Pennsylvania Educational Gratuity Program
Pennsylvania’s Educational Gratuity Program supports children of honorably discharged veterans who died in service during a war or armed conflict, or have a service-connected total and permanent disability tied to that period. It can provide up to $500 per term or semester for as many as eight terms per child, with a published total cap of $4,000. It is need-based and paid to the institution, not unrestricted cash to the student. The child must be between 16 and 23, have live
About Pennsylvania Educational Gratuity Program
Pennsylvania’s Educational Gratuity Program supports children of honorably discharged veterans who died in service during a war or armed conflict, or have a service-connected total and permanent disability tied to that period. It can provide up to $500 per term or semester for as many as eight terms per child, with a published total cap of $4,000. It is need-based and paid to the institution, not unrestricted cash to the student.
The child must be between 16 and 23, have lived in Pennsylvania for at least five years before applying, attend an approved school in the state, and demonstrate financial need. To verify the parent, the state requires veteran status and relevant service or disability records. Aid may be used at approved colleges, trade schools, and apprenticeships within the Commonwealth, but the institution and term must be accepted by DMVA.
The application starts with the County Director of Veterans Affairs in the student’s county of residence, who can explain documentation and submission. Gather proof of family relationship, honorable discharge, service or disability, residency, enrollment, and costs before requesting review. State funding increased for 2026–27, but that does not guarantee an automatic award or remove the individual need assessment. Ask whether the school must send a bill and how the benefit coordinates with VA, Pell, and other scholarships.
Who it serves and what it can cover: Pennsylvania’s Educational Gratuity Program supports children of honorably discharged veterans who died in service during a war or armed conflict, or have a service-connected total and permanent disability tied to that period. It can provide up to $500 per term or semester for as many as eight terms per child, with a published total cap of $4,000. It is need-based and paid to the institution, not unrestricted cash to the student. The child must be between 16 and 23, have lived in Pennsylvania for at least five years before applying, attend an approved school in the state, and demonstrate financial need. To verify the parent, the state requires veteran status and relevant service or disability records. Aid may be used at approved colleges, trade schools, and apprenticeships within the Commonwealth, but the institution and term must be accepted by DMVA.
How to apply or get help: The application starts with the County Director of Veterans Affairs in the student’s county of residence, who can explain documentation and submission. Gather proof of family relationship, honorable discharge, service or disability, residency, enrollment, and costs before requesting review. State funding increased for 2026–27, but that does not guarantee an automatic award or remove the individual need assessment. Ask whether the school must send a bill and how the benefit coordinates with VA, Pell, and other scholarships. For case-specific questions, contact the program or financial-aid office named on its official page.
College scholarship and financial-aid program