WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) -- A Republican-backed proposal could bring major changes to the Pell Grant program, requiring many college students to take on heavier course loads to qualify for federal aid.

Under the legislation, full-time students would need to enroll in at least 30 credit hours per year, up from the current 24, to remain eligible. Part-time students would see their requirement increase from 12 to at least 15 credit hours annually.

“It’s a goal to get more students to go full time, graduate more quickly, and I think it will help some students get there,” said Robert Kelchen, an Education Professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

But Kelchen also cautioned that many students might struggle to meet the new demands.

“About two-thirds of students work, and many of them

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