PA Active Volunteer Tuition & Loan Assistance Program
Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA)
$1,000 a year (full-time) or $500 (part-time) for active Pennsylvania volunteer firefighters and EMS members.
- How much
- $1,000 per academic year full-time; $500 less-than-full-time
- Who qualifies
- Active volunteer in a Pennsylvania volunteer fire company or emergency medical services agency
- Pennsylvania resident; 1 year of active participation before applying; agree to a 5-year volunteer service commitment or repay.
- For undergrads, grad students, trade school students, adults going back to school
- When to apply
- Open now · due May 1, 2027 Annual; 2026-27 applications and MPNs due May 1, 2027; awarded first-come, first-served by receipt date.
- How to apply
- Submit the 2026-27 Active Volunteer Tuition and Loan Assistance Application (your fire/EMS company completes a certification section) plus the Master Promissory Note to PHEAA
- What you'll need
- state application + membership
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (pheaa.org) and page 2
The details
For active, in-good-standing volunteers at a PA volunteer fire company or EMS agency who met participation requirements for the year before applying (30% of company activities, or 15% if a student). Usable for degree, certificate or career-training programs, including graduate and doctoral study, at approved PA schools. Recipients sign a Master Promissory Note committing to 5 years with a volunteer organization, or repay. First-come, first-served until funds run out. FAFSA not required.
More money from Pennsylvania
- PA Targeted Industry Program (PA-TIP)up to $6,000 (currently), or unmet need if less
- Pennsylvania State Grantup to $6,000 per year (2026-27 maximum)
- PA Ready to Succeed Scholarship (RTSS)up to $3,000 full-time / $1,500 part-time in total RTSS + PA State Grant awards (2026-27); minimum $500
- Pennsylvania Internship Program (PIP) at The Washington Center$4,000-$11,000 per term depending on school type and term (anticipated 2027); short-term programs up to $2,500
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, West Virginia
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.