor's Council on Workforce Investment making final determinations before submission to USED. On July 6, however, a DWD spokesperson told Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service that the application has no official start date, that eligibility criteria are still being established before colleges can submit programs, and that more options will come available over the next 12 to 24 months, attributing the pace to the final rule publishing under two months before the effective date. DWD has published no public Workforce Pell page, and July ended with no announcement that the application opened, so the department's hoped-for July start date has passed; until an application channel opens, none is verifiably available. Truck driving, dental auxiliary, and EMT programs are cited as the strongest early candidates for the pilot-scale rollout. Source, WTCS statement Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Delaware DE | Unknown | — | Delaware Higher Education Office + Delaware Workforce Development Board | — | — | No public Workforce Pell-specific action located after checking governor's office, DOL/Workforce Development Board, and trade press. Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Massachusetts MA | Unknown | — | MA Department of Higher Education + Workforce Skills Cabinet + MassHire State Workforce Board | — | — | No implementation action located, but state bodies are monitoring the program: the MassHire State Workforce Board's Subcommittee on Policy met February 6, 2026 in Boston with a 30-minute agenda item, "Presentation on Workforce Pell Grant revisions and Q/A discussion" (co-chairs Toni Wolf and Rainer Gawlick; agenda, verified via search index; mass.gov blocks automated fetches), the June 2025 BHE Community College Report flags Workforce Pell as favorable for community college programs such as CNA, medical assisting, phlebotomy, and EMT, and December 9, 2025 BHE minutes note the draft federal regulations and rulemaking timeline. The May 19, 2026 BHE agenda carries no Workforce Pell item, and no process, designation, or governor action has been located (mass.edu documents and press were used). Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| North Dakota ND | Unknown | — | North Dakota University System + Job Service North Dakota + Workforce Development Council | — | — | No Workforce Pell-specific action located. Governor Armstrong has a workforce subcabinet meeting biweekly since June 2025 but no Workforce Pell-specific designation found. Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Puerto Rico PR | Unknown | — | Governor of Puerto Rico (chief executive under WIOA) + PR Department of Economic Development and Commerce + PR Department of Education | — | — | Statutorily eligible: the final rule defines "Governor" as the chief executive of a State or outlying area under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and the rule's preamble uses Puerto Rico as its example of state-specific in-demand occupations (91 FR 29254). No implementation action located after checking La Fortaleza, DDEC, and the PR Department of Education in English and Spanish; the only PR-government mention is PRFAA's July 3, 2025 release noting the program's creation in the reconciliation bill. Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Rhode Island RI | Unknown | — | RI Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner + Department of Labor and Training + Governor's Workforce Board | — | — | The only located public mention is agency-level and outside the approval-process track: the Department of Corrections' February 2026 strategic-plan progress report says RIDOC is reviewing "Workforce Pell Grant opportunities and options" for short-term certification programs, in discussions with CCRI and Roger Williams University (corrections-education context). No action located from the governor's office, the Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner, DLT, or the Governor's Workforce Board. Source Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
| Wyoming WY | Unknown | — | Wyoming Community College Commission + WY Department of Workforce Services | — | — | No public Workforce Pell-specific action located after checking governor's office, state higher ed agency, and trade press. Verified Aug 5, 2026 |
This is a living tracker. If your state has issued guidance, named a lead agency, or moved on Workforce Pell in any way that's not reflected here, send a note with a link to the source and we'll update within 48 hours.
We review which existing programs may qualify, where evidence is incomplete, and where coding, duration, or occupation mapping creates implementation risk.
Alabama's approval process was operating on the day Workforce Pell launched, and nearly every working part predates the program, some by seven years. The governor's memorandum names four instruments the state already ran. This analysis maps each federal requirement to the instrument that answers it, and reads the same mapping as a scope of work for states building from less.
Workforce Pell took effect July 1, 2026, and the U.S. Department of Education's final rule was published in the Federal Register on May 19, 2026. Eligible programs run 150 to 599 clock hours over 8 to 15 weeks. Unlike a traditional Pell Grant, Workforce Pell can fund short-term workforce training, and students who already hold a bachelor's degree may qualify.
