Workforce Pell Deep Dive
Where each state stands on Workforce Pell certification. Because governor and workforce board approval runs state by state, availability is local and moving. This page tracks the process for all 50 states, DC, and Puerto Rico, and is refreshed monthly.
Last updated: October 2, 2026
Looking for training money for yourself? Check your eligibility.
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Running a program that has to clear 70/70?
See how NPower ran 245 scored mock interviews in nine weeks with no added staff
Placement is half of the 70/70 test. Capstone Workforce gives every participant scored interview practice and gives you the readiness data and funder-ready reports to show it.
Each line is self-contained and dated. Quote freely with a link back to this page.
State deep-dive guides
Every state below has a deep-dive page covering the lead agency, the application window, the occupation list, and what programs there should do now. That includes the states that have published nothing, because knowing your state has no process yet, and what to prepare while you wait, is the answer you came for.
Alaska
The Alaska Workforce Investment Board's Aug 5, 2026 business meeting packet carries a July 2026 working draft, the Alaska Workforce Pell Mas.
Read the Alaska guide →
Alabama
Governor Kay Ivey approved Alabama's first Workforce Pell program on Sep 14, 2026: Lawson State Community College's 10-week Lineworker Train.
Read the Alabama guide →
Arkansas
The Arkansas Division of Higher Education ran an initial application window from Jun 1 to Jun 30, 2026 and an extended window from Aug 21 to.
Read the Arkansas guide →
Arizona
Governor Katie Hobbs, the Workforce Arizona Council, and the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity announced on Sep 23, 2026 that the state.
Read the Arizona guide →
California
Governor Newsom signed AB 1534 (Irwin) on Sep 27, 2026 as Chapter 519, Statutes of 2026.
Read the California guide →
Colorado
Governor Polis approved five Colorado programs to be submitted to the U.
Read the Colorado guide →
Connecticut
On Sep 18, 2026, the Office of Workforce Strategy, on behalf of the Governor's Workforce Council, posted the draft Workforce Pell Eligible P.
Read the Connecticut guide →
District of Columbia
The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education published the District's final Workforce Pell Policy dated Sep 1, 2026, opened the online appli.
Read the District of Columbia guide →
Delaware
The Delaware Department of Labor, through the Office of Workforce Development in its Division of Employment and Training, released Delaware'.
Read the Delaware guide →
Florida
Governor Ron DeSantis announced Florida's initial list of Workforce Pell eligible programs on Sep 17, 2026, with the Florida Department of E.
Read the Florida guide →
Georgia
The Technical College System of Georgia runs the institution application portal at apply.
Read the Georgia guide →
Hawaii
The Hawaii Workforce Development Council ratified a resolution on Feb 18, 2026 establishing an interim State Planning and Implementation Fra.
Read the Hawaii guide →
Iowa
The Iowa Department of Education lists nine state-approved programs across four community colleges: Des Moines Area (EMT), Eastern Iowa (CDL.
Read the Iowa guide →
Idaho
Governor Brad Little signed Executive Order 2026-05 on Jun 10, 2026 creating the State Workforce Pell Coordinating Council, which recommends.
Read the Idaho guide →
Illinois
The Illinois Community College Board published the final Illinois Workforce Pell Program Approval Manual on Jul 15, 2026 and ran the first a.
Read the Illinois guide →
Indiana
The U.
Read the Indiana guide →
Kansas
House Bill 2485, approved Apr 9, 2026 and effective Jul 1, 2026, directs the governor, in consultation with the state workforce development .
Read the Kansas guide →
Kentucky
Kentucky is operating under emergency regulation 787 KAR 2:050E, which adds state requirements on top of the federal minimums for Workforce .
Read the Kentucky guide →
Louisiana
Louisiana Works will not accept unsolicited institutional applications in Year 1.
Read the Louisiana guide →
Massachusetts
Governor Healey opened the pilot-year state application for colleges, universities and eligible training providers in September 2026, submit.
Read the Massachusetts guide →
Maryland
Chapter 724 of 2026 (Senate Bill 509), signed May 26, 2026 and effective Jun 1, 2026, requires the Governor, after consulting the Governor's.
Read the Maryland guide →
Maine
Maine DOL opened applications to Title IV institutions on Aug 12, 2026 through WorkSource Maine, under the State Workforce Development Board.
Read the Maine guide →
Michigan
Michigan is not currently accepting applications.
Read the Michigan guide →
Minnesota
The Governor's Workforce Development Board approved the Minnesota Workforce Pell Program Determination Policy 2026-2027 on May 27, 2026, and.
Read the Minnesota guide →
Missouri
The Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development runs the Workforce Pell application: institutions submit an interest f.
Read the Missouri guide →
Mississippi
Governor Tate Reeves designated AccelerateMS, the state Office of Workforce Development, to coordinate Workforce Pell, and the State Workfor.
Read the Mississippi guide →
Montana
Montana has no published application path for institutions.
Read the Montana guide →
North Carolina
The NCWorks Commission runs state approval under Commission Policy CPS 04-2026, adopted May 13, 2026, and began accepting institution submis.
Read the North Carolina guide →
North Dakota
North Dakota has published no Workforce Pell guidance, application path, eligible-occupation list, or certified programs.
Read the North Dakota guide →
Nebraska
The Nebraska Department of Labor approves programs on behalf of the governor in consultation with the Nebraska Workforce Development Board, .
Read the Nebraska guide →
New Hampshire
HB 1774 passed the Senate May 14, 2026 and the House May 21, 2026, and Gov.
Read the New Hampshire guide →
New Jersey
The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development runs the process with the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, followin.
Read the New Jersey guide →
New Mexico
The New Mexico Higher Education Department opened its Workforce Pell application on September 2, 2026 and accepts submissions on a rolling b.
Read the New Mexico guide →
Nevada
Nevada's Office of Workforce Innovation (OWINN), the governor's designee within DETR, opened Phase 1 of the Workforce Pell application on Ju.
Read the Nevada guide →
New York
Gov.
Read the New York guide →
Ohio
The Ohio Department of Higher Education published a Workforce Pell Certification Policy and opened applications in mid-May 2026, reviewing t.
Read the Ohio guide →
Oklahoma
Oklahoma has no designated certifying agency, published framework, eligible-occupation list, or application path for Workforce Pell.
Read the Oklahoma guide →
Oregon
The Higher Education Coordinating Commission, designated by the governor, administers Workforce Pell in Oregon with the Workforce and Talent.
Read the Oregon guide →
Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Department of Education runs Workforce Pell with the State Workforce Development Board and the Department of Labor and Indu.
Read the Pennsylvania guide →
Puerto Rico
Governor Jenniffer Gonzalez Colon signed Executive Order OE-2026-043 on Aug 30, 2026 (announced Aug 31), adopting Workforce Pell as public p.
Read the Puerto Rico guide →
Rhode Island
The Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner runs the state approval process with the Governor's Office and the Department of L.
Read the Rhode Island guide →
South Carolina
Governor Henry McMaster designated the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce to implement Workforce Pell in July 2026, and S.
Read the South Carolina guide →
South Dakota
The South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation administers Workforce Pell, and Governor Larry Rhoden announced applications open on Jul.
Read the South Dakota guide →
Tennessee
The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission launched Tennessee's Workforce Pel.
Read the Tennessee guide →
Texas
The U.
Read the Texas guide →
Utah
Utah's enabling law is S.
Read the Utah guide →
Virginia
Virginia Works hosts a public Workforce Pell page that lays out a five-step review chain: institutions submit documentation, SCHEV validates.
Read the Virginia guide →
Vermont
Vermont has not published a Workforce Pell framework, guidance, eligible-occupations list or application path.
Read the Vermont guide →
Washington
Washington opened its pilot-year Workforce Pell application in October 2026, with the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) as the s.
Read the Washington guide →
Wisconsin
Governor Tony Evers approved Wisconsin's State Workforce Pell Program Administration and Implementation Policy on Jul 20, 2026, and the inst.
Read the Wisconsin guide →
West Virginia
Governor Patrick Morrisey signed Senate Bill 490, the state's Workforce Pell law, on May 27, 2026; it directs the West Virginia Workforce De.
Read the West Virginia guide →
Wyoming
Wyoming has published no Workforce Pell framework, guidance, eligible-occupations list or application path.
Read the Wyoming guide →
The pattern behind the state approvals
Pennsylvania approved 2 of 40 submitted programs. North Carolina approved 43 of ~116 submissions in cycle 1 (37 percent, then federal review). Alabama's first state approval, on September 14, was a single lineworker program. Federal approval is rarer still: six programs nationally as of September 18, two in Iowa, one in Indiana, and three in Nebraska. In every state, the binding constraint is not the occupation list or program quality. It is the ability to produce a defensible outcome record on schedule. That is the operational thesis behind the two product pages below.
The full platform
Coaching, WIOA and Workforce Pell compliance, participant and employer attestation, and funder-format reporting on one platform, running against one verified enrollment record.
Pell 70/70 module
Continuous 70/70 threshold tracking. Certification-ready export. Cohort warning while there is still time to intervene, not an alert at certification when the window has closed.
Every state, DC, and Puerto Rico as an equal tile. Color shows how far along each jurisdiction is, from no verified activity through to launched, not how large the state is. Hover a tile for the status, click it for the note and source, or filter by a status below.
Select a state to see where it stands, the date the intel is anchored to, and the source behind it. Or use the status filters above to isolate a group.
For program administrators
Enter your program-year counts. The tool returns your current rates, projected year-end figures, and the gap-closure math against the 70% completion and 70% Q2 placement thresholds. Runs in your browser.
Open the 70/70 projection toolWorkforce Pell is a federal program with state-level gates. Before a student in your state can use Workforce Pell at a specific program, that program has to clear two approvals: certification by the state's governor in consultation with the state workforce development board, and approval by the U.S. Department of Education. See the complete Workforce Pell overview for the mechanics.
This tracker reports the state-side status. Every row shows where that state currently stands: whether the state has published a certification process, whether programs are accepting Workforce Pell aid, and where to find the state's list of certified programs when it exists. The federal approval side is a separate step, and a state entry moving from "programs published" to "actively enrolling" means both gates have cleared.
The tracker is refreshed monthly and dated at the top of the page. In this early phase of the program, expect movement almost every month.
Federal artifact
On July 1, 2026, Federal Student Aid published the state Workforce Pell certification form that governors must submit to certify eligible programs. This is the federal artifact the states cited here are working against.
FSA Electronic Announcement (July 1, 2026)Next question: is your program 70/70 ready?
Every state above eventually converges on the same federal threshold: 70 percent completion within 150 percent of program length, and 70 percent placement in Q2 after exit verified through state UI wage records. Programs that clear state certification and then fail the 70/70 measurement lose eligibility for two years, with the lockout extending to substantially similar programs on the same CIP and SOC codes.
No verified public activity from the state on Workforce Pell yet.
Verified movement short of a public process. Enabling legislation signed, a bill with committee hearings, or a governor's announcement, but no application path is published yet.
State has published an implementation framework, eligible-occupations list, or written guidance for institutions. Applications may not yet be open.
State is actively accepting or reviewing Workforce Pell program applications from institutions.
State has approved Workforce Pell programs actively enrolling students.
Fifty states, DC, and Puerto Rico. Rows are alphabetical. Notes summarize the concrete state action; the update date is the date the note is anchored to, so readers can gauge how fresh each row is.
Showing 52 of 52
| State | Status | Notes | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlaskaAK | In progress | Has Workforce Pell launched in Alaska? Not yet. Alaska has started, but no application process is open. As of Aug 5, 2026. The Alaska Workforce Investment Board's Aug 5, 2026 business meeting packet carries a July 2026 working draft, the Alaska Workforce Pell Master Implementation Framework Condensed Decision-Maker Draft. It assigns final certification authority to the Governor or designee, gives AWIB the consultation and workforce-alignment recommendation role, puts ETPL and AlaskaJobs intake with DETS, and gives ACPE and Research and Analysis supporting roles. The draft states that the certification authority designation, state criteria, HHI methodology, ETPL-integrated application process, data requirements, and appeal procedures still have to be finalized before first-wave applications are processed. No application window, published criteria, or certified programs have been posted; the next AWIB meeting is set for Nov 19 to 20, 2026. | Aug 5, 2026 |
| AlabamaAL | Launched | Has Workforce Pell launched in Alabama? Not yet for students. Alabama has approved programs that still need federal approval. As of Sep 14, 2026. Governor Kay Ivey approved Alabama's first Workforce Pell program on Sep 14, 2026: Lawson State Community College's 10-week Lineworker Training Program. The Alabama Department of Workforce runs the application portal and review, and the ADOW Secretary sends each complete application to the Governor with a recommendation after consulting the chair of the Alabama Workforce Board; ACCS and ACHE help their member institutions prepare applications. Programs must run 8 to 15 weeks and 150 to 599 clock hours, train for an occupation on ADOW's in-demand list, and meet the 70 percent completion and 70 percent placement thresholds, with placement checked against state wage records. ADOW will post a list of approved programs once final approvals are issued; federal approval is still required before students receive funds. | Sep 14, 2026 |
| ArkansasAR | Accepting applications | Has Workforce Pell launched in Arkansas? Not yet. Arkansas is reviewing program applications from schools. As of Sep 30, 2026. The Arkansas Division of Higher Education ran an initial application window from Jun 1 to Jun 30, 2026 and an extended window from Aug 21 to Sep 30, 2026, with institutions emailing a fillable PDF application and one consolidated PDF of supporting artifacts to workforce.grants@adhe.edu. Programs are screened against the AY 26-27 high-wage and in-demand occupations list, built on the state's 5-Star Occupational Demand methodology. The Governor approves programs in consultation with the Arkansas Workforce Development Board, which approved the state implementation plan on May 21, 2026, with ADHE and the Arkansas Department of Commerce handling review and data validation. No list of approved programs has been posted and no next window has been announced. | Sep 30, 2026 |
| ArizonaAZ | Launched | Has Workforce Pell launched in Arizona? Not yet for students. Arizona has approved programs that still need federal approval. As of Sep 23, 2026. Governor Katie Hobbs, the Workforce Arizona Council, and the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity announced on Sep 23, 2026 that the state certified its first three Workforce Pell programs: Eastern Arizona College's Commercial Driver License program, HDS Truck Driving Institute's Commercial Driver License program, and Pima Medical Institute's Phlebotomy Technician program. The institutions can now submit the programs to the U.S. Department of Education, which makes the final eligibility decision. The first state application cycle closed Aug 24, 2026. Starting in 2027, OEO plans two application cycles a year, with windows opening in January and July and Council action twice a year. | Sep 23, 2026 |
| CaliforniaCA | In progress | Has Workforce Pell launched in California? Not yet. California has started, but no application process is open. As of Sep 27, 2026. Governor Newsom signed AB 1534 (Irwin) on Sep 27, 2026 as Chapter 519, Statutes of 2026. It bars institutions from disbursing or advertising Workforce Pell funds until they hold both California Student Aid Commission authorization, issued on behalf of the Governor, and U.S. Department of Education approval, and it lets CSAC use the California Priority Programs List to judge occupational alignment. It builds on SB 135 (Chapter 79, effective Jul 13, 2026), which made CSAC the state approver in consultation with the California Workforce Development Board and required EDD to deliver the first high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand occupations list by Oct 1, 2026. CSAC's Workforce Pell page lists the institution application portal as coming soon and asks institutions without an EDD data-sharing agreement to file a letter of interest with CSAC and the Office of Cradle-to-Career Data by Dec 15, 2026. | Sep 27, 2026 |
| ColoradoCO | Launched | Has Workforce Pell launched in Colorado? Not yet for students. Colorado has approved programs that still need federal approval. As of Oct 2, 2026. Governor Polis approved five Colorado programs to be submitted to the U.S. Department of Education for Workforce Pell, announced on the Colorado Workforce Development Council's Workforce Pell page by Oct 2, 2026: Arapahoe Community College Phlebotomy, Colorado Mountain College Advanced Emergency Medical Technician, Colorado Mountain College Phlebotomy, Trinidad State College Advanced Emergency Medical Technician, and Trinidad State College Emergency Medical Technician Basic. The approvals follow the CWDC Education and Training Steering Committee's Sep 21, 2026 special voting meeting on program recommendations. Applications ran Jul 15 to Aug 21, 2026 through coloradoetpl.org, and eligible occupations must meet at least two of high-wage, high-skill, or in-demand, covering 434 occupations. CWDC will publish the list of Colorado-certified programs within 30 days of federal approval; no federal approval had been announced. | Oct 2, 2026 |
| ConnecticutCT | Guidance published | Has Workforce Pell launched in Connecticut? Not yet. Connecticut has published its rules, and no programs are approved yet. As of Sep 18, 2026. On Sep 18, 2026, the Office of Workforce Strategy, on behalf of the Governor's Workforce Council, posted the draft Workforce Pell Eligible Program Determination Policy for public comment, with comments due to gwc@ct.gov by Oct 19, 2026. The draft has institutions apply through the Connecticut Office of Higher Education after signing a data-sharing agreement with DataLinkCT, which verifies completion and placement rates, and it attaches a 2026-2027 Priority Sectors and Occupations List. Governor Lamont designated OWS to lead implementation on Mar 19, 2026. The policy is not final, and OHE has not opened an application cycle; the next quarterly GWC meeting is Dec 3, 2026. | Sep 18, 2026 |
| District of ColumbiaDC | Accepting applications | Has Workforce Pell launched in DC? Not yet. DC is reviewing program applications from schools. As of Sep 30, 2026. The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education published the District's final Workforce Pell Policy dated Sep 1, 2026, opened the online application that day, and set Sep 30, 2026 as the first-round submission deadline. Applications are taken twice a year; the DC Workforce Pell Grant Steering Committee reviews them within up to 60 days, the Deputy Mayor for Education issues decisions on behalf of the Mayor, and institutions have 15 days to appeal. DME also published a DC Workforce Pell Occupations List covering 31 occupations in fields including information technology, healthcare, vehicle operation, skilled trades, and early childhood education. Approved programs will be posted on the DME website; none are listed yet. | Sep 30, 2026 |
| DelawareDE | Accepting applications | Has Workforce Pell launched in Delaware? Not yet. Delaware is reviewing program applications from schools. As of Aug 11, 2026. The Delaware Department of Labor, through the Office of Workforce Development in its Division of Employment and Training, released Delaware's Workforce Pell Program Policy and opened the state application on Aug 11, 2026. Institutions apply through an online form on a rolling basis, with no posted closing date. Delaware uses an occupation-first approval model tied to the state's High Demand Occupation List and requires institutions to show employer demand, academic quality, credential portability and stackability, and student outcomes, including a value-added earnings test; programs must be 150 to 599 clock hours and 8 to under 15 weeks. No list of state-approved programs has been posted. | Aug 11, 2026 |
| FloridaFL | Launched | Has Workforce Pell launched in Florida? Yes. Students can use Workforce Pell at Florida's federally approved programs. As of Sep 29, 2026. Governor Ron DeSantis announced Florida's initial list of Workforce Pell eligible programs on Sep 17, 2026, with the Florida Department of Education running implementation. Florida does not take open applications against an occupations list; FDOE publishes a pre-identified statewide inventory of 109 programs (32 career certificates, 2 applied technology diplomas, 75 college credit certificates), and institutions offering those programs submit the US ED Workforce Pell Program Certification Form to WorkforcePell@fldoe.org for state validation before filing with US ED. Eastern Florida State College announced on Sep 29, 2026 that the U.S. Department of Education approved four of its Workforce Pell programs in public safety fields, including correctional officer, EMT, and firefighter training, the first federal approvals in Florida. FDOE's Sep 29, 2026 implementation webinar said separate processes for registered apprenticeship, CIE-licensed institutions, and noncredit programs are under development, with two submission periods per year planned after the initial cycle. | Sep 29, 2026 |
| GeorgiaGA | Accepting applications | Has Workforce Pell launched in Georgia? Not yet. Georgia is reviewing program applications from schools. As of Sep 24, 2026. The Technical College System of Georgia runs the institution application portal at apply.workforcepellga.com, with Deputy Commissioner Cayanna Good over the program and the State Workforce Development Board as the approving body. Applications submitted by Oct 2, 2026 will be reviewed for the board's Oct 19, 2026 meeting, and applications filed after Oct 2 move to a February 2027 board review. Programs must align with Georgia's High-Demand Career List, run 8 to 14 weeks (150 to 599 clock hours), and have operated for at least 12 months. The approved program list on the TCSG page is still marked TBA, so no Georgia programs have been published as state-approved or sent to US ED. | Sep 24, 2026 |
| HawaiiHI | In progress | Has Workforce Pell launched in Hawaii? Not yet. Hawaii has started, but no application process is open. As of Sep 10, 2026. The Hawaii Workforce Development Council ratified a resolution on Feb 18, 2026 establishing an interim State Planning and Implementation Framework for the Federal Workforce Pell Grant Program, with a working group of DLIR, the Hawaii Department of Education, and the University of Hawaii defining program criteria; UH financial aid offices will administer the grants. SB3282 and HB2383 of the 2026 session would have set a statutory framework and an approval committee within the WDC; neither could be verified as enacted. At the WDC's Sep 10, 2026 meeting, the executive director reported Workforce Pell implementation progress with the first disbursement anticipated in August to September 2027. No application path, eligible-program list, or approved programs have been published. | Sep 10, 2026 |
