A status report for the Pell Grant Program (formerly called Basic Educational Opportunity Grant Program) for the 1980-1981 academic year is presented. Information is based on merged applicant and recipient files. Included are a description of highlights of the program for 1980-1981, program trends for 1973-1974 through 1980-1981, and summary tables for 1980-1981 on characteristics of Pell Grant recipients. Statistical tables include: the number of applications processed; the number of grant recipients; distribution of Pell Grant recipients by Student Eligibility Index range and family income, by family income and grant level, by Student Eligibility Index and grant level, by family income and educational cost, and by family income and net asset level; Pell Grant expenditures, recipients, and average grant by type and control of institution; distribution of grant recipients by state and control of institution; distribution of grant recipients by dependent student earnings; and distribution of validated grant recipients income by grant level. Information on applications from the Multiple Data Entry Application Processing System is included. (SW)