As of August 5, 2026, twenty-seven jurisdictions have an operational approval process. Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas have opened or closed a program application window (the U.S. Department of Education approved the nation's first program, Iowa Central Community College's EMT certificate, on August 4; Arizona opened a state certification window July 31; Pennsylvania posted the first final approved list on July 8, approving 2 of 40 submitted programs); Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee opened application processes at the July 1 launch; Kentucky opened an online application under an emergency regulation effective June 30; Georgia opened its institution application at apply.workforcepellga.com; Maryland opened rolling applications July 10 through the Maryland Workforce Exchange; New Mexico opened rolling applications through its higher education department portal; South Dakota and Nebraska opened application portals on July 7 and 8; Nevada opened Phase 1 for NSHE institutions; Florida has published an eligible-program inventory; Louisiana operates a state-originated determination process (no institutional applications in year one); New Jersey's eligible-program list was due to the U.S. Department of Education July 1; Alabama has launched a program-by-program approval process; and Idaho and Indiana are running pilots (the Indiana pilot is limited to two public two-year colleges). Most other states have named a lead agency or are advancing enabling legislation.
Each governor, after consulting the state workforce board, approves eligible programs and submits them to the U.S. Department of Education. States designate a lead agency, usually a higher-education or workforce body, to run the application and review process.
It varies by state. Published eligible-occupation lists range from Pennsylvania's 19, Minnesota's 22, South Carolina's 24 (a pilot list), and Texas's 25 through Nebraska's 49 and South Dakota's 56 to Alabama's 231, Iowa's 243, Arkansas's 245, Michigan's 267, Ohio's 352, and North Carolina's 364. Florida instead issued an inventory of 31 eligible programs.
Most states first publish an eligible-occupation list, which is the universe of qualifying occupations. Institutions then apply to have specific programs approved against that list. Approved-program rosters still require governor certification and U.S. Department of Education review, with most expected in summer 2026.
As states move from passing Workforce Pell to running it, the demand for sound data, clear comparison across states, and an honest read on outcomes grows with it. Opportunity Data works with partners to help get the rollout right.
Workforce Pell hands states the decisive role: a governor must approve programs, after consulting the state workforce board, before institutions can submit them to the U.S. Department of Education. Each state has to stand up an approval process, name a lead agency, designate eligible occupations, and publish guidance institutions can act on.
Two different things are worth counting, and they do not match. Live above counts the twenty-seven jurisdictions with an operational approval process. A separate, narrower measure is how many states have published a comparable eligible-occupation list or program inventory: sixteen are counted side by side, and they vary by an order of magnitude, from Pennsylvania 19, Minnesota 22, South Carolina 24 (a pilot list), and Texas 25 through Nebraska 49 and South Dakota 56 to Illinois 195, Alabama 231, Iowa 243, Arkansas 245, Michigan 267, Maryland 269 (of a 274-row table, counting occupations flagged as meeting at least one statutory criterion), Ohio 352, North Carolina 364, and Colorado 434 (each occupation marked as meeting two of the three statutory criteria), with Florida publishing a 2025-26 inventory of 31 eligible programs rather than an occupation list. Eleven other live states have no comparable list: Arizona opened its certification window anchored to the state's Labor Market Job Rankings without a final published occupation list, New Jersey built its program list from institution data for submission to the U.S. Department of Education, Idaho screens against its existing in-demand careers matrix, Indiana is piloting with two public two-year colleges, Mississippi has published only a preliminary list of potentially eligible programs, Louisiana has published a CIP-family list of qualifying program areas rather than an occupation list, Tennessee published a CIP-SOC alignment crosswalk rather than a curated occupation list, Kentucky points institutions to its statewide high-wage and in-demand occupation workbooks, New Mexico posts occupation definitions and a rolling application rather than a published list, Georgia's approved-program list is still marked TBA, and Nevada takes applications by email against labor-market-alignment criteria. The published lists are compared side by side, with source documents, on the State Approval Comparison.
Sources include state higher-education agency sites, governor press releases, state workforce board minutes, and trade-press reporting. For how the live states define eligible programs and occupations, set side by side with list sizes, wage bars, and decision logic, see the State Approval Comparison.
All 611 sub-one-year certificate programs at 55 Colorado institutions, screened against the state's occupation list, earnings benchmarks, and local prices. First in a state-by-state series.
A program must exist for a year before it can qualify. Florida's program-first and Colorado's occupation-first implementations show why educational supply decides what Workforce Pell can fund.
Early state frameworks fall into two camps, curated occupation lists and permissive ones, and the choice shapes what institutions can offer.
Much of short-term training lives in noncredit programs federal data cannot see. Workforce Pell's reporting requirements could make that pipeline visible.
In Census PSEO data on 10,025 short-term certificate programs, 97 percent clear the earnings bar; two-thirds are too small to be measured at all.