Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency 

Governor's Executive Budget Program Measures


Applications for PA State Grants
The PA State Grant Program provides aid to students with financial need at approved postsecondary schools.  In addition to the FAFSA®, PA State Grant applicants must complete a PA State Grant Form.   The form helps determine eligibility and need by collecting additional information that is not on the FAFSA.  Since PA State Grants are awards that do not need repaid, tracking applications is an important measure since these grants may help recipients borrow less in student loans.
PA State Grant recipients
All students who meet the PA State Grant Program’s eligibility requirements receive a grant—unlike many other need-based state grant programs across the nation that are first-come, first-served. Determining eligibility for an award is a two-fold process. Students are evaluated on financial need and non-need requirements, such as high school graduation and Pennsylvania domicile.  Recipient counts include students who received a PA State Grant during the academic year and/or previous summer.
Ready to Succeed Scholarship (RTSS) recipients
Many students from middle-income families do not qualify for need-based grants and often face high student loan debt.  In Pennsylvania, these students often do not meet the traditional PA State Grant Program’s financial need requirement.  RTSS, however, assists high-achieving students who have an annual family income up to $126,000.  To become a RTSS recipient, an eligible student first must be nominated by a participating school; awards are then made on a first-come, first-served basis.
PA Targeted Industry Program (PA-TIP) recipients
PA-TIP strengthens the state’s workforce by providing need-based grants to students looking to work in high-demand industries. PA-TIP assists students enrolled in courses of study that are at least 10 weeks but less than 2 academic years in length in the energy, health, manufacturing, and agriculture fields.  Awards to recipients are made on a first-come, first-served basis and can be used for tuition, fees, books, supplies, and specific living expenses.
Institutions aided through Institutional Assistance Grants (IAG) Program
The General Assembly created the IAG Program in 1974 to moderate costs at Pennsylvania independent nonprofit institutions by providing formula grants to these institutions.  IAG helps to maintain the state’s diverse fabric of higher education by supporting private colleges and universities and to ensure educational choice among students.  Participating schools cannot receive a direct appropriation from the Commonwealth and must be approved for the PA State Grant Program.
Institutional programs aided through Act 101 Program
The Act 101 Program allocates funds to institutions that operate a developmental program on their campus. Institutions use the funds to provide support services – such as academic advising, counseling, and tutoring – for economically or educationally qualified students to assist them in successfully completing postsecondary study. Act 101 schools must be degree-granting, approved for the PA State Grant Program, located in Pennsylvania, and serve an established minimum number of students.