Grow PA Scholarship Grant Program

Grow PA is a state grant designed to train and retain workers in occupations Pennsylvania identifies as high-demand. The award can provide up to $5,000 per academic year for as many as four years when eligibility is maintained. In return, recipients agree to live and work in Pennsylvania in an in-demand occupation after graduation. It is conditional aid: failure to complete the degree or service commitment may require repayment.

For 2026–27, PHEAA lists an application deadline of January 7, 2027, and says awards are made in the order complete applications arrive. Applicants need FAFSA, Pennsylvania residency, at least half-time enrollment at a participating institution, and no prior bachelor’s degree. The field of study must match an eligible CIP code, so checking both the major list and school list is essential before applying.

Applicants use PHEAA Account Access under special programs. Students create or sign into an account, upload the Grow PA application for the correct year, and make sure all records are complete. PHEAA describes multiple stages: application, provisional selection, school listing, certification, and disbursement. Submission alone does not mean the campus has certified the grant or credited it to the bill.

The list of participating institutions changes, and PHEAA says new campuses may be added. Confirm your exact school, major, and enrollment status before accepting admission. The four-year grant maximum also creates up to four years of post-graduation work and residency service: each grant year corresponds to one service year. The terms may require annual employment and residency verification.

Eligible programs correspond to CIP codes and occupations in PHEAA’s lists; a similar-sounding major may have a different code. Keep the official list for the year and ask the financial-aid office to confirm that your academic plan is coded as eligible. Also ask whether the grant posts before or after other aid and which direct charges it may cover.

Before accepting, consider whether the employment commitment fits your career plans. Service must be in an in-demand occupation in Pennsylvania for a period matching the years of aid; otherwise repayment is required. The grant may reduce borrowing, but compare the cap with net costs and review deferment or voluntary-conversion rules if circumstances could prevent service.

Ask the financial-aid office for a written term-by-term estimate separating tuition, fees, housing, books, and other costs. Keep the award letter, records, and any service agreement. If your studies, residence, or course load change, contact the administrator before that decision affects your aid.

Official program information and application