The PA State Grant Program considers full-time status as at least 12 credits in a semester and half-time status as at least 6 credits in a semester. Only credits that count as part of the student’s current program of study count towards the enrollment status used to determine eligibility. Enrollment status can also be impacted by individual courses. Please read the information on "Remedial Exception" and "Online and Hybrid Courses" (below).

PA State Grant Program defines a semester length at a minimum of 15 weeks long (consecutive); therefore, the following types of enrollment DO NOT qualify for a PA State Grant:

• Enrollment in only one 7 week term
• Enrollment in any non-credit programs
• Enrollment in only a certificate program
• Enrollment in Culinary Arts program courses that do not span the entire traditional semester length

Students enrolled in a combination of 15-week and 7-week term enrollment meet PHEAA’s semester length; however, if enrolled in the 7-week II term that begins mid-way through the semester, the College is required to delay the disbursement of the PA State grant until the first day of the later course.

If a student is taking remedial (developmental) or ESL (English as a Second Language) courses, the student must also take at least 3 regular degree credits in a semester to be considered for a PA State Grant. A student is only eligible to receive this type of combined credit payment (remedial exception) for 2 full-time or 4 part-time semesters. After a student has received the maximum number of remedial exceptions, only regular degree credits can be used when determining enrollment status for additional State grants.

To be considered for a PA State Grant a student must meet the PA State Grant program academic progress requirement. This requirement applies to students who received a State grant in a prior academic year. If a student received a State grant at a different college, an academic transcript from that college is required to confirm that academic progress was met. For the most recent year a State grant was received, a student must successfully complete at least 12 credits for each full-time grant and/or 6 credits for each part-time grant. For example, if a student received two full-time State grants in the prior year (Fall and Spring semesters), The PA State Grant Program requires the student to have successfully completed at least 24 credits in order to be eligible for a State grant in the current year.

A change in enrollment status can affect a student's eligibility for a PA State grant. The following are some examples of enrollment changes that may result in an adjustment to a student's State grant during a semester.

The College will perform periodic reviews of student's enrollment to ensure they have not withdrawn or stopped attending courses during and after the semester concludes. When the Financial Aid Office is notified that a student has withdrawn from courses or stopped attending, the student’s PA State Grant eligibility will be reviewed and adjusted accordingly.

Reduced Charges:  If your cost of tuition and fees is reduced/cancelled due to withdrawal, tuition forgiveness, or non-attendance, the amount of PA State Grant you have been awarded may be adjusted.  In these cases, you may owe the College for the amount that is returned to PHEAA.

• Drop from full-time to half-time
• Drop from half-time to less-than-half-time
• Official Withdrawal
• Switching from a regular degree course to one that is remedial or ESL
• Unofficial Withdrawal (stop attending classes)

The Summer PA State Grant requires a separate application to be submitted between mid-March and the August 15 deadline for the current year’s summer term.

In addition to all other eligibility criteria noted above, you must be registered in at least 6 credits during the summer in a period of enrollment that’s at least 5 weeks in length (does not need to be consecutive) to be considered. The PA State Grant Program also requires MCCC to withhold applying a Summer State Grant to a student's account until after the first day of the summer II term.

The SLRN Program will benefit nurses who have worked and continue to work tirelessly to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals eligible to participate in the SLRN Program are residents of the Commonwealth and licensed by the PA Department of State to work as an eligible nurse at a qualified nursing facility within the Commonwealth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Qualified SLRN applicants could be selected to receive student loan relief of up to $2,500 for each year of work (beginning with 2020) for no more than 3 years, with a maximum benefit of $7,500.

Learn more and apply.

This state-funded program provides financial assistance to blind or deaf students attending Montgomery County Community College.

View eligibility requirements and access the application.

Beginning with the fall 2020 semester, the Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver Program provides a waiver for tuition and mandatory fees for students who are or were in foster care. This waiver applies only to charges that remain after all other gift aid (federal, state, and other scholarships or grants) have been applied to the student’s account.

View eligibility requirements and access the application.

Direct questions to:
James Symanek
Coordinator of Scholarships, Outreach, and Special Programs, Financial Aid
610-718-1846
jsymanek@mc3.edu

This federally funded program offers grants to Pennsylvania students aging out of foster care.

View eligibility requirements and access the application.

The Pennsylvania Targeted Industry Program (PA-TIP) provides grant funding to eligible students enrolled in the following certificate programs at Montgomery County Community College:

• Medical Assisting
• Medical Office Assistant
• Medical Coding

Note: Students who have completed a bachelor's or graduate degree are eligible to apply for a PA-TIP award.

View eligibility requirements and access the application.

PEGP honors individuals who lost their lives protecting the citizens of Pennsylvania by helping their children fund their education by providing a waiver for tuition and fees. This waiver applies only to charges that remain after all other grants (federal, state, and outside scholarships) have been applied to the student’s account.

View eligibility requirements and access the application.