Deadline to apply for financial aid is May 1

WEST CHESTER » State Sen. Andy Dinniman, D-19, is reminding Pennsylvania students and families that the deadline for most collegebound students to apply for the 2018-19 Pennsylvania State Grant for the upcoming school year is May 1.

“Many Pennsylvania students rely on financial assistance to receive a college education, so I encourage them to take the necessary steps to apply for state grant aid now, before it’s too late,” Dinniman said. “This is an opportunity that should not be missed.”

The May 1 deadline applies to all renewal applicants and first-time applicants who plan to enroll in colleges, universities, or a college transfer program at two-year public or private colleges (except community colleges and designated Pennsylvania Open Admission institutions).

For students seeking state grant aid for the first time who plan to enroll in a community college, business, trade, or technical school, a hospital school of nursing, a designated Pennsylvania Open Admission institution, or a non-transferable two-year degree program at a community, two-year or four-year college, the application deadline is Aug. 1.

To apply for a PA State Grant, applicants must first complete the 2018-19 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Applicants can access this form online at PHEAA.org/FAFSA or fafsa.gov. Completing the FAFSA online saves time and reduces application and processing errors.