Marywood University participates in a wide range of Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) programs that support students through grants, scholarships, and service-based tuition benefits.
PA State Grant Program
The Pennsylvania State Grant Program, administered by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), provides need-based financial aid to eligible Pennsylvania residents pursuing undergraduate study.
Eligibility Requirements
Deadline: May 1, 2025
- Be a Pennsylvania resident for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the application deadline.
- Demonstrate financial need through the FAFSA and the PA State Grant Form.
- Be enrolled at least half-time in an eligible degree or certificate program.
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by PHEAA.
- Hold a high school diploma, GED, or recognized equivalent.
- Some students may be asked to provide high school completion documentation through the High School Form.
- Not already possess a bachelor’s degree.
- Not be in default on federal or state loans and not owe grant overpayments.
Active Volunteer Tuition & Loan Assistance Program
The Active Volunteer Tuition & Loan Assistance Program was established under Act 22 of 2022 to support Pennsylvania’s volunteer fire and emergency medical service (EMS) organizations. The program offers tuition or loan assistance to eligible active volunteers who commit to serving an additional five years after completing their academic program.
Eligibility Requirements
Deadline: May 1st of the current academic year
To qualify, applicants must:
- Be a resident of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
- Be enrolled in a degree- or certificate-granting program at an approved Pennsylvania institution. Graduate and doctoral students are also eligible.
- Serve as an active volunteer in good standing with a Pennsylvania volunteer fire company or EMS agency.
- Meet participation requirements for one year prior to applying. Participation activities may include training, drills, calls, administrative or operational support, fundraising, or similar service.
- Standard active status: Participation in 30% of all sponsored volunteer company activities.
- Student active status: Participation in 15% of all sponsored volunteer company activities.
Funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and are paid directly to the institution.
PA Blind or Deaf Higher Education Beneficiary Grant (BDBG)
The Blind or Deaf Higher Education Beneficiary Grant (BDBG) is administered by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA). This program provides financial assistance from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to support blind and/or deaf students attending approved postsecondary institutions. The grant is designed to help remove financial barriers and ensure equitable access to higher education.
Eligibility Requirements
Deadline: March 31st of the current academic year
Students must:
- File the FAFSA for the academic year.
- Submit the annual BDBG application.
- Provide documentation of the impairment through either:
- Verification from the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), or
- A Medical Professional Certification Form.
- Be a Pennsylvania resident on first day of classes.
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress.
- Not be incarcerated.
- Not be in default on educational loans or owe a State Grant refund.
- Be enrolled at least half-time at an eligible institution.
Pennsylvania National Guard Education Programs (EAP & MFEP)
The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) and the Department of Military and Veteran Affairs (DMVA) jointly administer two major education benefits for Pennsylvania National Guard personnel and their families.
Educational Assistance Program (EAP)
EAP provides tuition benefits to eligible Pennsylvania National Guard service members.
Eligibility Requirements
Deadline: June 30th prior to the start of the academic year
- Sign a six-year service commitment with the Pennsylvania National Guard.
- Be enrolled full- or part-time in a degree- or certificate-granting program.
- Not receive an ROTC Line Scholarship (however, Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty and Dedicated National Guard Scholarships remain eligible).
- Not exceed ten full-time semesters of benefits.
First-time applicants must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN). Applications are submitted electronically via pheaa.org.
Military Family Education Program (MFEP)
MFEP provides tuition assistance and partial fee coverage to spouses and children of Pennsylvania National Guard members who commit to an additional six years of service.
Eligibility Requirements
Deadline: June 30th prior to the start of the academic year
- Benefits must be formally assigned to the family member by an eligible service member.
- The service member must meet all DMVA service criteria.
- Be enrolled full- or part-time in a degree- or certificate-granting program.
First-time applicants must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN). Applications are submitted electronically via pheaa.org.
**Marywood University proudly supports EAP/MFEP students and their families. As the only institution in Lackawanna County that provides 100% tuition coverage through these programs, Marywood remains uniquely committed to ensuring full access to higher education through the combined EAP/MFEP structure.**
PA Fostering Independence Through Education (FosterEd) Tuition Waiver
The FosterEd program provides tuition waivers for eligible students who are or were in foster care.
Eligibility Requirements
Deadline: May 1st of the current academic year
Students must:
- File the FAFSA and applicable PA State Grant forms.
- Be a Pennsylvania resident.
- Be under age 26 before July 1 of the applicable academic year.
