Grants and Scholarships

PHEAA State Grant
Pennsylvania State Grants are awarded by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) to eligible Pennsylvania residents pursuing their first undergraduate degree. Students must complete the FAFSA prior to May 1st to be eligible.

Federal Pell Grant
Federal Pell Grants are determined by the Department of Education based upon demonstrated financial need and full or part-time enrollment at Thaddeus Stevens College. Students must be working on their first undergraduate degree, and must complete a FAFSA.

Stevens Grant
As part of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology’s mission the College has provided the Thaddeus Stevens Legacy grant to afford financially disadvantaged students an education at no cost.  Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology's Board of Trustees recently changed the name of this award to more accurately reflect the purpose of the award. The new name of the award is “Stevens Grant”. The same criteria to become eligible for the “Stevens Grant” and the costs that the “Stevens Grant” covers, remains the same

The Stevens Grant assists those students that are financially disadvantaged. To be eligible, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Those that qualify for the Federal Pell Grant will be awarded the Stevens Grant. Students may receive the Stevens Grant for a maximum of 4 semesters. Students that are admitted to the college as a developmental student, may receive the Stevens Grant for a maximum of 6 semesters. Resident students who receive this award will have the following charges; Tuition, Room, and a 7-day meal plan. All Financial Aid that the student receives; eg. Federal Pell Grant, PHEAA State Grant, or any outside scholarships will be applied to the students account first. The Stevens Grant will then cover any remaining charges. Students will also receive a $250.00 per semester book allowance. Commuting students who receive this award will have the following charges; Tuition and a 5-day meal plan. All Financial Aid that the student receives; eg. Federal Pell Grant, PHEAA State Grant, or any outside scholarships will be applied to the students account first. The Stevens Grant will then cover any remaining charges. Students will also receive a $250.00 per semester book allowance.

Thaddeus Stevens Foundation Scholarships
The Thaddeus Stevens Foundation provides students with scholarships from outside donors each year.  Students may complete a scholarship application to apply for all of the available scholarships which they meet the criteria.  This form and the reference form may be downloaded below.  The application must be submitted prior to July 1 of each year.  Decisions and notifications of scholarships will be made in July.

• Foundation Scholarship Application
• Foundation Scholarship Reference Form

Pennsylvania New Economy Technology Scholarship Program (NETS)
This scholarship is administered jointly by PHEAA and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.  The scholarship was created to prepare Pennsylvania students to succeed in the technology-based economy of the 21^st century and to reduce the migration of Pennsylvania’s young people to other states. The scholarship provides students $1,000 per year based on total education costs.  Recipients of this scholarship must agree to work full-time in Pennsylvania following graduation, one year for each year that a scholarship is received.  Students must apply no later than December 31 of the academic year for which they wish to receive the scholarship.  Students must begin qualified employment in Pennsylvania within twelve months of completing their program of study and in a field related to their major.  The scholarship will convert to a loan if a student fails to complete an eligible program, or complete the work obligation or satisfy other scholarship requirements.  To download an application, apply online or review additional information and qualifications, please visit www.PHEAA.org

Students who are enrolled in the following programs are eligible for NETS:

-Architectural Technology

-Computer-Aided Drafting Technology

-Graphic Communications and Printing Technology

-Computer and Network Systems Administration

-Electrical Technology

-Electronics Technology

-Construction Electrician Technology

-Machine Tool and Computer-Aided Manufacturing

-Metals Fabrication/Welding Technology

-Mechanical Engineering Technology

-Respiratory Care

Outside Scholarships
Students are encouraged to apply for scholarships from outside sources. The websites listed below are suggested in assisting students in searching for scholarships. Students that receive outside scholarships must notify the Financial Aid Office at Thaddeus Stevens. Receipt of an outside scholarship may change your award from Thaddeus Stevens. The Financial Aid Office is not responsible for these scholarships and the student should confirm with the scholarship sponsor any rules or requirements that may apply. The Financial Aid Office will complete any paperwork required to assist in the follow-up process. 

• Places to inquire about possbile scholarships:
• High School Guidance Office
• Workplace of parent or student
• Churches and religious organizations with which the family has association
• Civic, charitable, and service orgs (Rotary Club, Lions Club, Elks, etc.)
• Local Chamber of Commerce
• Local newspapers (check the business and community service sections)
• Public Library – Books such as The scholarship Book, Peterson’s Guide, Barron’s Guide to Colleges and Universities, etc.
• Military – If student or parent served in the military
• Brand name products such as Pepsi, Coca Cola, Tylenol (do a web search)
• Some of the same lenders who make student loans also offer scholarships
• Geography – city, county, region you live in
• Internet

Procedures to consider in your search for private scholarships:
Get an early start!  Deadlines for consideration may be as early as January for the upcoming fall semester.  Be wary of scholarship search services that charge a fee.  Even if they guarantee results “or your money back” experience has taught many families that the results are often negligible and that it is difficult, if not impossible, to get a refund.  Most likely, the search service uses on the of the databases above that you can tap into on your own for free. 

The Financial Aid Office of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is not responsible for the content of any of the below websites. We provide them for reference only.