What is Ability to Benefit?
The Ability to Benefit (ATB) provision in the Higher Education Act gives adults without a high school diploma or equivalent access to federal student aid. A critical dual enrollment strategy, ATB ensures access to postsecondary education for adults who are simultaneously working to complete their high school credential. Unfortunately, ATB is poorly understood and massively underutilized, in no small part due to the fluctuation of legislative approval.
Under ATB, eligible adults can receive federal student aid (primarily Pell Grants) to simultaneously complete their high school diploma or equivalent while earning a postsecondary credential. To be eligible for ATB, an adult must enroll in an eligible career pathway program AND do one of three options:
- pass a US Department of Education-approved test;
- complete 6 credit hours towards a postsecondary credential; or
- be admitted through a “state defined process.”
Learn more about Ability to Benefit.
NCTN’s ATB Projects
NCTN provides technical assistance to state systems and institutions to scale and sustain Ability to Benefit implementation. If you are seeking technical assistance, email Sandy Goodman at sandy_goodman@worlded.org.
- Dual Enrollment for Adult Learners (DEAL) (2024–2026)
- Communities for Advancing ATB (2024–2025)
- A2B4Equity (2022–2024)
- Advancing ATB for Equitable Access to Opportunity (2022–2023)
- Adult Dual Enrollment through Ability to Benefit (2019–2020)
ATB Resources
NCTN has compiled a comprehensive list of ATB resources for states and practitioners. View the ATB resources page.
NCTN Resources on ATB
- Webinar: Implementing Ability to Benefit and Career Pathways to Support Adult Learners’ Transitions to Postsecondary Education and Beyond (2025): In this implementation-focused webinar from World Education’s National College Transition Network, learn how Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and Pima Community College leverage ATB and career pathway programs together to effectively support adult learners during their transition into their postsecondary journey and beyond. View the slide deck. Part of NCTN’s Communities for Advancing ATB project.
- Webinar: Boost Financial Aid Access: Harness Ability to Benefit Changes to Support Adult Learners (2025): (Password: LgV5V!&.) Ability to Benefit (ATB) allows eligible adult learners to access federal student aid, but these rules have recently changed. Come learn about these changes from National Council for Workforce Education (NCWE) and World Education, a division of JSI, and hear how the Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) has planned for them. Additionally, learn how SBCTC is harnessing ATB alongside Washington State’s I-BEST model and SNAP E&T to support eligible career pathway programming and reduce basic needs insecurity. View the slide deck. Part of NCTN’s Communities for Advancing ATB project.
- Resource: Ability to Benefit Eligible Career Pathway Program Documentation Checklist (Updated 2025): Starting on January 1, 2025, all institutions using Ability to Benefit (ATB) will need to upload documentation using the Electronic Eligibility Application (E-App) to demonstrate that one of its ATB Career Pathway Programs meets the eligibility requirements. This checklist is intended to support ATB-using institutions in identifying the documentation needed to meet these new requirements.
- Blog series: The Ability to Benefit Provision: Expanding Access to College for Adult Learners (2023): A five-part blog series making the case for Ability to Benefit and highlighting the work of three states and further opportunities for investment.
- The Case for Ability to Benefit (11/1/23)
- Case Study: Ability to Benefit in California (11/8/23)
- Case Study: Ability to Benefit in North Carolina (11/15/23)
- Case Study: Ability to Benefit in Texas (11/22/23)
- Opportunities for Further Investment in Ability to Benefit (11/29/23)
- Blog post: New Rules Coming for Ability to Benefit (2022): Details on upcoming changes for Ability to Benefit as a result of the U.S. Department of Education negotiated rulemaking in 2021-2022.
- Webinar: Ability to Benefit State Leadership (2020): Learn about three different strategies that state agencies are using to expand Ability to Benefit and make it easier for adults to simultaneously earn their high school and college credentials.