Student Aid
Types of Aid
Explore the types of financial aid available to fund your Penn State education.
Know Your Options
There are a variety of options to pay for your Penn State degree, including scholarships, grants, work-study positions, and loans. Penn State participates in all the major federal and state student aid programs. Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for consideration.
Scholarships
Scholarships are a form of gift aid that does not need to be re-paid and are awarded on the basis of merit and/or financial need as defined by the specific scholarship program.
Grants
Typically awarded to students with demonstrated financial need, grants do not need to be repaid. View information and resources for Federal, Pennsylvania State, Institutional, and out-of-state grant programs.
Student Employment
There are many employment opportunities offering part-time, hourly positions in and around the University. Start here for resources to support your employment search.
Federal Work-Study
Federal Work-Study allows you to earn money to help cover non-billable educational expenses by working within your college or campus, University office, or at an off-campus, nonprofit organization.
Loans
Loans are a form of financial aid that must be paid back. Loans for college come in many forms, including different types of federal, institutional and private loans. Loan terms and repayment options vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Apply for as many scholarship opportunities as possible. They are often available through private companies, nonprofit organizations, local businesses, community organizations, churches, or social organizations.
Try these free sources of information about scholarships:
A high school or TRIO counselor the U.S. Department of Labor’s FREE scholarship search tool
Your state grant agency
Your library’s reference section foundations, religious or community organizations, local businesses, or civic groups organizations (including professional associations) related to your field of interest ethnicity-based organizations your employer or your parents’ employers Fastweb Unigo.
More information on scholarships from Office of Financial Aid
Don’t ever pay for a scholarship search!
Contact the Graduate School.
Federal student loans, such as the Federal Direct Loan and the Parent PLUS Loan, generally have more favorable terms and conditions than private loans. We recommend using all federal loan eligibility before turning to private loans.
The Direct Parent PLUS loan is a federal loan available to the parents of dependent undergraduate students. The Direct Parent PLUS Loan offers flexible loan limits and a fixed 8.05% interest rate for the 2023-24 school year and 9.08% interest rate for the 2024-25 school year. Eligibility is determined by the applicants credit history.
Private alternative loans are managed through private lenders, issued in the student’s name, and require a co-signer. Eligibility, rates, terms, and conditions vary. Loan applications for Fall/Spring will be available at studentloans.gov on July 1.
An offer of Federal Work Study does not guarantee a job position is available. Penn State offers work-study positions both on-campus and off-campus. Typical offer is $3,500 for undergraduates and $4,000 for graduate students. Federal work study funds are applicable only to the term in which they are offered. Any funding not earned cannot be deferred or applied to a subsequent academic term. Work study must be accepted and students must complete all onboarding tasks prior to earning. Student earnings are directly-deposited into their bank accounts - not reflected in their Bursar account. Earning totals are reflected in LionPATH. Notifications are sent to STUDENTS at 50% and 75%, and after each pay-period beyond that. Increases can be requested - pending eligibility review and funding availability. If you were not offered work-study and are interested, please contact the Office of Student Aid to request a review
Visit the page to learn about Penn State's scholarship and award opportunities.
The Office of Student Aid provides an overview of available .