PHEAA Extends Grant Program to Online Students

Since 2000, state higher education grant recipients were limited to taking no more than 50 percent of their courses online to avoid putting their grants in jeopardy by not qualifying for assistance from the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA).  This restriction was recently changed through the approval of the Distance Education Pilot Program which will allow students enrolled in any amount of online courses to be eligible for state grants under PHEAA. 

Beginning in the 2013-14 school year, full-time and part-time students who attend public and private institutions in Pennsylvania that offer two-and four-year academic degrees will be eligible to apply for distance learning grants.  This includes all 14 state-owned and the four state-supported schools. This pilot program is currently scheduled to run until 2018 at which time the program will be reevaluated for success and viability.   

Colleges and universities have until September 15th to sign up with PHEAA to be part of the pilot program. Only students from these approved institutions will be eligible for the grants, which average $3,127, with the maximum amount being $4,363.  PHEAA estimates that over 157,000 students will receive some state aid during this upcoming school year.

For students, the criteria for obtaining state aid for online classes is the same as for traditional classroom courses and will be based on the income level of the individual and their family.  Students will not have to complete additional forms.  However, it is up to the student to find out if their institution of higher education will be participating in the Distance Education program for this upcoming school year. 

There are a growing number of nontraditional students enrolled in our state colleges and universities who have other responsibilities such as full-time jobs or families. By lifting the cap on online courses, more individuals will be eligible for financial aid.  This grant money can open up a whole new world of opportunities for students.  For example, of the 484 degree programs offered from the 14 state-owned universities, more than 100 can be completed through distance education. 

With today’s economy and job market, Pennsylvania’s policies should be focusing on giving students the tools to assist them to better their careers and preparing them for the job market verses clinging onto educational models of the past which have created a society of massive student debt. 

Online learning has become an effective delivery tool for some students and provides real-world experiences.  In fact, online learning is the fastest-growing segment of students.  With passage of this pilot program, Pennsylvania will no longer discriminate against nontraditional learners who are trying to further their degree.  In this digital world, we should be encouraging, not discouraging technology use and online courses will help play a role in affordable higher education.