Westmoreland Review

Senate leaders in Pennsylvania are urging students and those pursuing career training in high-demand fields to apply for the Grow PA Scholarship Grant Program. The initiative, facilitated by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), offers grants up to $5,000 annually for state residents seeking degrees or certifications in certain occupations.

To be eligible, applicants must commit to living and working in Pennsylvania in their chosen field after completing their education. The program requires recipients to remain in the state for 12 months per grant year received. Non-compliance results in the grant converting into a repayable loan.

Qualifying fields of study include agriculture, computer science, business, education, special education, STEM education, engineering, nursing, allied health, criminal justice, among others approved by PHEAA.

Applications for the 2025-26 academic year are now open at pheaa.org/growpa. Grants are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis; hence early application is advised.

Scott Martin, who authored the legislation for this program, stated: “The Grow PA program was developed with the goal of reversing Pennsylvania’s decades of economic and demographic decline with young people fleeing the state for better educational and job opportunities.” He emphasized that this initiative shows a commitment to investing in young people's futures if they choose to stay and work within the state.

Joe Pittman remarked: “The launch of Grow PA is an exciting step forward for increasing access to postsecondary educational opportunities, empowering tens of thousands of students.” He highlighted that attracting and retaining students will bolster Pennsylvania's workforce strength.

Additionally, there is a new initiative aimed at out-of-state students called the Grow PA Tuition Waiver Program. This allows non-resident PASSHE students enrolled in high-demand courses to pay tuition fees at an in-state rate if they agree to live and work in Pennsylvania post-graduation.

Further information about the Grow PA Tuition Waiver Program can be found at pheaa.org/growpawaiver.