Federal Grants

Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship

The Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and is available to Pell-eligible students whose parent or guardian were killed in the line of duty as a public safety officer.

A public safety officer is defined as such for the purpose of the Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship as:

  • “…any individual serving as an officially recognized or designated member of a legally organized volunteer fire department or legally organized police department, or an officially recognized or designated public employee of a legally organized fire or police department who was responding to a fire, rescue, or police emergency,”
  • “…actively serving as a public safety officer and died in the line of duty while performing as a public safety officer”

Eligibility

  • Must be Pell-eligible and have a Pell-eligible Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of 0-6656 (2023-24)
  • Must be less than 24 years of age when the parent or guardian died or enrolled at an institution of higher education at the time of their parent’s or guardian’s death
  • Must continue to have a Pell-eligible EFC

Per the Department of Education, below is the acceptable documentation to determine eligibility for the Public Safety Officers Benefit (PSOB) program administered by the Department of Justice:

  • A written letter of attestation or determination made by a state or local government official with supervisory or other relevant oversight authority of the individual who was killed in the line of duty while serving as a public safety officer
  • Documentation of the student qualifying for a state tuition or other state benefit accorded to the children or other family members of a public safety officer consistent with the definition of a public safety officer
  • Other documentation the school determines to be from a credible source that describes or reports the circumstances of the death and the occupation of the parent or guardian.

You can submit your documentation to us by FAX, U.S. Mail, or through our document upload system.

Award

  • Award would give children of fallen officers who qualify for Pell Grants the maximum Pell Grant amount authorized by federal law
  • $7,395 maximum for the 2023-24 academic year

 

 

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and awarded to students with demonstrated financial need. Grants do not need to be repaid. Pell Grant amounts are based on the number of credits for which you are enrolled and adjust accordingly.

Beginning in the 2012-13 academic year, students may receive the Pell Grant for up to 12 full-time semesters or the equivalent.

The amount of Federal Pell Grant funds a student may receive over their lifetime is limited by a federal law and is the equivalent of six years of Pell Grant funding. Since the maximum amount of Pell Grant funding a student can receive each year is equal to 100 percent (150 percent if you enroll in the fall, spring, and summer semester), so the six-year equivalent is 600 percent. For more information, visit Student Aid on the Web's Calculating Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility Used.

Eligibility

Award

  • Maximum award starting Fall 2023 is $7,395 per academic year. The maximum award per semester is $3,697.
  • If you enroll full-time for the Fall and Spring, and at least half time in the Summer in an academic year, then you can get an additional Pell grant based on your EFC and enrolled Summer credits.

Monitoring

Holds will be placed prior to the beginning of each semester to check for federal grants (and loans) that may have been used at another institution. It is a requirement that we check all students to prevent over-certification of federal funds. Read more here.

 

 

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant

The Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant is funded by the U.S Department of Education and is available the students who are either currently enrolled and have a parent or guardian who died as a result of military service in Iraq or Afghanistan.

The Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant is awarded by the Office of Student Aid.

Eligibility

  • Meet Federal and Penn State Financial Aid Eligibility Requirements
  • You are not eligible for a Federal Pell Grant because your Expected Family Contribution(EFC) exceeds the maximum requirement for the Pell Grant, but you meet all other Pell Grant eligibility requirements
  • Your parent or guardian was a member of the U.S. armed forces and died as a result of military service performed in Iraq or Afghanistan after 9/11/01
  • You were under 24 years of age or enrolled in college at least part-time at the time of your parent’s or guardian’s death

Eligibility Expansion for 2023-24 Award Year

The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022” or the“Honoring our PACT Act of 2022”. P.L. 117-168, commonly referred to as the PACT Act, expands VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. For the 2023-2024 award year the PACT Act may give survivors of deceased veterans additional federal student aid in the form of Pell Grant or IASG funds. 

Students who are survivors of a veteran who believe they would be eligible for IASG under the PACT Act should contact the VA for documentation to submit to the Office of Student Aid.

  • Acceptable forms of documentation from the VA:
    • A copy of the servicemember’s DD Form 1300 (Report of Casualty) which documents death in the line of duty.
    • A copy of the servicemember’s DD Form 214 and death certificate, documenting that the date and cause of death occurred during and as a result of active duty.
    • A Department of Veterans Affairs Death Narrative Document.

Award

  • For any 2022-23 Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant first disbursed on or after October 1, 2022, and before October 1, 2023, the maximum award amount is $6,501
  • For any 2023-24 Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant first disbursed on or after October 1, 2023 and before October 1, 2024, the maximum award amount is $$6973

 

 

Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is awarded by the Office of Student Aid to students with demonstrated high financial need.

Eligibility

Due to limited funding, not all students who are eligible will receive this award.For maximum consideration, submit your FAFSA by Penn State’s recommended submission deadlines (select appropriate award year). Award amounts may vary based on funding level.

 

 

TEACH grant

The TEACH grant is federally funded and awarded by our office to eligible students who intend to teach in public or private elementary or secondary schools that serve students of low-income families.

Eligibility

  • Meet Federal and Penn State Financial Aid Eligibility Requirements
  • Be enrolled in or plan to complete coursework in teaching.
    • Current undergraduate programs that meet this criteria are:
      • World Languages – French (WL ED; FR)
      • World Languages – German (WL ED; GER)
      • World Languages – Latin (WL ED; LATIN)
      • World Languages – Russian (WL ED; RUS)
      • World Languages – Spanish (WL ED; SPAN)
      • Secondary Math (SECED; MATH)
      • Math in Eberly (MTHBS; TEACH)
      • Math at Behrend (MTHBD; MTHED)
      • Secondary Biology (SECED; BI SC)
      • Biology at Abington (SECAB; BI SC)
      • Secondary Chemistry (SECED; CHEM)
      • Secondary Earth & Space Science (SECED; E SP)
      • Secondary Physics (SECED; PHYS)
      • Physics in Eberly (PHYS; TEACH)
      • Special Education (SPLED)
    • Current graduate programs that meet this criteria are:
      • Reading Graduate Program (C I)
  • Maintain a minimum 3.25 GPA in required course work
  • Complete the TEACH Grant Counseling and sign the Agreement to Serve

Award

  • Maximum $4,000 per year

Failure to complete the required teaching service obligation will result in the TEACH grant converting to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan.