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How can students apply for Grow PA college aid in Pennsylvania?

A guide to the Grow PA Grant and Tuition Waiver: eligibility, CIP codes, deadline, work commitment and award tracking.

Maskay editorial team Updated

Grow PA can help pay for college, but the name covers two programs for different students, and both carry a post-graduation condition. The Scholarship Grant is aimed at Pennsylvania residents; the Tuition Waiver serves out-of-state students entering the PASSHE system. In either route, the field of study must lead to an approved occupation, and recipients agree to live and work in Pennsylvania afterward. Before estimating an award, identify your residency classification, campus, exact major and its CIP code.

The Grow PA Scholarship Grant offers up to $5,000 per academic year for 2026–27, for no more than four years. PHEAA requires a FAFSA, current Pennsylvania residency, satisfactory Title IV academic progress, no prior bachelor’s degree and at least half-time enrollment in an eligible associate or bachelor’s program. The published list includes more than 460 programs and majors, but a profession sounding in demand is not enough: the program’s CIP code must match the official list. The participating-school list checked for this guide was last marked updated November 6, 2025; ask the college to confirm current participation.

To apply for the Grant, download and complete the 2026–27 form, sign in to PHEAA Account Access, and follow File Upload → PA Special Programs → Grow PA Scholarship Grant Application. PHEAA lists January 7, 2027 as this cycle’s deadline and awards funds in the order complete applications arrive. Save proof of submission and watch for notices. If you attend Temple or another campus, ask whether the school must certify enrollment and where its portal will show the award. Public 2026 student accounts describe waits in that coordination; they are individual reports, but they support checking both systems before relying on aid to pay an immediate bill.

The Grow PA Tuition Waiver is different: it serves students classified as out-of-state who enter a PASSHE school, with cohort restrictions and its own approved-program list. Do not assume you can choose Grant or Waiver based on the amount; residency and institution type determine the route. PHEAA’s status flow moves from application and review to school listing, certification and disbursement, so provisional selection does not mean the credit has reached the college account.

Read the Master Promissory Note carefully. PHEAA requires recipients to live and work in Pennsylvania in an in-demand occupation for a period tied to funded years, up to four; failure to complete the degree or work commitment can turn the award into repayable debt. Ask which jobs qualify, how employment is verified and what deferments are available for further study. For program questions, email GrowPA@pheaa.org; State Grant support is (800) 692-7392, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Eastern. Compare total cost, other aid and living expenses too: an annual maximum does not mean tuition-free college.

Bottom line

Compare the options and confirm eligibility and deadlines directly with the program before applying.

Editorial selection

Options to compare

These options relate to the question. Read each profile and check current details before deciding.

01
State scholarship and grant program

Grow PA Scholarship Grant — PHEAA

1200 North Seventh Street, Harrisburg, PA 17102

The Grow PA Scholarship Grant is Pennsylvania aid for residents pursuing a degree connected to an occupation the state considers in demand. For the 2026–27 academic year, PHEAA offers up to $5,000 per year for a maximum of four years. This is not an unrestricted scholarship: recipients agree to live

Why it made the selection

Up to $5,000 per academic year for up to four years in approved programs tied to in-demand occupations; includes a Pennsylvania residency and employment commitment

Hours: Apply through PHEAA Account Access; PHEAA lists GrowPA@pheaa.org for program questions. Verified: October 12, 2026
View Maskay profile → Official website ↗
02
State college tuition-waiver program

Grow PA Tuition Waiver — Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education

1200 North Seventh Street, Harrisburg, PA 17102

The Grow PA name covers two paths that students should not confuse. The Tuition Waiver is designed for students classified as out-of-state residents who begin at a Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) institution; the Scholarship Grant serves Pennsylvania residents and may be used

Why it made the selection

Tuition waiver for out-of-state students entering PASSHE institutions who agree to live and work in Pennsylvania in an approved occupation

Hours: Apply and track online through PHEAA; send eligibility questions to GrowPA@pheaa.org. Verified: October 12, 2026
View Maskay profile → Official website ↗
Verification

Sources & references

Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.

  1. Official website of Grow PA Scholarship Grant — PHEAA ↗ Primary source Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) · Accessed October 12, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.

  2. Official website of Grow PA Scholarship Grant — PHEAA ↗ Primary source PHEAA · Accessed October 12, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.

  3. Official website of Grow PA Scholarship Grant — PHEAA ↗ Primary source PHEAA · Accessed October 12, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.

  4. Official website of Grow PA Tuition Waiver — Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education ↗ Primary source PHEAA · Accessed October 12, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.

  5. Official website of Grow PA Tuition Waiver — Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education ↗ Primary source PHEAA · Accessed October 12, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.

  6. Official website ↗ Primary source PHEAA · Accessed October 12, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.

  7. Official website ↗ Primary source PHEAA · Accessed October 12, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.

  8. Official website ↗ Primary source PHEAA · Accessed October 12, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.

  9. Official website ↗ Primary source PHEAA · Accessed October 12, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.

  10. Dudas de solicitantes sobre la confirmación y el desembolso de Grow PA ↗ Secondary source Reddit, r/financialaid · Accessed October 12, 2026

    Hilo público de septiembre y octubre de 2026: usuarios de Temple describen esperas y coordinación pendiente entre campus y PHEAA. Testimonios anecdóticos, no representativos.

  11. Ayudas de Grow PA y relatos de solicitantes ↗ Secondary source Reddit, r/financialaid · Accessed October 12, 2026

    Hilo de usuarios en torno a Grow PA; ilustra confusión y seguimiento entre estudiante, campus y PHEAA, pero no es una muestra representativa.

  12. Grow PA application comments from students ↗ Secondary source Reddit, r/financialaid · Accessed October 12, 2026

    Anecdotal reports about enrollment verification and award posting, treated as individual accounts.

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