Grants

Grants are the preferred first choice when it comes to covering educational costs. They’re free money given based on financial need and generally don’t need to be repaid, as long as you meet eligibility requirements.

Award timeline for grants

This federally-funded award program helps financially needy students cover the cost of education.

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Many Pennsylvania residents receive PA State Grant awards for college expenses.

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This federally-funded grant helps low-income, Pell Grant-eligible students cover their educational costs.

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RTSS is a state-funded grant-like program for Pennsylvania residents with minimal or no PA State Grant eligibility and whose annual family income does not exceed $200,000.

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The Grow PA Grant is a new Pennsylvania state funded program that began with the 2025-26 academic year.

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State Grants for Out-of-State Students

Some states offer grants for students to attend out-of-state colleges in Pennsylvania. Below are links to a few state aid offices that may extend grants to eligible students.

Other state higher education agencies can be found at the U.S. Department of Education's website.