For months after being laid off, Michael Flannery could not find work. He had a son to care for and rent to pay.

"It was tough."

He enrolled in college.

"I wanted to make sure that wouldn't happen again," said Flannery, now 25, who just completed a two-year degree and is working toward a bachelor's. "It was one of the best decisions I've ever made."

The Chaska resident made it partly because of the Pell Grant program. That program is on the chopping block as part of federal budget negotiations.

The grants help millions of students -- most from families making less than $30,000 a year -- attend college. In Minnesota, about 181,600 students got the grants last year, according to the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. The average, yearly award was $3,338. One note: Those figures include all students (from all over) who attend for-profit colleges based in the state, including Capella and Globe universities.

The maximum grant of $5,550 a year covers less than a third of the cost to the nation's average undergrad. But to many, it's the difference-maker.

Lawmakers have suggested a slew of changes to Pell that would, in the end, reduce the number of students who get it and the amount they receive. One proposal reduces the maximum grant to $2,100 a year.

"You can't have cost savings without eliminating grants to some students," said Meredith Fergus, policy analyst for the state's higher education office.

This week, student groups and college presidents organized to "Save Pell."

As part of that effort, Flannery told his story. He wrote that even now, the "Pell Grant is not a free ride." He takes out loans, works part time and finds himself "counting pennies."

But without it, he would work longer hours and borrow more. He believes the grant is one reason he could get involved in student government and study enough to earn a 3.55 GPA.

"It enables me to focus a lot more on school than working," he said, "which is the whole point."

Jenna Ross • 612-673-7168