The Chafee Education and Training Grant, or ETG, is federally funded and administered in Pennsylvania by PHEAA on behalf of the Department of Human Services. It helps cover attendance costs for young people with foster-care experience; it is not a loan or an automatic waiver of every college charge. The published maximum is $5,000 per academic year, subject to available funding.
The state rule covers Pennsylvania residents who qualified for Chafee services and experienced foster care at age 16 or older, or left care after that age through adoption or permanent legal custody. For the upcoming aid year, applicants must not have reached age 26 by July 1. They must also study as undergraduates at least half time at a Title IV institution, demonstrate need, and maintain satisfactory academic progress.
Eligibility goes beyond age: the college determines financial need and reviews academic progress, and a student may not exceed five years—ten semesters or the equivalent—of undergraduate ETG support. The award cannot exceed cost of attendance minus other aid. Grants depend on federal funding and are not guaranteed, so students should speak with PHEAA and campus financial aid before building a budget.
Applicants may also be evaluated for Fostering Independence through Education, or FosterEd, a separate program that provides a tuition and mandatory-fee waiver to qualifying youth who apply for other available aid. Do not confuse the waiver with ETG or assume they cover the same items: confirm with the college which costs remain after each benefit and what application or verification the student must complete.
Before applying, confirm eligibility, documents, the deadline, and time zone on the current-cycle page. Keep a copy of the form and receipts, and ask how the award coordinates with FAFSA, other scholarships, and the full cost of attendance.
Read the program profile and the federal FAFSA guide; confirm with the administrator how the funds coordinate.
Chafee Foster Care and Education and Training Grant — Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.
PA Chafee Education and Training Grant Program — PHEAA.
Information checked against official sources on October 13, 2026. Aid, eligibility, and deadlines can change; verify the current cycle with the administrator before submitting documents or making enrollment decisions.
Confirm eligibility, current terms, and application steps on the official source before relying on the funds for tuition.
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Pennsylvania Chafee Education and Training Grant (ETG)
The Chafee Education and Training Grant, or ETG, is federally funded and administered in Pennsylvania by PHEAA on behalf of the Department of Human Services. It helps cover attendance costs for young people with foster-care experience; it is not a loan or an automatic waiver of every college charge. The published maximum is $5,000 per academic year, subject to available funding. The state rule covers Pennsylvania residents who qualified for Chafee services and experienced fos
College scholarship and financial-aid program
Federal Student Aid — U.S. Department of Education
The agency sets rates, eligibility, and caps; the college certifies need, cost, and the individual amount within those limits.
Public student-aid administering office
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
PHEAA · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official program information and application ↗
Primary source
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Pennsylvania Chafee Education and Training Grant (ETG) ↗
Primary source
PHEAA · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Federal Student Aid — U.S. Department of Education ↗
Primary source
Federal Student Aid · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Federal Student Aid — U.S. Department of Education ↗
Primary source
Federal Student Aid · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.