| IowaIA | Launched | Has Workforce Pell launched in Iowa? Yes. Students can use Workforce Pell at Iowa's federally approved programs. As of Sep 24, 2026. The Iowa Department of Education lists nine state-approved programs across four community colleges: Des Moines Area (EMT), Eastern Iowa (CDL A Manual, CNC entry-level technician, residential HVAC installer, manufacturing maintenance technician), Iowa Central (EMT and accelerated truck driving), and Iowa Western (CDL Class A, EMT). Two of them are federally approved: Iowa Central's 14-week EMT program, the first Workforce Pell program approved by the U.S. Department of Education nationally on Aug 4, 2026, and DMACC's EMT program, which the state page marks as federally approved. Applications route through the State Workforce Development Board for consultation, then the governor for state certification, then US ED. The current application window closes Oct 16, 2026. | Sep 24, 2026 |
| IdahoID | Guidance published | Has Workforce Pell launched in Idaho? Not yet. Idaho has published its rules, and no programs are approved yet. As of Sep 9, 2026. Governor Brad Little signed Executive Order 2026-05 on Jun 10, 2026 creating the State Workforce Pell Coordinating Council, which recommends eligibility standards, maintains an approved program registry, monitors performance, and ensures federal compliance. The Workforce Development Council had already adopted an early eligibility policy built on its in-demand careers matrix plus federal rules and recommended that the governor initially approve only a couple of programs to pilot the process. No approved-program registry or public application page appears on wdc.idaho.gov, and the WDC's Sep 9, 2026 quarterly council agenda carried no Workforce Pell item. No Idaho program has been announced as sent to or approved by US ED. | Sep 9, 2026 |
| IllinoisIL | Accepting applications | Has Workforce Pell launched in Illinois? Not yet. Illinois is reviewing program applications from schools. As of Aug 31, 2026. The Illinois Community College Board published the final Illinois Workforce Pell Program Approval Manual on Jul 15, 2026 and ran the first application window from Jul 15 to Aug 31, 2026, covering award years 2026-27 and 2027-28. Community colleges, public universities, and approved private business and vocational schools could apply for individual programs of 8 to 14 weeks. Under the manual's timeline, an interagency team reviews submissions in September, the Illinois Workforce Innovation Board recommends programs, the governor certifies approved programs by Nov 30, 2026, and institutions are notified by Dec 7, 2026, with US ED decisions expected in winter 2026-27. No Illinois programs have been published as state-approved yet. | Aug 31, 2026 |
| IndianaIN | Launched | Has Workforce Pell launched in Indiana? Yes. Students can use Workforce Pell at Indiana's federally approved programs. As of Aug 19, 2026. The U.S. Department of Education approved Ivy Tech Community College's 8-week Clinical Medical Assistant program on Aug 19, 2026, the nation's second federally approved Workforce Pell program. The state has also approved Vincennes University's Certified Clinical Medical Assistant program and its Electrical Maintenance Bootcamp, which await federal action. For 2026-27 Indiana limits applications to Ivy Tech and Vincennes as a pilot, and a joint committee of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and the Department of Workforce Development recommends programs for governor approval. CHE says it will open applications to all eligible institutions after the pilot concludes, early to mid 2027. | Aug 19, 2026 |
| KansasKS | Accepting applications | Has Workforce Pell launched in Kansas? Not yet. Kansas is reviewing program applications from schools. As of Aug 25, 2026. House Bill 2485, approved Apr 9, 2026 and effective Jul 1, 2026, directs the governor, in consultation with the state workforce development board, to approve short-term workforce training programs for federal Workforce Pell. Kansas Department of Commerce policy 5-04-00, revised Jun 2, 2026, sets the process: the Kansas Board of Regents presents eligible programs at regularly scheduled KANSASWORKS State Board meetings, the board recommends programs to the governor, approved programs will be listed on the board's website, and denied institutions may appeal within 15 days. At its Jun 2, 2026 special meeting, after a Board of Regents presentation, the KANSASWORKS State Board voted 7-0 to recommend two presented programs for Workforce Pell eligibility; the minutes were approved Aug 25, 2026. No governor approvals, program names, or federal approvals have been published, and the board's next meeting is Dec 8, 2026. | Aug 25, 2026 |
| KentuckyKY | Accepting applications | Has Workforce Pell launched in Kentucky? Not yet. Kentucky is reviewing program applications from schools. As of Sep 30, 2026. Kentucky is operating under emergency regulation 787 KAR 2:050E, which adds state requirements on top of the federal minimums for Workforce Pell programs, and the Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board takes institution applications through an online AccessGov form. KRS 151B.138, enacted through Senate Bill 249, requires the governor, in consultation with KWIB, to approve eligible programs; the KWIB office reviews complete applications within 30 days before forwarding them to the governor, and denials may be appealed within 20 days. The public hearing on the emergency regulation was held Aug 31, 2026, and the hearing and comment deadline for the ordinary regulation 787 KAR 2:050 were set for Sep 30, 2026 in Frankfort. No approved Kentucky programs or federal approvals have been published. | Sep 30, 2026 |
| LouisianaLA | Guidance published | Has Workforce Pell launched in Louisiana? Not yet. Louisiana has published its rules, and no programs are approved yet. As of Aug 26, 2026. Louisiana Works will not accept unsolicited institutional applications in Year 1. Its Workforce Pell Institutional Submission Requirements page, last updated Jun 30, 2026, states that the Year 1 (2026-27) program list is state-originated, with institutional submissions through the Louisiana Works portal beginning award year 2027-28. Louisiana Works leads implementation with the Board of Regents, which identified the first group of eligible short-term programs, and certifies completion and job-placement rates on the Governor's behalf for award years 2026-27 through 2028-29 using state unemployment insurance wage records. The published sequence is consultation with the Education to Workforce Alignment Advisory Council, then Workforce Investment Council action, then the Governor's certification to US ED within 15 calendar days of WIC approval. A joint Board of Regents and Louisiana Works policy was approved Aug 26, 2026, with five programs expected to advance to the WIC; no Year 1 program roster has been published. | Aug 26, 2026 |
| MassachusettsMA | Accepting applications | Has Workforce Pell launched in Massachusetts? Not yet. Massachusetts is reviewing program applications from schools. As of Sep 25, 2026. Governor Healey opened the pilot-year state application for colleges, universities and eligible training providers in September 2026, submitted through the Executive Office of Education Grants Management System; the application round closed at 2:59 p.m. ET on Sep 25, 2026, and state review is underway. The governing document is DCS Policy 14-107, the 2026-2027 Massachusetts Workforce Pell Pilot Policy, administered with the MassHire Department of Career Services. Pilot-year programs must prepare students for occupations in priority industries: health care, skilled trades, manufacturing, education, information technology and hospitality. First enrollments are anticipated in early 2027, institutions that missed this round can apply in future cycles, and no approved-program list has been published. | Sep 25, 2026 |
| MarylandMD | Accepting applications | Has Workforce Pell launched in Maryland? Not yet. Maryland is reviewing program applications from schools. As of Jul 10, 2026. Chapter 724 of 2026 (Senate Bill 509), signed May 26, 2026 and effective Jun 1, 2026, requires the Governor, after consulting the Governor's Workforce Development Board and the Maryland Higher Education Commission, to determine which short-term programs are approved for Workforce Pell. The GWDB issued Policy Issuance 2026-01, the Maryland Workforce Pell Program Determination Policy, on Jul 10, 2026. Maryland accepts applications on a rolling basis through the Maryland Workforce Exchange, with quarterly state determinations in August, November, February and May; GWDB staff complete a technical review and a Workforce Pell Review Committee of GWDB, MHEC, Maryland Labor and Commerce staff recommends programs to the Governor's designee, the GWDB Chair. The GWDB says it will post an approved-program list once an initial set of programs has state and US ED approval, and approved programs will be noted on the ETPL and published by MHEC within 30 days of ED's determination; no list has been posted. | Jul 10, 2026 |