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Be identified as a youth in foster care or discharged from foster care on or after attaining age 16, or have exited foster care on or after age 16 through adoption or permanent legal guardianship
- Be enrolled at least half-time in an undergraduate program at a Title IV–eligible Pennsylvania institution.
- Maintain federal satisfactory academic progress.
- Not be in default on federal loans or owe Title IV refunds.
- Apply for a Chafee Education & Training Grant by the deadline.
- Not exceed the five-year (10-semester) program maximum.
- Chafee Education & Training Grant (Chafee ETG)
The Chafee ETG program supports students who have aged out of foster care and are pursuing an undergraduate degree or eligible certificate program.
Eligibility Requirements
Deadline: March 31st of the current academic year
- File the FAFSA and submit the Chafee ETG application by the deadline.
- Be verified by DHS as having been in foster care at or after age 16.
- Be under age 26 before July 1 of the relevant academic year.
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Be enrolled at least half-time in a Title IV–approved institution and program.
Grow PA Scholarship Grant Program
The GROW PA Scholarship Program is a Pennsylvania-funded initiative designed to strengthen the state’s workforce in high-need fields while making college more affordable for Pennsylvania students. The program provides significant, renewable financial support to eligible undergraduate students who commit to studying and eventually working in designated high-demand occupations within the Commonwealth.
Created to address labor shortages and retain talent within Pennsylvania, the GROW PA Scholarship helps reduce financial barriers for students pursuing majors that directly contribute to the state’s economic development and public well-being.
Fields of Study / High-Need Occupations
Students may qualify for a GROW PA award if they enroll in an approved program tied to a Pennsylvania high-demand field. These typically include areas such as: Education, Healthcare. Public Safety, STEM and Technology, and Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. Exact eligible programs are determined by the state and may vary by year.
Eligibility Requirements
Deadline: April 15th of the current academic year
- File the FAFSA.
- Be a Pennsylvania resident and U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
- Submit the Grow PA application and MPN before the deadline.
- Not hold a bachelor’s degree.
- Enroll in an approved institution and high-demand program (based on CIP code).
- Not be in loan default or owe a State Grant refund.
- Not be incarcerated.
- Not exceed the maximum of four awards.
Awards are made on a first-come, first-served basis, with renewal students prioritized.
PA Partnerships for Access to Higher Education (PATH)
The PATH Program provides additional financial support to Pennsylvania students by matching eligible scholarships awarded by approved community partners. Administered by PHEAA, PATH is a need-based matching grant that enhances local scholarship efforts and expands access to higher education for students with documented financial need.
Students become eligible for PATH funding when they receive a qualifying scholarship from a participating PATH partner and meet PHEAA’s need-based criteria. Once nominated by the partner organization, PHEAA reviews the student’s eligibility and matches the scholarship amount dollar-for-dollar, up to program limits.
How Students Are Selected
Potential PATH recipients must be nominated by a participating PATH partner. These partners include community foundations, civic groups, nonprofit organizations, and scholarship funds, and they submit to PHEAA a list of their nominees along with the full academic-year scholarship amounts they intend to award.
Eligibility Requirements
FAFSA Deadline: May 1st prior to the start of the academic year
PATH Partner Nomination Deadline: September 30th of the current academic year
Students must:
- Be nominated by a participating PATH partner and receive a qualifying academic-year scholarship.
- Demonstrate unmet financial need: COA – SAI – all grants/scholarships = unmet need
- Meet PA State Grant requirements.
- Be enrolled at least half-time in an undergraduate degree program at a Pennsylvania institution.
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress.
- Not be incarcerated or in loan default.
When funding is limited, students with the greatest financial need are prioritized.
PA Ready to Succeed Scholarship (RTSS)
Under the traditional PA State Grant Program, many middle-income students do not meet the financial need component and are excluded from the opportunity to receive PA State Grant awards. Policymakers realize that many of these students could still benefit from financial assistance when pursuing higher education, as indicated by the high levels of student loan indebtedness they often face. In response to this issue, legislative officials in Pennsylvania created the merit-based RTSS program to target these middle-income students.
Eligibility Requirements
Deadline: FAFSA should be filed by May 1st prior to the start of the academic year
Students must:
- File the FAFSA early (awards made first-come, first-served).
- Meet all PA State Grant requirements except:
- Cumulative GPA must be 2.50 or higher (no rounding).
- Must have completed at least 24 credits before SAP review.
- Total family income must not exceed $175,000.
- Students receiving $2,001 or more in PA State Grant funds are not eligible.