The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency encourages Pennsylvania students who are planning to enroll in a community college, a designated Pennsylvania Open-Admission institution, a business, trade, or technical school, a hospital school of nursing, or a 2-year program that is not transferable to another institution to submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid by August 1, 2026, to be considered for a PA State Grant award.
“Higher education is often thought of as your traditional 4-year college or university,” said Senator Wayne Fontana, Chairman of the PHEAA Board of Directors. “But higher education can follow many different paths for furthering your education and securing a future career. A student may consider a community college program, a nursing program, or a trade school, depending upon their career choice. Regardless of their chosen path, they should submit their FAFSA before August 1, if they need financial aid.”
“It is important that students who aren’t enrolling in a traditional 4-year degree program submit their FAFSA by August 1 in time to qualify for a PA State Grant award,” said James Steeley, PHEAA President & CEO. “The PA State Grant Program is a need-based grant that does not need to be repaid. Students should exhaust this and every other opportunity for gift aid, before turning to borrowing student loans.”
The PA State Grant Program uses the FAFSA form as its primary application point to determine student eligibility for a PA State Grant award. If a student has not yet completed their 2026-27 FAFSA, they are strongly encouraged to do so prior to the August 1 PA State Grant filing deadline. Once the FAFSA is submitted, students needing to complete the PA State Grant application items, or supply any supplemental documentation, will have until the academic year student reconsideration deadline (April 1, 2027, for the 2026-27 award year). Students will be unable to submit their PA State Grant application if they have not submitted their FAFSA.
If a student misses the August 1 filing deadline, for any reason, they are still encouraged to apply. Late applications (other than for the PA State Grant summer term) will be reviewed, if appealed, for possible PA State Grant consideration, if funds are available.