| MaineME | Accepting applications | Has Workforce Pell launched in Maine? Not yet. Maine is reviewing program applications from schools. As of Sep 25, 2026. Maine DOL opened applications to Title IV institutions on Aug 12, 2026 through WorkSource Maine, under the State Workforce Development Board's Workforce Pell Program Determination Policy PY 26-01, dated Aug 11, 2026. Submissions are rolling with quarterly SWDB reviews: the first cycle closed Sep 11, 2026 and went to the SWDB's Sep 25, 2026 meeting under a Workforce Pell Program Approval agenda item, followed by deadlines of Nov 13, 2026 (Dec 11 review), Feb 12, 2027 (Mar 12 review) and May 14, 2027 (Jun 11 review). The SWDB has called a virtual meeting for Oct 5, 2026 to approve changes to the Workforce Pell Determination Policy and review the 2026 High Wage, In Demand occupation list. Programs must be 150 to 599 clock hours across 8 to 15 weeks and meet the 70 percent completion and placement thresholds. The state will post an approved-program list only after programs receive final US ED approval, and none is posted yet. | Sep 25, 2026 |
| MichiganMI | Launched | Has Workforce Pell launched in Michigan? Not yet for students. Michigan has approved programs that still need federal approval. As of Jun 22, 2026. Michigan is not currently accepting applications. Window 1 closed Jun 15, 2026, and the Michigan Workforce Development Board conditionally approved 37 of 42 first-window applications at its Jun 22, 2026 quarterly meeting, conditioned on participant outcome data showing 70 percent completion and placement rates. LEO states it reviewed all applications submitted before Jun 15 and sent institutions letters of approval or denial by August 2026; the letters and program names have not been published. Window 2 runs Jan 15, 2027 to Feb 12, 2027, with student outcome data due by Feb 12 and decision letters by Apr 1, 2027. Providers and programs must be registered on Michigan Training Connect, the state's ETPL, and no Michigan program has received federal approval from US ED. | Jun 22, 2026 |
| MinnesotaMN | Accepting applications | Has Workforce Pell launched in Minnesota? Not yet. Minnesota is reviewing program applications from schools. As of Aug 15, 2026. The Governor's Workforce Development Board approved the Minnesota Workforce Pell Program Determination Policy 2026-2027 on May 27, 2026, and the Minnesota Office of Higher Education opened the provider application through its Workforce Pell portal in June; the window was extended from Jun 30 to Aug 15, 2026, and OHE review is underway. Applications that meet submission requirements go to a Workforce Pell Review Committee, which recommends programs to the Governor for certification and submission to US ED. DEED supplies the labor-market data behind the Priority Occupations list. OHE will publish the list of Minnesota-certified programs within 30 days after US ED's final approval; nothing has been posted yet. | Aug 15, 2026 |
| MissouriMO | Accepting applications | Has Workforce Pell launched in Missouri? Not yet. Missouri is reviewing program applications from schools. As of Sep 3, 2026. The Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development runs the Workforce Pell application: institutions submit an interest form, then complete an application through a unique link with the Workforce Pell Student Data Template, under the state's Workforce Pell Program Policy. The first institutional application round closed Aug 7, 2026. DHEWD has recommended 29 eligible occupations with matching instructional program areas across healthcare, skilled trades, criminal justice, cosmetology, sales and transportation, and reviews applications in consultation with the State Workforce Development Board and the Coordinating Board for Higher Education before recommending programs to the Governor. In a release dated Sep 3, 2026, DHEWD reported that the SWDB received updates on Workforce Pell at its Sep 1 and 2 quarterly meetings. No approved-program list has been published. | Sep 3, 2026 |
| MississippiMS | Accepting applications | Has Workforce Pell launched in Mississippi? Not yet. Mississippi is reviewing program applications from schools. As of Sep 23, 2026. Governor Tate Reeves designated AccelerateMS, the state Office of Workforce Development, to coordinate Workforce Pell, and the State Workforce Investment Board approved the state policy framework ahead of the Jul 1, 2026 federal start; AccelerateMS began accepting institutional applications that day and reviews them in consultation with the SWIB before federal submission. AccelerateMS has published a Workforce Pell toolkit, an employer validation form requirement, academic credit pathway standards, and a working list of potentially eligible short-term programs mapped by CIP and SOC code, with priority on construction, advanced manufacturing and healthcare. On Sep 23, 2026, Governor Reeves announced the $8.5 million Mississippi Workforce Pell Systems and Pathways Initiative, a US Department of Labor Strengthening Community Colleges grant led by Northwest Mississippi Community College with all 15 public community colleges, to support at least 19 short-term programs seeking Workforce Pell eligibility. AccelerateMS has said the first approved programs could be available as early as January 2027; none has been approved yet.Source:Office of Governor Reeves: Mississippi Deploying $8.5 Million to Strengthen Workforce Pell Training (Sep 23, 2026)·Office of Governor Reeves: Mississippi Accepting Workforce Pell Applications·Mississippi Today: In Mississippi, Workforce Pell launches with few options (Jul 31, 2026)(secondary) | Sep 23, 2026 |
| MontanaMT | In progress | Has Workforce Pell launched in Montana? Not yet. Montana has started, but no application process is open. As of Sep 24, 2026. Montana has no published application path for institutions. The State Workforce Innovation Board has a draft three-part framework (quality, labor-market demand tied to Governor Gianforte's 406 JOBS sectors, and student pathway) that programs must meet before state certification, presented to the Board of Regents in May 2026, and in April 2026 the SWIB approved a revised WIOA State Plan that integrates a Workforce Pell strategy. The SWIB carried a Workforce Pell review-and-action item at its Jul 28, 2026 quarterly meeting in Missoula, with no outcome posted. The Montana University System Board of Regents took a Workforce Pell information item at its Sep 24, 2026 meeting, and the system's FY27 two-year college workplan commits to supporting campus participation. No determination policy, eligible-occupation list, application window or approved programs have been published. | Sep 24, 2026 |
| North CarolinaNC | Launched | Has Workforce Pell launched in North Carolina? Yes. Students can use Workforce Pell at North Carolina's federally approved programs. As of Sep 25, 2026. The NCWorks Commission runs state approval under Commission Policy CPS 04-2026, adopted May 13, 2026, and began accepting institution submissions June 23, 2026. It approved 43 programs on August 12, 2026 and 11 more on September 16, 2026, for 54 state-approved programs at 21 community colleges. On September 25, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education approved six Forsyth Technical Community College programs (Nursing Assistant I, Nursing Assistant II, Electrical Lineworker, Emergency Medical Technician Basic, Fire Academy, and Welding Industrial), the first federally approved Workforce Pell programs in North Carolina, with students able to use the grants starting January 2027. The next submission deadline is October 15, 2026 for the November 18, 2026 commission meeting.Source:NC Commerce: List of Programs Approved for Workforce Pell (modified 09/25/2026)·NC Community College System: NCWorks Commission approves 43 programs·EdNC: First Workforce Pell programs in North Carolina receive federal approval (Sep 25, 2026)(secondary)·Inside Higher Ed: College leaders prepare to administer Workforce Pell (Oct 1, 2026)(secondary) | Sep 25, 2026 |
