A federal overhaul of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid has produced a sharp rise in need-based aid eligibility: 1.7 million additional students now qualify for the maximum Pell Grant, the National College Attainment Network reported. NCAN’s analysis of Office of Federal Student Aid data shows a 27% increase in maximum-Pell eligibility in the 2025–26 award cycle compared with pre‑simplification levels. The change follows enactment of the bipartisan FAFSA Simplification Act and a multi-year rollout of new formulas and form streamlining. NCAN cited rising FAFSA completions and enrollment among recent high‑school graduates as further evidence that the policy changes are widening access. Institutions, financial-aid offices, and state policymakers are now recalibrating outreach and packaging strategies to manage increased demand. Higher‑education leaders cautioned that gains could be fragile: Pell funding is effectively level in FY2026 and colleges warn a flat maximum award erodes purchasing power as prices rise. Financial‑aid directors should plan for higher Pell take‑up while tracking appropriations debates and contingency scenarios for grant exhaustion.