Student Aid
Managing Your Aid
Learn what steps to take to manage the financial aid process at Penn State.
2026-27 FAFSA Processing Delay
On April 26, 2026, Federal Student Aid (FSA) will implement updates to their systems to support changes the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), causing an interruption in the processing of 2026-27 FAFSA data. System updates will be required for LionPATH to accept the updated files. Processing is expected to resume in June, when LionPATH system updates are complete.
This will impact receipt of new and corrected 2026-27 FAFSA data including 2026-27 verification, special circumstance, and dependency override corrections and delay 2026-27 Aid Offers for first-time students.
2025-26 FAFSAs WILL NOT BE IMPACTED. Fall 2025, spring 2026, and summer 2026 awarding, verification, special circumstance and dependency reviews will continue to process as normal.
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.
Do You Require Assistance?
Penn State Enrollment Services Center
Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency
PA State Grant Program1-717-720-3786