| North DakotaND | No verified activity | Has Workforce Pell launched in North Dakota? Not yet. North Dakota has not announced a process. As of Sep 23, 2026. North Dakota has published no Workforce Pell guidance, application path, eligible-occupation list, or certified programs. The September 21 to 22, 2026 interim higher education committee carried no Workforce Pell item. Gov. Kelly Armstrong's September 23, 2026 announcement consolidating state workforce programs under a proposed Department of Workforce Development, and the Governor's Workforce Summit held the same day, did not address Workforce Pell. | Sep 23, 2026 |
| NebraskaNE | Launched | Has Workforce Pell launched in Nebraska? Yes. Students can use Workforce Pell at Nebraska's federally approved programs. As of Sep 14, 2026. The Nebraska Department of Labor approves programs on behalf of the governor in consultation with the Nebraska Workforce Development Board, then programs go to the U.S. Department of Education. Gov. Jim Pillen announced the launch July 8, 2026 alongside a 2026-2027 Initial Eligible Occupation and Program List. On September 14, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education approved three Metropolitan Community College programs (Phlebotomy Technician, Pharmacy Technician, and CompTIA Tech+ with Google IT Support), making Nebraska the third state with federal approvals. Applications must arrive at least 45 days before a quarterly board meeting; the next meeting is December 4, 2026, which sets the deadline at October 20, 2026. | Sep 14, 2026 |
| New HampshireNH | In progress | Has Workforce Pell launched in New Hampshire? Not yet. New Hampshire has started, but no application process is open. As of Jul 2, 2026. HB 1774 passed the Senate May 14, 2026 and the House May 21, 2026, and Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed it July 2, 2026. The law directs the governor to approve workforce training programs for federal Workforce Pell Grants and assigns roles to the Department of Education, the State Workforce Innovation Board, and the University System of New Hampshire. The Department of Business and Economic Affairs Office of Workforce Opportunity hosts a Workforce Pell page that lists the provider approval process as still in development and expects programs to accept Workforce Pell students in early 2027. No application portal, written guidance, eligible-occupation list, or approved-program list has been published.Source:NH Office of Workforce Opportunity: Workforce Pell·Citizens Count: HB 1774 (2026)(secondary) | Jul 2, 2026 |
| New JerseyNJ | Launched | Has Workforce Pell launched in New Jersey? Not yet for students. New Jersey has approved programs that still need federal approval. As of Sep 8, 2026. The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development runs the process with the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, following an institution data collection that closed May 1, 2026. NJDOL launched a public Workforce Pell site on September 2, 2026 with a 2026-27 eligibility handbook and an approved-programs page. That page lists three programs at the governor-recommendation stage awaiting U.S. Department of Education action: Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester Patient Care Tech, Ocean County College Phlebotomy Technician, and AIMS Education Electrocardiography and Phlebotomy Technician. Access is limited during the pilot year running July 2026 to June 2027, and no federally approved New Jersey programs are posted. | Sep 8, 2026 |
| New MexicoNM | Accepting applications | Has Workforce Pell launched in New Mexico? Not yet. New Mexico is reviewing program applications from schools. As of Sep 8, 2026. The New Mexico Higher Education Department opened its Workforce Pell application on September 2, 2026 and accepts submissions on a rolling basis for academic year 2026-27 through its Academic Affairs portal. NMHED and the Department of Workforce Solutions review applications jointly, then programs go to the State Workforce Development Board for consultation, the governor for endorsement, and the U.S. Department of Education. NMHED held an institutional information session September 8, 2026 and has a second webinar set for October 15, 2026. NMHED expects the combined review to take at least four to six months and will post approved programs once final approval is issued; none are listed yet. | Sep 8, 2026 |
| NevadaNV | Accepting applications | Has Workforce Pell launched in Nevada? Not yet. Nevada is reviewing program applications from schools. As of Jul 1, 2026. Nevada's Office of Workforce Innovation (OWINN), the governor's designee within DETR, opened Phase 1 of the Workforce Pell application on July 1, 2026 for Nevada System of Higher Education institutions; Phase 2 will extend eligibility to non-credit training providers on a date not yet published. Institutions apply to nvworkforcepell@detr.nv.gov, and OWINN reviews programs with the Governor's Workforce Development Board before the governor's sign-off and submission to the U.S. Department of Education. The board's August 20, 2026 meeting agenda carried no Workforce Pell approvals, and the OWINN page lists no approved programs. | Jul 1, 2026 |
| New YorkNY | Accepting applications | Has Workforce Pell launched in New York? Not yet. New York is reviewing program applications from schools. As of Aug 24, 2026. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on August 24, 2026 that New York's Workforce Pell application portal is open to eligible institutions at ny.gov/workforcepell. A Workforce Pell Advisory Committee with representatives from the Governor's Office, the State Department of Labor, SUNY, CUNY, and private nonprofit and for-profit colleges meets on the fourth Monday of each month to review submissions, certify eligible programs, and decide appeals. Programs need committee approval and certification by the governor before U.S. Department of Education review. The state has published administrative policies and an application process page, but no list of certified programs is posted. | Aug 24, 2026 |
| OhioOH | Accepting applications | Has Workforce Pell launched in Ohio? Not yet. Ohio is reviewing program applications from schools. As of Sep 14, 2026. The Ohio Department of Higher Education published a Workforce Pell Certification Policy and opened applications in mid-May 2026, reviewing them as received and certifying qualifying programs to the U.S. Department of Education. Institutions had submitted nine programs by mid-July 2026; ODHE marked six incomplete and rejected three. By early August five institutions had filed: Stark State College, Sinclair Community College, Edison State Community College, Butler Tech and Career College, and the Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County. ODHE had certified no programs as of mid-September 2026 and will post approved programs publicly; questions go to workforcepell@highered.ohio.gov. | Sep 14, 2026 |
| OklahomaOK | No verified activity | Has Workforce Pell launched in Oklahoma? Not yet. Oklahoma has not announced a process. As of Sep 30, 2026. Oklahoma has no designated certifying agency, published framework, eligible-occupation list, or application path for Workforce Pell. Minutes of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Economic Development Council meeting of Mar 25, 2026 state that approval authority rests with the Governor's Office, that no formal approval process has been established, and that approvals are expected to route through the Governor's Workforce Council. Regents staff have asked institutions to inventory programs that may qualify. The Oklahoma Workforce Commission met Sep 10, 2026 with no Workforce Pell agenda item, and no governor action has been posted through Sep 30, 2026. | Sep 30, 2026 |
| OregonOR | Accepting applications | Has Workforce Pell launched in Oregon? Not yet. Oregon is reviewing program applications from schools. As of Aug 26, 2026. The Higher Education Coordinating Commission, designated by the governor, administers Workforce Pell in Oregon with the Workforce and Talent Development Board. HECC published the final Oregon Workforce Pell Policy for 2026-27 (effective Jul 1, 2026) after a July public comment period, and opened its program approval portal through the HECC Partner Portal on Aug 26, 2026, with a 29-page external portal guide. HECC now runs a public Workforce Pell Program Search for approved programs; it lists no approved programs as of Oct 2, 2026. Oregon's statewide and regional workbooks flag roughly 735 eligible occupations, the widest published list of any state. | Aug 26, 2026 |
