West Chester, Pa (February 17, 2026) – Pennsylvania college students who attend school in-state and plan to live and work in the Commonwealth after graduation are invited to apply for up to $5,000 in student financial aid through the Grow PA Scholarship Grant Program, state Senator Carolyn Comitta announced.
Applications are now being accepted for the program, which aims to reverse the trend of young Pennsylvanians studying here before leaving to pursue job and career opportunities in other states.
Now in its second year, Grow PA supports eligible in-state students who agree to attend college in Pennsylvania, pursue a degree in an in-demand occupation, and work in that occupation in the Commonwealth after graduation.
“Pennsylvania is home to many colleges, universities, and institutes of higher learning that attract in-state students to in-demand fields and courses of study. With the Grow PA Scholarship Grant Program, it pays for them to stay in the Commonwealth after graduation,” said Comitta, who serves on the Senate Education Committee. “I encourage students to apply for the scholarship so they can develop their skills, build our workforce, strengthen our economy, and lead the next generation of innovative and successful Pennsylvanians.”
Last year, 5,700 students participating in one or more of the more than 460 eligible programs of study or majors were awarded a grant. The top programs of study in the first year of Grow PA included nursing, early childhood education, business administration and management, biological sciences, accounting, computer science, engineering, trades, agriculture, and criminal justice, and more.
Grant recipients are required to work in Pennsylvania for one year for each year they receive the grant. Failure to meet the requirements will result in the grant being converted to a loan that must be repaid.
A student can receive a Grow PA Grant for up to 4 academic years. Grant recipients must reapply each year, meaning applicants who received the grant last year must reapply to receive it again for the upcoming academic year.
Interested applicants must complete the 2026-2027 Grow PA Scholarship Grant Application and submit the completed form through a PHEAA Account Access profile on pheaa.org. Grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
The program was created through Act 89 of 2024, which Comitta voted for in the State Senate.
This year’s state budget added $7.5 million to Grow PA, enough to fund an estimated 1,500 additional students in the 2026-27 academic year.
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