Training schools that offer FAFSA / Pell Grant?

My wife's been talking to the reps at the local community college and they said they would accept them if they could but the feds won't allow them to accept federal money such as Pell Grants or fed backed student loans for the CDL program.

The only grants available are the ones you can get if you are unemployed or underemployed. (Don't know about military benefits, it wouldn't apply for her so she didn't ask)

 

Most CDL schools are too short in duration and amount of credits (if at comm college) to be eligible for Pell/FAFSA. There are a few other ways to go about it though, if you are truly in such dire financial straits that you can't use a credit card and do not want to commit to company sponsored training (that usually comes with at least a 1 year contract that puts you on the hook for $$$ if you quit).

Look up Workforce Services or "One Stop" in your state. This program is funded through Department of Labor (DOL) and is usually housed with the local employment office. There are a few ways to qualify. If you are eligible for unemployment benefits, you are eligible for WIA funds (regardless of other household income). BUT, in some cases if you have education or training in an industry that is still hiring, you may be out of luck unless you can sufficiently document that you have not been able to find employment in your field. Once you get through these hoops, you can get schooling paid for, but there is no additional funding for anything beyond school expenses.

You can also qualify for Workforce retraining assistance if you meet the financial requirements (household) or you are between 18-24 and have specific barriers to employment.

Here is the DOL page that will get you to your state's workforce center(s).

http://www.doleta.gov/usworkforce/onestop/onestopmap.cfm

Hope this helps!

 

The federal government generally won't issue a loan for a commercial driving school program UNLESS you fit in to the following criteria for exemption;

1) Long term unemployed individuals receiving either FOOD STAMPS, CASH AID or STATE or FEDERAL UI assistance within 6 months of applying for educational grants. CASH AID and UI recipients must prove that they've complied with all of the work requirements of their programs. FOOD STAMP recipients generally don't have any work requirements.

2) Veterans who have returned from active or reserve duty to civilian life and have spent 90 days or more unemployed. MUST NOT have been dishonorably discharged.

3) Physically, emotionally, or learning disabled individuals OVER 24 who have participated in county, state or federal advancement programs (i.e job corps, etc).

4) Participants in county, state or federal advancement programs who are UNDER 24 but at least 21.

There may be other exemptions but these are the most common. And even with these exemptions there are minimum length of time requirements that would make most CDL mills ineligible to participate...

 

Not sure where you are located, however HDS Truck Driving Institute in Tucson has a FAFSA/Pell Grant approved course.

 

huckstah, where are you located? pm me.

 

I went there, that's how I know. The FAFSA course is nicknamed the "long" course. The regular 160 hours course is the "short." You're asked if your "short" or "long" every time you met a new instructor. Also the students will ask eachother.