Pennsylvania’s 2026-2027 state budget includes $42.5 million in funding for the Grow PA Scholarship Grant Program, which supports students pursuing careers in health care and other in-demand occupations across the state.
The program, in its second year of operation, has already attracted significant interest, with approximately 13,000 individuals submitting applications for the 2026-2027 academic year, according to state officials.
The scholarship program aims to build Pennsylvania’s workforce pipeline by incentivizing students to remain in the state after graduation. Eligible recipients can receive up to $5,000 per year in grant funding.
To qualify for the program, applicants must be Pennsylvania residents enrolled in a post-secondary educational institution within the state and pursuing a degree in an in-demand occupation. Recipients must commit to living and working in Pennsylvania in their chosen field for at least one year for each year they receive the scholarship.
A separate tuition waiver program is available for out-of-state students who agree to relocate to Pennsylvania and work in in-demand occupations.
Health care was included among the targeted occupations when the program was created as part of the 2024-2025 state budget, following advocacy efforts by the Hospital Association of Pennsylvania.
