Student Aid
Managing Your Aid
Learn what steps to take to manage the financial aid process at Penn State.
Aid Offers and Fall Billing
2026-27 Aid Offers: Aid Offers are available for current undergraduate and graduate students in LionPATH.
2026-27 PA State Grants Update: We have added Fall 2026 & Spring 2027 PA State Grant awards (awards approved by PHEAA as of July 13, 2026) to student accounts. We have not reviewed grants for campus location, completed credits, etc., which may change your final award amount. PHEAA is not yet sending regular transmissions for 2026-27, so if you were approved on or after July 13, we do not yet have your grant information. Log into your GrantUs account for updates regarding your PA State Grant.
2026-27 Direct Loan Originations: Fall loan originations are failing. Your direct loan will not show as anticipated aid on your Fall Account Statement in LionPATH until we can resolve the situation. Monitor LionPATH and check back for updates!
Steps To Managing Your Aid
After submitting a FAFSA, there are several steps that you will need to take in order for your financial aid to process, show as a credit on your Student Account Statement, and to disburse into your student financial account.
You will manage your Financial Aid at Penn State by accessing your LionPATH Account, Federal Student Aid, and for PA State grant, the GrantUs system.
Understanding Your Offer
Your financial aid notification will provide you with instructions on how to access your Financial Aid Offer, which will list all of the student financial aid (Scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans) for which you qualify, based on your eligibility.
Paying Your Bill
For instructions and information on disbursement of financial aid, tuition due dates, how to access and pay your statement, and manage your refunds with the Office of the Bursar.
Why Aid Is On Hold
There may be several reasons why your aid is on hold and funds have not disbursed into your student financial account. Monitor your LionPATH Student Home Base for notifications regarding your Financial Aid.
Special Or Unusual Circumstances
When you submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you are required to enter income information from two years prior to the current year. If your family’s financial situation has changed in a subsequent completed tax year, you may be eligible for additional financial aid through a special circumstance evaluation.
Accepting Or Declining Aid
After you accept your offer of admission to Penn State and pay the required fees, you will need to accept, decline, or decrease your financial aid (loans and work-study only). We will activate this option in LionPATH after the May 1 acceptance deadline for new students. For returning students, you can accept your financial aid once it has been offered.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Process
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is a set of rules regulating your eligibility for federal financial aid. All students are monitored for GPA, attempted versus completed credits, and time to degree completion.