Admissions and Student Aid Timeline
- August 1
- Penn State application available
- October 1
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Opens
- To view steps on how to complete the FAFSA, click here!
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Opens
- December 1
- Recommended FAFSA filing date
- Early February
- First-Year student aid award notification begins
- May 1
- The desired date to accept an offer of admission.
- June
- Returning student aid award notification begins
Who Should Apply?
Any student interested in being considered for loans, grants, scholarships, or work-study. Only United States citizens or permanent residents are eligible to apply for financial aid.
How Should You Apply?
- Apply to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for federal and state aid consideration.
- Submit FAFSA to our university:
- Pennsylvania State University (The)
- SCHOOL TYPE: PUBLIC, PRIMARILY 4-YEAR
- Federal School Code
- 003329*
- *IMPORTANT: Only use the school code 003329, even if the form lists options for individual Penn State campuses.
- Complete the state grant application at http://www.pheaa.org/, if you are a Pennsylvania residents.
- More specific information for transfer students is available.
When Should You Apply?
Students should submit the FAFSA as soon as it becomes available for maximum consideration of student aid programs. The FAFSA is typically available beginning October 1 of the year prior to which you plan to enroll. Because there are major updates coming to the 2024-2025 FAFSA, the application will not be available until December 2023.
Recommended Submission Dates
For maximum consideration of financial aid, we recommend that you submit your 2024-2025 FAFSA by the following dates:
- January 2024 (Date to be determined) for all students who are new to Penn State
- April 15, 2024 for all students returning to Penn State
- May 1, 2024 for Pennsylvania residents who are interested in applying for the Pennsylvania State Grant*
*If you are a resident of a state other than Pennsylvania, please verify if you are eligible for a state grant and what your deadline is with your own state grant agency.
Mid-year Transfer students (applying for spring or summer semester) should add Penn State to their FAFSA at the time they submit their application for admission.
Why Should You Apply?
- It helps determine a student's eligibility for grants and aid for all income levels!
- It opens up opportunities for special scholarships that our campus can award to our New Kensington students!
- You are offered federal subsidized and unsubsidized loans and can apply for Parent Plus Loans, which can be very affordable alternatives to other types of loans!
- Why You should Fill Out the FAFSA (even if you think it's a waste of time)
Are there requirements to maintain my federal aid?
Yes, Penn State's Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy outlines the Federal regulations we must follow to monitor student progression toward completion of degree and certificate programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree levels. Read the University's Satisfactory Academic Progress Standard for details, including what programs it impacts, how it is monitored, and how it affects aid eligibility.
For additional information
Penn State Office of Student Aid website
Action Steps for Financial Aid
