Grow PA Scholarship Grant — PHEAA

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 and work in Pennsylvania in an approved occupation for as many years as they receive the grant. If they do not complete the degree or service commitment, PHEAA may require repayment under the signed agreement.

Before applying, verify three items on the official pages: the institution is participating, the degree program appears under an eligible Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code, and the student meets the requirements. PHEAA requires a FAFSA, current Pennsylvania residency, satisfactory academic progress for federal aid, no previously earned bachelor’s degree, and at least half-time enrollment in an approved associate or bachelor’s program. The participating-school list checked for this guide says it was last updated November 6, 2025, so ask the college financial-aid office to confirm its current participation before counting on an award.

PHEAA’s application route is specific: download and complete the 2026–27 Grow PA form, sign in to PHEAA Account Access, choose File Upload, select PA Special Programs, and upload it under Grow PA Scholarship Grant Application. The currently published deadline is January 7, 2027. Awards are made in the order complete applications are received; creating an account or starting a form is not the same as submitting a complete application. Keep a copy and submission date, watch PHEAA messages, and ask whether the campus must certify enrollment or the program.

Recent public applicant discussions describe cases in which an award appeared approved while the college had not yet sent or processed enrollment verification for the funds to show on the student account. These are individual Reddit accounts, not evidence that every applicant experiences delays. They do point to a practical precaution: do not budget the money as available cash until PHEAA and the college confirm it. If the two systems show different statuses, ask which office must send the enrollment roster and when the account should update. Discuss the post-graduation commitment with your family before accepting an award. Review the current CIP and in-demand occupation lists, ask how employment is verified, and keep the Master Promissory Note. PHEAA says the work period must match the number of funded years, up to four; failure to meet the terms can convert the grant into repayable debt. For program-specific questions, PHEAA lists GrowPA@pheaa.org; its general State Grant and special-program line is (800) 692-7392, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern.