The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) has announced that the student application for the 2026-27 Grow Pennsylvania Scholarship Grant Program, more commonly known as the Grow PA Grant, will be available on pheaa.org/growpa and is now open.

Over 11,000 applications from 162 schools were received for the current 2025-26 program year; nearly 5,700 recipients were awarded the grant from 131 participating schools.

The Grow PA Grant Program was authorized under Act 89 of 2024 to help reverse the trend of young Pennsylvanians seeking education and job opportunities in other states. The program offers grants of up to $5,000 per year for in-state students who attend college in Pennsylvania, pursue a degree in an in-demand occupation and agree to work in that occupation in Pennsylvania after graduation.

There are over 460 eligible programs of study or majors that lead to in-demand occupations in a variety of fields, such as agriculture, business, education, computer science, STEM, nursing, allied health and criminal justice. A list of eligible programs of study or majors can be found at pheaa.org/growpa.

Grant recipients will be required to work in Pennsylvania for 12 months for each year they receive the grant; failure to meet this requirement will result in the grant converting to a loan that must be repaid.

A student can receive a Grow PA Grant for a maximum of four academic years. Current recipients must reapply for the grant each year of those four years.

“We’re thrilled with the immediate success of the Grow PA Grant Program,” said Senator Wayne D. Fontana, PHEAA Board Chairman. “This program ensures that students remain in Pennsylvania after graduation, sharing their education, talents and skills in occupations that are most in demand. The future of this Commonwealth depends upon it.”

“Grow PA takes a student-first approach to meeting the future needs of Pennsylvania’s workforce and sets us on a path to finally reverse the commonwealth’s decades of economic and demographic decline,” said Senator Scott Martin, who authored the law creating the Grow PA Grant Program last year. “This program tells students that we’re willing to invest in their future if they’re willing to stay here and work here after graduation in the occupations our communities need most. I am grateful to PHEAA for their hard work in administering this program and helping create a future for thousands of young people that involves more career opportunities and less student debt.”

“PHEAA proudly administers the Grow PA Grant Program for the Commonwealth,” said James Steeley, PHEAA president and CEO. “In just its first year, it was amply demonstrated just how receptive students are to the program and its benefits. We’re pleased that nearly 5,700 students already will be sharing their talents and skills within Pennsylvania after graduation and strengthening our future.”

About PHEAA

The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) was created by the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 1963 to provide affordable access to higher education for Pennsylvania students and families. Through the years, PHEAA has evolved into one of the nation’s leading providers of student financial aid services, including the Commonwealth’s first state-based student loan program — PA Forward Student Loans. PHEAA also serves millions of students through its loan guarantee, loan servicing, financial aid processing and other programs.