West Montgomery Times

College students and individuals seeking career training in high-demand fields can now apply for the Grow PA Scholarship Grant Program. The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) is managing the program, as announced by Sen. Tracy Pennycuick.

The program provides grants of up to $5,000 annually for in-state students pursuing degrees or certifications in in-demand occupations. Applicants must commit to living and working in Pennsylvania post-graduation to qualify.

Recipients are required to reside and work in Pennsylvania for 12 months per year they receive the grant. Non-compliance will result in the grant converting into a repayable loan.

“There are good-paying, in-demand jobs going unfilled in the commonwealth and young citizens looking for a reason to study, work and live here,” Pennycuick stated. “This is a great opportunity to meet these two needs in a way that helps halt Pennsylvania’s demographic decline and all the problems that brings.”

Eligible courses include agriculture, computer science, business, education, special education, STEM education, engineering, nursing, allied health, criminal justice, among others approved by PHEAA.

The grants were enabled through Grow PA legislation passed by the Senate last year. This included a measure sponsored by Pennycuick aimed at expanding the Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver Program nationwide for children attending Pennsylvania System of State of Higher Education (PASSHE) schools. Currently, foster care children and those adopted within Pennsylvania qualify for financial aid and tuition waivers.

Although not passed by the House of Representatives previously, Pennycuick plans to reintroduce this measure this year.

Applications for the 2025-26 program are available at pheaa.org on a first-come-first-served basis; early application is encouraged.

In addition to benefiting local students through Grow PA Grant Program, there is also an initiative for out-of-state students. The Grow PA Tuition Waiver Program allows eligible non-resident PASSHE students pursuing high-demand occupations to pay tuition at an in-state rate instead of an out-of-state rate. Graduates must fulfill residency requirements similar to those under the scholarship grant program.

Further information on the Grow PA Tuition Waiver Program can be found online.