| PennsylvaniaPA | Launched | Has Workforce Pell launched in Pennsylvania? Not yet for students. Pennsylvania has approved programs that still need federal approval. As of Jul 8, 2026. The Pennsylvania Department of Education runs Workforce Pell with the State Workforce Development Board and the Department of Labor and Industry, under its 2026-27 application guidance and Workforce Pell Policy Report. PDE identified 19 eligible occupations; 11 institutions submitted 40 programs between Mar 9 and Apr 17, 2026, and the final 2026-27 approved list posted Jul 8, 2026 approves 2 of them, both truck driving programs (Douglas Education Center's Commercial Driver's License and Rosedale Technical College's Truck Driving). Both still require U.S. Department of Education approval before students can use Pell. PDE's timeline lists regional workforce board engagement for 2027, but no second application window has been dated. | Jul 8, 2026 |
| Puerto RicoPR | In progress | Has Workforce Pell launched in Puerto Rico? Not yet. Puerto Rico has started, but no application process is open. As of Aug 31, 2026. Governor Jenniffer Gonzalez Colon signed Executive Order OE-2026-043 on Aug 30, 2026 (announced Aug 31), adopting Workforce Pell as public policy for Puerto Rico. The order designates the State Workforce Development Board under the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC) to coordinate implementation and creates a Workforce Pell Interagency Committee chaired by the DDEC Secretary, with the Departments of Labor, Education and State, the Institute of Statistics, the Office of Registration and Licensing of Educational Institutions, the Postsecondary Institutions Board and PRFAA. The committee is to adopt evaluation criteria covering employment, wages, job openings, credential portability, academic progression and employer support, then recommend programs to the Governor for certification. No eligible-occupation list, written procedures or provider application path has been published yet. | Aug 31, 2026 |
| Rhode IslandRI | Accepting applications | Has Workforce Pell launched in Rhode Island? Not yet. Rhode Island is reviewing program applications from schools. As of Sep 16, 2026. The Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner runs the state approval process with the Governor's Office and the Department of Labor and Training, announced by Governor Dan McKee on Aug 14, 2026. The pilot application window for 2026-27 ran Aug 14 to Sep 16, 2026 and applications are under review; RIOPC's timeline sets formal certification letters or denial notices for November 2026, followed by an appeals window in November and December. Programs must align to one of 20 priority occupations (or registered apprenticeship related instruction), run 8 to 15 weeks, and carry academic credit toward a certificate or degree. RIOPC plans to expand the process in 2027. | Sep 16, 2026 |
| South CarolinaSC | Accepting applications | Has Workforce Pell launched in South Carolina? Not yet. South Carolina is reviewing program applications from schools. As of Oct 1, 2026. Governor Henry McMaster designated the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce to implement Workforce Pell in July 2026, and State Instruction 25-18, Eligible Workforce Pell Programs, took effect Jul 1, 2026. Providers apply through SC Works Online Services with a provider attestation form; under the instruction, the window opens on the first business day of each quarter and stays open for 15 business days, so the fall window opened Oct 1, 2026. The SC Works Management Committee of the State Workforce Development Board and a Coordinating Council for Workforce Development working group review applications, and the CCWD Executive Committee makes final determinations against a 24-occupation eligible list. No approved programs have been posted. | Oct 1, 2026 |
| South DakotaSD | Accepting applications | Has Workforce Pell launched in South Dakota? Not yet. South Dakota is reviewing program applications from schools. As of Sep 1, 2026. The South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation administers Workforce Pell, and Governor Larry Rhoden announced applications open on Jul 7, 2026 for Title IV schools, with a 56-occupation qualifying list. Under the DLR Workforce Pell Policy, the inaugural window ran Jul 1 to Aug 31, 2026 with determinations due Oct 30, 2026, and a second window is open Sep 1 to Oct 31, 2026 with determinations due Dec 31, 2026. DLR reviews applications with a Workforce Development Council subcommittee, the Governor or Secretary of Labor approves them, and DLR expects to submit the first state-approved programs to the U.S. Department of Education in November 2026. From 2027, windows run Mar 1 to Apr 30 and Sep 1 to Oct 31 each year. | Sep 1, 2026 |
| TennesseeTN | Accepting applications | Has Workforce Pell launched in Tennessee? Not yet. Tennessee is reviewing program applications from schools. As of Aug 28, 2026. The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission launched Tennessee's Workforce Pell application portal on Jul 1, 2026, and it remains open with no posted deadline or review cycle. TDLWD and THEC review applications and recommend programs to the State Workforce Development Board, which makes the state approval; institutions then file with the U.S. Department of Education. The state page publishes a CIP to SOC crosswalk of eligible pairings, the Workforce Pell Grant Framework Policy and supplemental guidance, and says approved programs will be posted once available; none are listed. The board met Aug 28, 2026 with no Workforce Pell agenda item, and its next meeting is Nov 6, 2026. | Aug 28, 2026 |
| TexasTX | Launched | Has Workforce Pell launched in Texas? Yes. Students can use Workforce Pell at Texas's federally approved programs. As of Sep 22, 2026. The U.S. Department of Education approved six Texas Workforce Pell programs on Sep 22, 2026, making Texas the fourth state with federally approved programs after Iowa, Indiana and Nebraska. The approvals cover Kilgore College (Electrical Power Lineman, Phlebotomy Technician, Pharmacy Technician) and Weatherford College (HVAC, Basic Machining, Advanced Machining), and eligible students can use Pell at those programs now. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board runs state review under its Workforce Pell Grant Program guidelines, consults the Texas Workforce Investment Council, and sends recommended programs to the Governor for certification. The first window closed Sep 1, 2026 with more than 60 program submissions, and the THECB page shows Application Closed; a second submission cycle is scheduled for Nov 2 to Dec 11, 2026, per a Texas Workforce Investment Council briefing. | Sep 22, 2026 |
| UtahUT | In progress | Has Workforce Pell launched in Utah? Not yet. Utah has started, but no application process is open. As of Oct 2, 2026. Utah's enabling law is S.B. 195 of the 2026 General Session, which authorizes the Governor to delegate to the Utah Board of Higher Education the authority to approve eligible USHE programs for submission to the U.S. Secretary of Education under Workforce Pell, and lets the Department of Workforce Services share wage record data with the Board. A USHE legislative update dated Mar 10, 2026 reports the bill passed both chambers. The Board has not published an implementation framework, eligible-occupations list, written guidance or institution application path, and its Oct 2, 2026 meeting agenda carried no Workforce Pell item. | Oct 2, 2026 |
| VirginiaVA | In progress | Has Workforce Pell launched in Virginia? Not yet. Virginia has started, but no application process is open. As of Sep 23, 2026. Virginia Works hosts a public Workforce Pell page that lays out a five-step review chain: institutions submit documentation, SCHEV validates Title IV status, stackability and the 70 percent completion metric, Virginia Works verifies ETPL status, the Virginia Board of Workforce Development confirms alignment to in-demand occupations and employer letters of support, and the Governor's Office certifies programs and submits the final application to the U.S. Department of Education. The page states that the policy and application are still under construction and offers a sign-up for a future educational webinar. Implementation is overseen by a workgroup co-chaired by the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Labor, and programs will be reviewed annually; Virginia Works begins validating wage outcomes and job placement rates in 2029-2030. | Sep 23, 2026 |
