Pennsylvania State Grant Program
Offered by Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency
About this scholarship
The Pennsylvania State Grant Program provides need-based undergraduate aid to eligible Pennsylvania residents. The maximum published award for 2026–2027 is $6,000, although each student's amount depends on financial need, enrollment, school costs, and the annual state formula. The September 1 deadline applies specifically to the Summer PA State Grant application, not to a new fall application. Regular-year priority deadlines were May 1 for renewal students and many first-time applicants and August 1 for first-time students attending community colleges, designated open-admission schools, and certain career-focused programs. PHEAA nevertheless advises students who missed a non-summer deadline to apply because late applications may receive funding if money remains. Applicants start with the FAFSA. PHEAA then creates or activates an eligible student's GrantUs account, where first-time applicants complete the PA State Grant Form and High School Form and summer students submit the online summer application. Candidates must demonstrate Pennsylvania domicile, hold an approved high school credential, pursue an eligible undergraduate program, and meet enrollment and academic-progress rules. Online-study and out-of-state-school restrictions apply, so students should verify their institution and delivery format before relying on an estimated award.
Eligibility
- Be domiciled in Pennsylvania under PHEAA residency rules
- Hold an approved high school diploma, equivalency credential, or another qualifying secondary credential
- Demonstrate financial need through the FAFSA and state award formula
- Enroll in an eligible undergraduate program at an approved institution
- Complete the FAFSA and every GrantUs action item requested by PHEAA
- For summer consideration, submit the online PA Summer Grant application by September 1, 2026
- Maintain the academic progress required for prior state-grant awards
- Meet the program's institution, enrollment, and distance-education restrictions