The Governor of Pennsylvania has proposed an increase of 13% to the PHEAA direct grant program for the 2019-2020 state budget, and there appears to be broad support in the State Senate and Legislature.

This is a prudent increase because the breadth of educational opportunities for which these funds can be applied has expanded in recent years. This increase will help to keep traditional college students in the Commonwealth at financial parity from this year to the next. Last month, legislative members of the PHEAA Board voted unanimously to maintain the maximum grant award at the same level as last year, $4,123. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that this momentum persists.

This is also one of the best investments we can make in our future workforce and future leaders. I am confident that much of the credit for this legislative progress is attributable to students from across Pennsylvania’s private colleges and universities who advocated in Harrisburg on behalf of their classmates.

Below is a photo of Susquehanna’s own Natasia Martin ’19 speaking at the Pennsylvania Capitol in support of PHEAA support for the students who succeed her. Thank you Natasia, thank you student advocates, thank you Pennsylvania.