The PA State Grant is money for college from the state of Pennsylvania that you do not pay back. It is separate from federal aid, and the only way to be considered is to complete the FAFSA. The maximum award for 2026-27 is $6,000.
Who Qualifies for the PA State Grant
The PA State Grant is money for college that you do not pay back. It comes from the state, not the federal government, and it is separate from anything the FAFSA awards you directly.
To qualify, you generally need to:
- Be a Pennsylvania resident
- Be a high school graduate or have a GED
- Complete the FAFSA by the deadline
- Be enrolled at least half time, usually six credits or more, in an approved undergraduate program
- Not already hold a bachelor’s degree
- Show financial need, which PHEAA determines from your FAFSA
The maximum PA State Grant for 2026-27 is $6,000. What you actually receive depends on your financial situation and the school you attend.
If you attend school outside Pennsylvania, the award is much smaller. Students at approved schools in Delaware, Washington DC, Massachusetts, Ohio, Vermont, and West Virginia can receive up to $600. Schools in other states, including New York and Maryland, are generally not eligible at all.
You can receive the State Grant for up to four years total, whether you use that as eight full-time semesters, sixteen part-time semesters, or a mix.
Not sure if you qualify? Complete the FAFSA anyway. PHEAA reviews your information automatically and will contact you if you are eligible.
State Grant Deadlines
The PA State Grant has its own deadline, and it is earlier than most college deadlines. Missing it means missing the grant for that year.
- May 1 if you are attending a four-year college or university
- August 1 if you are attending a community college, or a business, trade, technical, nursing, or hospital school
These are deadlines for completing the FAFSA, which is what PHEAA uses to consider you for the grant. You do not need to wait until you have decided where you are going.
You have to complete the FAFSA every year you plan to attend college, and the deadline applies every year.
How to Apply for the State Grant
There is no separate application to hunt down. Complete the FAFSA and PHEAA reviews you for the State Grant automatically. If they need anything else from you, they will reach out using the contact information on your FAFSA.
Some students are asked to complete a State Grant Form through their PHEAA account. Watch the email address you listed on your FAFSA, and check your spam folder.
Things worth having ready before you start:
- The month and year you received your high school diploma or GED
- Your own Social Security number, not a parent’s or guardian’s
- Your spouse’s Social Security number, if you are married
- A recent statement if you have a PA 529 savings account
More Resources for Students & Families
- EducationPlanner.org, PHEAA’s free college and career planning site for Pennsylvania students
- PHEAA’s live financial aid webinars, held throughout the year for students and families
- Foster Care to College. If you have spent time in foster care, you may qualify for additional state and federal aid, and you likely file the FAFSA without parent information.
- The PA State Grant FAQ, for questions about eligibility, out-of-state schools, and award amounts
- $2,500 No Essay Scholarship. PHEAA gives away twelve $2,500 scholarships to students enrolled or planning to enroll for the 2026-27 school year. No essay required. You enter by opting in to their email list. Read the official rules before you enter.
Breaking It Down
Here are some tools from PHEAA for planning what college will actually cost.
In-School College Budget Calculator
PA 529 College and Career Savings Program
MySmartBorrowing lets you pick a career and a school and see what your monthly loan payment would look like against what you would likely earn. You can compare up to four combinations.
