Forsyth Tech Becomes First College in NC to Earn Federal Workforce Pell Approval
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Forsyth Technical Community College today became the first college in North Carolina to receive U.S. Department of Education approval for Workforce Pell Grant programs, making North Carolina the fifth state in the nation with federally approved programs. With six approved programs, Forsyth Tech now has more federally approved Workforce Pell programs than any other college in the nation, and North Carolina is tied with Texas for the most of any state.
“These grants will help train the next generation of nurses, electricians, welders, and emergency responders in North Carolina,” said Governor Josh Stein. “Investing in stellar community colleges like Forsyth Tech strengthens our state’s workforce pipeline, supports employers in high-demand fields, and expands access to high-skill, high-wage jobs. I’m grateful for the federal government’s support in uplifting our state’s most valuable resource – our people.”
Beginning in the spring 2027 term (January), eligible students can use federal Pell Grant funds to enroll in the following Forsyth Tech short-term training programs:
- Emergency Medical Technician
- Fire Academy
- Welding
- Certified Nursing Assistant I
- Certified Nursing Assistant II
- Electrical Lineworker
Workforce Pell, created under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act signed into law in 2025, extends Pell Grant eligibility to short-term, workforce-focused programs that can be completed in as little as eight weeks. Until now, students in these programs generally could not use Pell Grants because the programs were too short to qualify. To earn approval, a program must meet earnings, job placement and completion benchmarks, have been in operation for at least one year, and be approved by both the Governor and the U.S. Secretary of Education. In North Carolina, the NCWorks Commission is the entity designated by the Governor to serve as the administrator of state-level approval for Workforce Pell.
“For many of our students, the fastest path to a good-paying job is a short-term credential, and cost has too often stood in the way. Workforce Pell removes that barrier. Being first in North Carolina, and leading the nation in approved programs, reflects years of work by our faculty and staff to build programs around what employers in our region actually need.” said Dr. Janet N. Spriggs, president of Forsyth Tech.
“Forsyth Tech’s approval opens a new door for North Carolina students, and it reflects the work of the college’s faculty and staff, the NCWorks Commission, and our state and federal partners. Workforce Pell makes high-quality credentials affordable for people who need to get to work quickly, and it gives employers the skilled workers they need. Forsyth Tech is the first North Carolina college to earn this approval, and with colleges across the state building programs to this standard, it will not be the last,” said Dr. Monty Sullivan, acting president and CEO of the North Carolina Community College System.
North Carolina joins Iowa, Indiana, Nebraska and Texas as the only states with federally approved Workforce Pell programs to date. The U.S. Department of Education approved the nation’s first program, at Iowa Central Community College, on Aug. 4, 2026.
Students and jobseekers interested in applying for Workforce Pell Grants (federal, need-based funding that generally does not have to be repaid) should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and visit this page for more info: https://short.forsythtech.edu/workforcepell.
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