Javascript Required

The browser you are currently using has Javascript turned off. Features within pheaa.org depend on javascipt to be fully functional.

Scam Alert!

Phone and text scams are currently underway targeting Erie residents and possibly other Pennsylvania residents offering “Pennsylvania Loan Forgiveness”. If you are contacted from someone stating:

“We are reaching out to you because your student loan has been flagged for the Pennsylvania forgiveness program. You are eligible to receive full forgiveness. This applies to all Pennsylvania residents. Please call our office back at (717) 573-8721 to be connected to your loan counselor. Again, that number is (717) 573-8721. Thank you.”

This is a scam! You should contact your loan servicer directly for any questions about legitimate loan forgiveness programs. Additionally, if you have been contacted about a loan forgiveness scam, a complaint may be filed with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.

2025-26 PA State Grant Update

The first step to apply for the 2025-26 PA State Grant is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®) at StudentAid.gov. The FAFSA must be submitted by the deadline in order to be eligible for a PA State Grant.

Once you submit the FAFSA, PHEAA will trigger the next step in the PA State Grant process. Renewal students shouldn't have any other actions to take. First-time applicants must complete additional forms; we will email you when it's time to sign in and supply the needed information. We will let students and schools know when we send these emails by updating our website and social media channels. Follow PHEAA for continued updates.

Apply Now!

or call 1-844-PAFORWD

5 Steps to Financial Aid

Try to get "free" financial aid first. Free financial aid is the type of aid that you do not need to repay.

Unfortunately, free financial aid usually doesn't cover 100% of your costs. And you may need to find other ways to pay for college, including taking out low-cost loans and using any money you may have saved. Alternative sources are also an option but use them only as a last resort. Take time to understand all the ways you can pay for college.

If you include more than one college on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®), you will receive one financial aid offer from each of those schools. These offers will likely contain a combination of free aid and low-cost loans. Evaluate each