HARRISBURG – Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R-46) is encouraging college students and individuals seeking career training programs in high-demand industries to apply now for the Grow PA Scholarship Grant Program through the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA).
The new program offers grants of up to $5,000 per year for in-state students who pursue a degree or certification for an in-demand occupation. To qualify for the grant, applicants must agree to live and work in Pennsylvania in that occupation after graduation.
Grant recipients will be required to live and 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.
Courses of study that qualify for the grant include agriculture, computer science, business, education, special education, STEM education, engineering, nursing, allied health, criminal justice and other programs as approved by PHEAA.
“These courses of study lead to family sustaining careers in industries with significant job openings. Pennsylvania students will be graduating with less debt and more motivation to stay in our state,” Bartolotta said. “By helping them, we’re helping everyone in the state as we’ll all benefit when they fill critical positions here instead of starting their professional lives elsewhere.”
Applications for the 2025-26 program are available now at pheaa.org/growpa. Grants will be awarded on a first come, first served basis, so applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
While the Grow PA Grant Program benefits Pennsylvania students, there is also a new program for out-of-state students. The Grow PA Tuition Waiver Program allows eligible non-resident PASSHE students pursuing in-demand occupations to pay tuition at an in-state rate rather than an out-of-state rate. Graduates must meet the same requirements to live and work in Pennsylvania after graduation to qualify for the in-state tuition rates.
For more details on the Grow PA Tuition Waiver Program, visit pheaa.org/growpawaiver.
CONTACT: Katrina Hanna, 717-787-1463