Pennsylvania State Grant

The Pennsylvania State Grant is funded by the Commonwealth and awarded by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) to undergraduate Pennsylvania residents who demonstrate high financial need.

The Pennsylvania State Grant is available for a maximum of eight semesters to students enrolled in four-year programs and a maximum of four semesters to students enrolled in two-year programs.

Eligibility

How to apply

Submit the FAFSA, which contains a direct link to the state grant form, by May 1. If you have already submitted your FAFSA without completing the form, you can do so on the PHEAA website.

If you wish to apply for a summer state grant, you must complete the Summer PA State Grant application on eLion under “Financial” and also on the PHEAA website by August 15. Undergraduate students must be scheduled for six or more credits and attending a minimum of eight weeks during the Summer Session(s) to be eligible for a summer PA State Grant.

World Campus Students: To be eligible for the PA State Grant, at least 50 percent of your total coursework each semester must be achieved through classroom instruction. If you enroll in more than 50 percent online instruction for the semester, you will not be eligible for the grant.

Graduating Seniors: If you are graduating or are in your next-to-last semester, enrolled for 9 to 11 credits, and receiving the PA State Grant you may be eligible for a full-time grant.

This is an exception intended to permit continued eligibility to students who normally enroll full-time, but only need to complete 9 to 11 credits during one of the terms of their final year of study. This exception is not applicable to part-time students.

If you would like to be considered for this PA State Grant exception, please complete the form for the appropriate semester: PA State Grant 9-11 Form (Fall/Spring) or PA State Grant 9-11 Form (Summer).