As the economy has taken its toll on the earning power of both the employed and unemployed, many have commented on the "back to school" movement as the displaced seek to bolster their existing skills or learn new skills to improve their job prospects. The dramatic growth in Pell Grant recipients seems to confirm this trend.
SLA analyzed Pell Grant data updated today on FSA Data Center for the first two quarters of the 2009-10 academic year (through December 31, 2009). Note that the number of Pell Grant recipients grew to 6.2 million from 4.7 million while the dollars disbursed grew to $13.9 billion from $8.9 billion. The average Pell Grant also grew to $2,223 from $1,885, an 18% increase
Here is the table:
| Six months | Six months | ||
| 2008-09 | 2009-10 | Change | |
| Recipients | 4,701,241 | 6,257,421 | 33.1% |
| Disbursements | $8,862 | $13,908 | 56.9% |
As for the state with the largest growth in Pell Grants over the past six months, compared to the same period in 2008-09 (hint: it's not a state):
| State | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | Change |
| District of Columbia | $30.5 | $58.8 | 92.7% |
| Nevada | $26.6 | $49.7 | 86.6% |
| Nebraska | $36.7 | $68.4 | 86.2% |
| Iowa | $172.3 | $311.3 | 80.7% |
| Arizona | $474.9 | $849.3 | 78.8% |
| Virginia | $164.3 | $290.6 | 76.9% |
| Indiana | $182.4 | $315.8 | 73.1% |
| Florida | $474.9 | $821.4 | 73.0% |
| Alaska | $6.8 | $11.6 | 70.0% |
| Wyoming | $11.8 | $19.8 | 68.4% |
| Washington | $128.4 | $214.8 | 67.3% |
| Georgia | $247.3 | $412.9 | 67.0% |
| Hawaii | $17.8 | $29.6 | 66.4% |
| Minnesota | $133.0 | $220.1 | 65.5% |
| New Hampshire | $19.5 | $32.1 | 64.7% |
| Oregon | $96.4 | $157.5 | 63.5% |
| Utah | $114.0 | $185.8 | 62.9% |
| Delaware | $13.4 | $21.8 | 62.9% |
| Wisconsin | $108.1 | $175.3 | 62.1% |
| Missouri | $166.2 | $266.1 | 60.1% |
| Ohio | $363.8 | $581.6 | 59.9% |
| Illinois | $370.7 | $591.8 | 59.7% |
| South Carolina | $118.2 | $188.3 | 59.3% |
| Colorado | $125.7 | $200.3 | 59.3% |
| South Dakota | $25.0 | $39.7 | 58.9% |
| Tennessee | $183.0 | $289.9 | 58.4% |
| Kansas | $71.8 | $113.5 | 58.2% |
| Massachusetts | $124.8 | $194.3 | 55.6% |
| Vermont | $13.1 | $20.4 | 55.5% |
| North Carolina | $236.6 | $367.1 | 55.1% |
| Texas | $618.8 | $953.1 | 54.0% |
| Connecticut | $61.6 | $94.9 | 53.9% |
| West Virginia | $64.3 | $98.6 | 53.3% |
| Pennsylvania | $309.7 | $474.2 | 53.1% |
| Kentucky | $125.9 | $192.4 | 52.8% |
| Michigan | $318.7 | $484.8 | 52.1% |
| Louisiana | $127.5 | $192.1 | 50.7% |
| Rhode Island | $36.7 | $55.2 | 50.5% |
| New Mexico | $58.6 | $88.0 | 50.2% |
| Oklahoma | $107.9 | $161.9 | 50.1% |
| New Jersey | $166.8 | $250.0 | 49.9% |
| California | $991.3 | $1,481.1 | 49.4% |
| Arkansas | $91.7 | $136.1 | 48.4% |
| Alabama | $167.9 | $248.7 | 48.1% |
| Maryland | $110.1 | $162.5 | 47.7% |
| Maine | $30.6 | $44.5 | 45.4% |
| New York | $597.6 | $867.9 | 45.2% |
| North Dakota | $18.5 | $26.7 | 44.9% |
| Montana | $23.8 | $34.2 | 44.0% |
| Mississippi | $131.6 | $185.4 | 40.9% |
| Idaho | $49.7 | $69.7 | 40.3% |
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