Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) today reminded students they must submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before June 1 to claim state financial aid.
“It is imperative that students planning to attend college next year fill out the FAFSA to ensure they aren’t leaving money on the table,” said PDE Secretary Dr. Khalid N. Mumin. “Thousands of dollars in aid are available to help students pursue postsecondary education without taking on unnecessary debt, and the key is submitting an application for free student aid before June 1.”
FAFSA is the sole gateway to all federal, state, and most institutional financial aid in Pennsylvania, including student loans available for all income levels. The FAFSA form allows students to request federal grants, work-study funds, and loans, all in one application. This year, students can access up to $5,750 in aid by filling out the form, and toolkits and resources are available online for counselors and partners, students and parents, and college access practitioners.
FAFSA completion nationwide is at crisis-low levels due to delays in the application release and subsequent processing and data errors, which is why it is now more important than ever for Pennsylvania to lend support to postsecondary students.
The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) extended the deadline for FAFSA completion for state financial aid to June 1. In order to be considered for a PA State Grant, students must submit a completed FAFSA form before June 1.
Earlier this year, Governor Josh Shapiro announced the blueprint for higher education—a plan that dramatically increases funding for state colleges and universities, unites them under a new governance structure, and ensures a higher education is affordable for all.
Gov. Shapiro’s 2024-25 budget proposal invests $975 million in community colleges and PASSHE universities, a 15 percent increase in the amount of funding those institutions received last year. In addition, next year, the Governor will call for an investment to make higher education more affordable by ensuring students from families making up to the median income will pay no more than $1,000 in tuition and fees per semester at state-owned universities and community colleges. Furthermore, to help students attending state-related universities and independent colleges, Governor Shapiro’s plan will increase PHEAA state grants for students from families making up to the median income by $1,000.
For more information on the Pennsylvania Department of Education, please visit the website or follow PDE on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or Pinterest.
MEDIA CONTACT: Casey Smith, casesmith@pa.gov
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