PA Blind or Deaf Higher Education Beneficiary Grant (BDBG)
Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA)
Open now · due March 31, 2027Renews each year
Up to $500 a year for Pennsylvania students who are blind or deaf.
- How much
- up to $500 per academic year
- Who qualifies
- Only some students qualify. The official page explains who.
- Pennsylvania resident; documentation from OVR or a physician; at least half-time enrollment and satisfactory academic progress.
- For undergrads, grad students
- When to apply
- Open now · due March 31, 2027 Annual; application typically available in April; 2026-27 application due March 31, 2027. Funds are first-come, first-served.
- How to apply
- Download and complete the BDBG Application
- Include a letter from the PA Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) or the Medical Professional Certification on the application's last page
- File the FAFSA
- Mail (PHEAA, PA State Grant and Special Programs, P.O
- Box 8157, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8157) or fax (717-720-3786) by the deadline
- What you'll need
- FAFSA + state application
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (pheaa.org) and page 2
The details
State grant for blind or deaf undergraduate or graduate students. Maximum $500 per academic year; can replace the Student Aid Index but cannot exceed cost of attendance. First-come, first-served. Renewable each year (renewal applicants don't resubmit OVR/medical documentation).
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.