The Value of State-Specific Scholarships
In this article, we will list some of the most well-known Pennsylvania state scholarships.
As a modern college student, you need to be smarter about your finances. You should exhaust scholarship opportunities before applying for loans.
There are several types of scholarships, including national and state-specific scholarships. The latter, in this case, Pennsylvania state scholarships, are often more advantageous than the former as they have lesser competition, which increases your chances of getting chosen.
Featured Programs
Scholarships in Pennsylvania can be just as generous as those offered by national agencies/organizations. They also provide significant benefits, including:
- Lower tuition costs
- Increased access to higher education
- Less student debt
State-specific scholarships in PA can also be competitive. They have different eligibility requirements, from academic performance to financial need. You need to stand out (we will give you tips on this later).
In addition to scholarships, there are other Pennsylvania financial aid programs, which you can see by checking with the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA).
Are you ready? Let’s start exploring the most sought-after college scholarships for PA students in 2025. By the end, you will also learn how to search for scholarships that best suit your needs.
Related Articles:
- How to Find College Scholarships in Your State
- Top 10 Best Scholarships for College Students
- Unlocking Opportunities: Online Education Scholarships
Top State-Specific Scholarships in Pennsylvania
Black United Methodist Preachers Scholarship – Spring
- Award Amount: Varies
- Deadline: October 1, 2025
Black students are among the top receivers of financial aid among racial and ethnic minority groups. They still seem to experience a lot of financial burdens. To reduce the financial strain, the United Methodist offers several scholarship programs for black student members in eastern Pennsylvania. This is one of the leading Pennsylvania tuition assistance offered to black full-time undergraduate students.
Who Can Apply?
- Members of the United Methodist Church
- High school seniors or undergraduate students
- Seeking an associate or bachelor’s degree
- Full-time students
- Minimum 2.50 GPA
- Participation in church activities, community service, or leadership
Submit your application through the United Methodist Church-Eastern Pennsylvania Conference.
Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Merit Scholarship
- Award Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: October 1, 2025
If you’re a non-black student and a member of the United Methodist Church in eastern Pennsylvania, this program might just be for you. It is one of the top merit scholarships in Pennsylvania for graduate students in the area. However, it is exclusively designed for students currently or planning to study full-time.
Who Can Apply?
- Members of the Methodist Church
- College seniors or graduate students
- Seeking a graduate degree
- Full-time students
- Minimum 2.50 GPA
- Participation in church activities, community service, or leadership
Apply through the United Methodist Church-Eastern Pennsylvania Conference.
Women’s Health Advocacy Scholarship
- Award Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: August 23, 2025
Many studies have shown that women experience more health issues than men. Yet, they continue to face several problems (inequalities) in accessing areas of healthcare. This Women’s Health Advocacy Scholarship is not only here to extend financial support to women but also to empower them to:
- raise awareness
- advocate for change
- contribute to a future where all women have access to quality healthcare
It is one of the most applied for scholarships among Hispanic and Latino communities.
Who Can Apply?
- Members of the Latino Medical Student Association
- Undergraduate or graduate students
- Seeking a bachelor’s or graduate degree
- Studying health sciences
- Completed a project enhancing women’s healthcare through advocacy, research, education, or community service
- Hispanic or Latino
Apply to the Latino Medical Student Association-Northeast Region.
Morgan Stanley Richard B. Fisher Scholarship
- Award Amount: $15,000
- Deadline: June 3, 2025
This scholarship is not exclusively offered to PA students. However, because it is one of the most generously funded programs, a lot of PA students compete for it. The Richard B. Fisher Scholarship supports outstanding Black, Hispanic, Native American, Asian, and LGBT students. If chosen, you can receive up to $15,000 for your degree and be able to participate in a Summer Analyst Program with Morgan Stanley, which is a great avenue for enhancing your network.
Who Can Apply?
- College sophomores or juniors
- Seeking a bachelor’s degree
- Attending a school in the U.S.
- Minimum 3.00 GPA
- Part of a historically underserved population
- Willing to participate in the Summer Analyst Program with Morgan Stanley
Apply through Morgan Stanley.
The Pittsburgh Promise Scholarship
- Award Amount: $20,000
- Deadline: May 1, 2025
The Pittsburgh Promise Scholarship is one of the most suggested programs in 2025 for aspiring college students. It’s not just about giving out scholarships to help PA students lighten the financial load of a college degree but also to help them achieve more in the future.
In addition to cash gifts, this scholarship also provides the winners with free Promise Coaches to help them figure out the best career paths. They will also connect you with regional employers.
Who Can Apply?
- Residents of the City of Pittsburgh for at least four continuous years during high school
- Students who attended Pittsburgh Public Schools continuously from 9th grade through graduation
- Graduating high school seniors with a GPA of 2.5 (cumulative) or higher
- Students with a 90% attendance record
- Must enroll at an accredited college, university, or trade/technical school in Pennsylvania
Submit an application through The Pittsburgh Promise.
Chapman Urban Scholars Program (CUSP)
- Award Amount: $2,500
- Deadline: May 30, 2025
Students enrolled in public or charter high schools in Pittsburgh, PA, can pursue the Chapman Urban Scholars Program. It is one of the best need-based scholarships in Pennsylvania. It supports graduating seniors from these schools, helping them plan a better future for themselves and their families.