| VermontVT | No verified activity | Has Workforce Pell launched in Vermont? Not yet. Vermont has not announced a process. As of Oct 2, 2026. Vermont has not published a Workforce Pell framework, guidance, eligible-occupations list or application path. The State Workforce Development Board's Executive Committee received an overview presentation from the Office of Workforce Strategy and Development on Dec 1, 2025 that listed open questions, including what criteria the Governor would use to approve programs and what state legislation or policy would be needed. The full Board's Oct 5, 2026 meeting agenda carries no Workforce Pell item. | Oct 2, 2026 |
| WashingtonWA | Accepting applications | Has Workforce Pell launched in Washington? Not yet. Washington is reviewing program applications from schools. As of Sep 25, 2026. Washington opened its pilot-year Workforce Pell application in October 2026, with the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) as the single front door. Institutions first get a verification letter from the agency that serves their type: the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges for CTC programs, the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board for private career schools and non-CTC Registered Apprenticeships, and WSAC for four-year institutions; they then submit the state application to WSAC. WSAC has posted Application Guidance dated Sep 25, 2026 and a Workforce Pell Eligible Occupations list dated Sep 15, 2026. Cycle 1 applications are due Nov 6, 2026, with a provider webinar on Oct 30, 2026; the Cross-Agency Steering Committee reviews applications in November 2026 and advances approved programs to the Governor for certification, and a second cycle opens in January 2027. | Sep 25, 2026 |
| WisconsinWI | Accepting applications | Has Workforce Pell launched in Wisconsin? Not yet. Wisconsin is reviewing program applications from schools. As of Aug 24, 2026. Governor Tony Evers approved Wisconsin's State Workforce Pell Program Administration and Implementation Policy on Jul 20, 2026, and the institution application is open on a rolling basis through the Department of Workforce Development. DWD and a review committee prepare a recommendation for each program, and the Governor's Council on Workforce Investment votes on approval at its quarterly full council meetings; complete applications must reach DWD at least 45 calendar days before a meeting to be heard that quarter. A recorded implementation and application webinar is posted dated Aug 24, 2026, and technical assistance runs through WorkforcePell@dwd.wisconsin.gov. Programs must have operated for at least 12 months before applying, and no approved Wisconsin programs have been announced. | Aug 24, 2026 |
| West VirginiaWV | Accepting applications | Has Workforce Pell launched in West Virginia? Not yet. West Virginia is reviewing program applications from schools. As of Oct 1, 2026. Governor Patrick Morrisey signed Senate Bill 490, the state's Workforce Pell law, on May 27, 2026; it directs the West Virginia Workforce Development Board to set the application process and the Governor to approve programs in consultation with the Board. The West Virginia Community and Technical College System posted a Workforce Pell page on Sep 3, 2026 (updated Oct 1, 2026) that limits eligibility to six priority fields: Advanced Manufacturing, Computer Science/IT/Telecommunications, Construction, Energy, Healthcare and Tourism. Public community and technical colleges start an application by emailing WorkforcePell@wvctcs.edu; the Governor's Office reviews program data, approves or denies each request, and returns a signed State Workforce Pell Program Certification for the institution to upload to its federal E-App. No approved-program list has been published. | Oct 1, 2026 |
| WyomingWY | No verified activity | Has Workforce Pell launched in Wyoming? Not yet. Wyoming has not announced a process. As of Oct 2, 2026. Wyoming has published no Workforce Pell framework, guidance, eligible-occupations list or application path. The Wyoming Community College Commission's Oct 8 and 9, 2026 workshop and regular meeting agenda at Western Wyoming Community College carries no Workforce Pell item, and neither the Governor's office nor the Legislature has announced implementation steps. | Oct 2, 2026 |
If you are a student or advisor: the Workforce Pell application guide walks the FAFSA path and closes with a section for advisors on how the intake conversation has changed.
If you run a program: the final rule explainer covers what actually changed between the NPRM and the final version and what the Department left open. Those are the operational questions state certification submissions need to answer.
Or run the free Workforce Pell Readiness Scorecard, six dimensions, under 10 minutes, green/amber/red on the operational infrastructure you'll need to submit under the 70/70 accountability regime.
Behind this tracker
We build the readiness and outcome infrastructure workforce programs run on: baseline-to-graduation skill data, job-readiness scoring, and the evidence chain that Workforce Pell and WIOA reporting depend on. The team that maintains this tracker builds the platform.
If your state has published Workforce Pell guidance, a program application form, or a certified program list that isn't reflected here, send it over and we will get it into the next monthly refresh. Direct links from state workforce boards, higher-ed agencies, or governor's offices are ideal.
What Workforce Pell is, which programs are eligible, the approval gates, and what to do now.
The student-facing FAFSA path in four steps, plus a section for advisors on how the intake conversation has changed.
The mechanics of each of the three accountability thresholds and what the two-year lockout means for substantially similar programs.
The rules read as an engineering specification: the four data capabilities a program must hold continuously.
The AHEAD Committee rulemaking history, the three significant changes from the NPRM, and the questions the rule left open.
See it on your programs
A 30-minute walkthrough of how Capstone Workforce captures baseline, growth, and readiness data as a byproduct of the training itself, so the 70/70 evidence chain is built continuously instead of reconstructed at deadlines.
The list is short in the program's first months and expanding. This tracker reports per-state status across five tiers: no verified activity, in progress (enabling law or announcement), guidance published, accepting applications, and launched. Each state row includes a concrete note describing the current action and the date the intel is anchored to.
As of the October 2, 2026 refresh, 40 jurisdictions have an operational approval process: 25 accepting or reviewing applications, 3 with published guidance, and 12 with state-approved programs (Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Texas). Eight are in progress with a law, a named lead agency, or a draft framework, and 4 show no verified public action. The U.S. Department of Education has approved 21 programs in six states: Iowa, Indiana, Nebraska, Texas, North Carolina, and Florida. Iowa Central Community College's EMT program was the first, on August 4. Texas (Kilgore and Weatherford colleges) and North Carolina (Forsyth Technical Community College, September 25) have six each, and Eastern Florida State College has four.
The statute and the final rule require the state's governor, in consultation with the state workforce development board, to certify that a program prepares students for a high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand occupation and meets the hiring requirements of employers. The Secretary of Education then separately verifies outcomes. Both gates have to clear before a program can enroll Pell-funded students.
Check the row for your state on this tracker. If the state is accepting applications or has published approved programs, the note describes where to look. If not, contact the financial aid office at any community college or training provider you are considering and ask whether their program is Workforce Pell approved or has an application pending.
As often as intel comes in. The "Last updated" date is at the top of the page and again at the bottom. Each state row also carries its own dateUpdated so readers can gauge how fresh each row is independently. In this early phase of the program, expect movement almost every month.
If your state has published guidance, a program application form, or an approved program list that is not reflected here, use the "Email an update" button on the tracker page. Direct links from state workforce boards, higher-ed agencies, or governor's offices are ideal.
Last updated: October 2, 2026