PA Postsecondary Educational Gratuity Program

Award Amount
Application deadline
Awarded By:

Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency

Number of Awards & Eligibility: The number of awards offered varies annually depending on the number of eligible students. In the 2013-2014 academic year (the most recent year for which data is available), there were 11 awards disbursed.
In order to qualify, students must meet the following criteria:
  1. This award is for U.S. students.
  2. Must be a resident of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
  3. Must be the child by birth or adoption of a deceased police officer, firefighter, rescue or ambulance squad member, correction employee or an active National Guard member who died after Jan. 1, 1976 as a direct result of performing his/her official duties; OR be tbe child by birth or adoption of a deceased sheriff, deputy sheriff, National Guard member or certain other individual who was on federal or state active military duty who died since Sept. 11, 2001, as a direct result of performing his/her official duties.
  4. Must be 25 years of age or younger at time of application for the program.
  5. Must enroll full time.
  6. Must be a U.S. citizen.
  7. Must be enrolled at an eligible Pennsylvania community college, state-owned institution, or state-related institution. A list of eligible institutions is available on the application.
  8. Must be enrolled or plan to enroll in an undergraduate degree program.

In order to qualify, students must meet the following criteria:

Description: This award is available for Pennsylvania resident undergraduate students who are enrolled at a public Pennsylvania college. Students must be 25 years of age or younger, and be the child, by birth or adoption, of a deceased public service officer, National Guard member, or other military member who died in the performance of duty.

Application requirements for the PA Postsecondary Educational Gratuity Program are:

  • Application form
  • Certified birth/adoption cert.
  • Verif. of fin. aid
Additional Information: This program honors individuals who lost their lives protecting the citizens of Pennsylvania by helping their children fund their education. Applicants must have already applied for available scholarships, as well as state and federal grants.

Award Amount: Eligible students receive waivers that cover the expenses for tuition, fees, and on-campus room and board costs charged by public postsecondary institutions. This waiver applies only to charges that remain after all other grants (federal, state, and outside scholarships) have been applied. Awards may be renewed for up to four additional years, recipients must re-apply each year.  The total dollars awarded for this scholarship is $12,603.

Deadline Information:

Deadline for this scholarship is Sunday, March 31

Deadline Information:

Deadline for this scholarship is Sunday, March 31

Applications are available on the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) website. In addition to a completed application, the student must also submit a certified birth or adoption certificate (i.e., one with a raised seal), and provide a letter of admission and documentation showing the student applied for financial aid to the postsecondary institution. Applications must be received by PHEAA by March 31 of the academic year for which enrollment is planned.
About Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency:
Contact Information: Chad Smith, Postsecondary Educational Gratuity Program
Address: State Grants and Special Programs P.O. Box 8157 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17105-8157

Save time. Let us search for you.

Narrow down over 1,000,000 scholarships with personalized results.

Get matched to scholarships that are perfect for you!

Start Your Search