This program is exclusive only to those who plan on pursuing a bachelor’s degree in the sciences or social sciences. Yet, minority students may be given special consideration.
Who Can Apply?
- Minimum 2.7 GPA
- Graduating senior from:
- Pittsburgh Public Schools
- Pittsburgh public charter schools
- Seeking a bachelor’s degree in the sciences or social sciences
- Participate in community service
- Preference given to minority students
Submit an application through the POISE Foundation.
Pennsylvania Postsecondary Educational Gratuity Program
- Award Amount: Varies
- Deadline: March 31, 2025
The Pennsylvania Postsecondary Educational Gratuity Program is a unique type of financial program in the state. Instead of giving you cash, it will waive your tuition, fees, or room and board costs (some students are given waivers for everything). The waiver will be applied after all your other financial aid, such as federal, state, and external scholarships, has been applied to your student account. There is a condition, however: you need to be enrolled at a public college or university.
Who Can Apply?
- Pennsylvania residents
- Child by birth or adoption of a law enforcement professional, public safety worker, or National Guard member who died after January 1, 1976, or on 9/11, as a direct result of performing official duties
- 25 years old or younger
- Enrolled (full-time) in an associate or bachelor’s program at a Pennsylvania community college, state-owned, or state-related institution
- Must complete FAFSA
Submit an application through the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA).
Delmar Foundation Scholarships
- Award Amount: Up to $5,000
- Deadline: April 30, 2025
The Delmar Foundation offers scholarships of up to $5,000 per year for residents of the Franklin Regional School District in western Pennsylvania. These scholarships are for students who need financial assistance to attend an accredited four-year college, university, junior college, technical school, or trade school, whether full-time or part-time. As one of the top scholarships for Pennsylvania high school senior students, this is available to everyone, regardless of race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin.
Who Can Apply?
- Residents of the Franklin Regional School District (Westmoreland County, PA) for at least one year
- U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident
- Demonstrate financial need
- High school seniors, GED holders, or current college students
- Enrolled part- or full-time in an accredited college, junior college, technical college, university, or trade school.
- Minimum 2.5 GPA for high school seniors, 2.75 GPA for college freshmen, and 3.0 GPA for college sophomores/juniors
- Must have participated in extracurricular activities, volunteer work, or employment
Submit an application through the Delmar Foundation, including proof of residency, GPA, and financial need documentation.
How to Apply for Pennsylvania State Scholarships
It’s time to learn how to navigate the application process. Here’s a straightforward guideline on how to apply for Pennsylvania scholarships.
Applying for scholarships, even ones exclusive to Pennsylvania, may feel overwhelming. Remember that each scholarship program has its own unique process, requirements, and deadlines.
And even if you’ve already applied and won a certain scholarship previously, it is very important not to assume that the process now is the same as before. There’s always a high chance that the process has changed since you last applied.
Check the scholarship deadline.
Again, Pennsylvania scholarship deadlines vary greatly from program to program. Make sure you’re not too late to apply! If the deadline has passed, you can add the scholarship to your list of possible awards for next year. If the deadline is still approaching, go ahead and check the eligibility requirements.
However, before applying for any financial aid for Pennsylvania residents, confirm that you meet all the criteria. If you’re unsure, don’t hesitate to contact the scholarship provider—they’ll usually be happy to help. But try to reach out as early as possible since the scholarship team might get a lot of emails near the deadline.
Stay organized while applying.
In your spreadsheet, each scholarship should have its own row, and the columns could include the following:
- Deadline
- Essay requirements
- Letter of recommendation
- Official/unofficial transcript
- Portfolio
- Video
- Additional notes
What You’ll Need for Your Application
- Essay: This is your chance to show the scholarship committee who you are beyond your grades.
- Test Scores: You can either request that the SAT or ACT organization send your scores directly or print them out and submit them yourself.
- Transcript: Many scholarships will ask for your high school or college transcript. Make sure to send the right one—official or unofficial—based on the scholarship’s requirements. If you send the wrong type, it could cost you the scholarship.
- Letters of Recommendation: It’s important to ask for letters at least a few weeks in advance. If your teacher is popular or it’s a busy time like finals, give them as much notice as possible.
Additional Resources for Pennsylvania Students
One of the most frequently asked questions by students is, “Is there a tuition-free college in Pennsylvania?” The answer is no. All colleges and universities charge students tuition—that’s how they finance their operations, faculty, facilities, and other essential services.
However, if you were to ask if you can pursue college for free, then yes. If you qualify for Pennsylvania grants for college, you may be able to cover the majority, or even all, of your tuition costs.
The Pennsylvania State Grant Program is one of the most well-known PA higher education grants that provides financial aid to students who need it most. The PHEAA is tasked with managing the program in offering additional scholarships and grants to help ease the cost of education.
For private scholarships and grants, here are a few websites we recommend:
Final Tips: Take Advantage of Pennsylvania Scholarships
Apply for as many Pennsylvania state scholarships as you qualify for. The more you apply, the better your chances of reducing tuition costs. But remember, the key is “as you qualify for.” Only apply to scholarships that match your eligibility to improve your chances of success and to avoid wasting time.
Aside from scholarships, you should also seek more state-specific financial aid, such as grants and work-study programs. Loans are readily available but should be your last resort.