STUDENTS AT RISK: How the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Could Undermine Global Learning
While the political spotlight remains fixed on tax cuts and budget caps, a less-discussed yet deeply concerning impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) is quietly taking shape: its direct threat to educational access, especially for students pursuing global learning.
What’s in the Bill?
The Senate’s version of OBBB includes Section 30033, which explicitly excludes study abroad programs from eligibility under Workforce Pell Grants. This means low-income students—many of whom already face barriers to international education, will not be able to use Pell Grants for short-term global learning experiences.
But that’s just one of many education-related changes. Additional provisions include:
Stricter Pell Grant eligibility requirements that could disqualify hundreds of thousands of part-time and community college students.
The elimination of subsidized undergraduate loans, raising the cost of borrowing for undergraduates.
Graduate and professional loan caps that limit borrowing to $100K and $200K respectively, placing fields like law and medicine out of reach for many.
A 1% remittance tax that could impact students and scholars sending money to family abroad or managing overseas stipends.
What This Means for Global Education
Programs like Gilman, Fulbright, and Critical Language Scholarships may not be directly slashed, but students who rely on federal aid may find themselves unable to participate due to financial ineligibility, administrative delays, or confusing new tax rules.
Simply put, OBBB could shrink the global classroom at a time when intercultural understanding, diplomacy, and multilingual skills are more important than ever.
What Can We Do?
Now is the time for collective action. Educators, students, and equity advocates must:
Urge policymakers to amend Section 30033 and restore Pell eligibility for study abroad.
Demand protection for part-time learners and community college attendees.
Elevate the visibility of international education as essential, not expendable.
Want to take action? Use our [Template Advocacy Letter] or share this article with your campus leadership or congressional representatives.
Source Snapshot
Congress.gov (H.R.1 text): Link
APLU Senate Bill Comparison (Sec. 30033): PDF
Americans Abroad Caucus, MarketWatch, Inside Higher Ed
🗣️ Want help crafting your message? Reach out, we’re happy to collaborate on institutional responses or student advocacy campaigns: email info[at]compear.org.
Global education is not a luxury. It's a necessity. Let’s make sure our policies reflect that truth.
#RespectfulDisruption #StudyAbroad #GlobalLearning #EducationPolicy #PellGrant #OBBB #HigherEdEquity
