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Student Aid

Managing Your Aid

Learn what steps to take to manage the financial aid process at Penn State.

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.

Student shirt with Penn State printed on front.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Students sitting at table working on laptops.

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.