Scholarships, Grants, and Loan Trends at Penn State

-19%

Received Percent Changed

$6,880

Received Amount Changes

Over the past 10 years (2015-2023), the average number of students who received grants aid/scholarships is 29,167, which is 62.57 % of all undergraduate students. 20,681 students which is 44.71% of undergraduate students received federal student loans and the average loan amount is $6,629.

For full-time, first-time beginning students (freshmen), 39.00% of students received grants or scholarships and 47% of students received student loans.

All Undergraduate Students Financial Aid Over Time

The following table shows the trends of financial aid for all undergraduate students at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus since 2014.

For that period, the average number of students who received grants aid/scholarships is 29,167, which is 62.57 % of all undergraduate students. 20,681 students which is 44.71% of undergraduate students received federal student loans and the average loan amount is $6,629.

YearGrant or Scholarship*Pell GrantsFederal Student Loans
Number Received (percent**)Average AmountNumber Received (percent**)Average AmountNumber Received (percent**)Average Amount
2014-1527,520 (68%)$6,8366,524 (16%)$4,10419,740 (49%)$6,829
2015-1627,144 (67%)$7,1016,298 (15%)$4,16019,284 (47%)$6,760
2016-1726,157 (63%)$6,3576,105 (15%)$4,29818,472 (45%)$6,580
2017-1826,018 (64%)$6,9285,900 (14%)$4,58917,844 (44%)$6,651
2018-1954,344 (71%)$6,77117,772 (23%)$4,44036,637 (48%)$6,706
2019-20--
2020-21--
2021-2222,591 (56%)$11,5745,600 (14%)$5,09516,151 (40%)$6,442
2022-2320,396 (49%)$13,7165,539 (13%)$5,35216,638 (40%)$6,435
Average29,167 (62.57%)$8,4697,677 (15.71%)$4,57720,681 (44.71%)$6,629
*Grant or scholarship aid includes aid received, from the federal government, state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
**percentage of number of students receiving aids among all undergraduate students.

Freshmen (First-time, Full-time Undergraduate) Financial Aid Over Time

For the last 10 years, on average, 3,764 (39.00 % of students) received grants or scholarships and its average amount is $9,865. It can cover 23.61% of tuition & fees ($41,790) based on out-of-state rate.

In addition, 4,478 (47.29 % of students) students get helped from the students loans (average amount : $11,036).

Year Grants or Scholarships*Student Loans
Number Received (percent**)Average AmountNumber Received (percent**)Average Amount
2014-153,024 (37%)$9,1513,822 (47%)$9,130
2015-162,886 (38%)$9,4133,434 (45%)$9,540
2016-172,903 (34%)$10,0603,993 (47%)$10,503
2017-182,634 (34%)$10,1073,794 (48%)$10,942
2018-197,812 (50%)$8,6788,112 (52%)$9,985
2019-20--
2020-21--
2021-223,757 (44%)$10,0664,019 (47%)$13,414
2022-233,331 (36%)$11,5774,173 (45%)$13,736
Average3,764 (39.00%)$9,8654,478 (47.29%)$11,036
*Grant or scholarship aid includes aid received, from the federal government, state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
**percentage of number of students receiving aids among all undergraduate students.

The following table shows the trends of grants or scholarships over time. For the last 10 years, on average, 1,419 (14.29 % of students) received Pell (federal) grants and its average amount is $4,599.

In addition, 1,235 students received State/local government grants/scholarships (12.43 % of students).

Year Federal (Pell) GrantsOther Federal State/Local governmentInstitutional
Number Received (percent)Average AmountNumber Received (percent)Average Amount Number Received (percent)Average AmountNumber Received (percent)Average Amount
2014-151,069 (13%)$4,117359 (4%)$1,4251,077 (13%)$3,2652,678 (33%)$7,186
2015-16916 (12%)$4,119240 (3%)$1,603798 (11%)$3,6602,624 (35%)$7,656
2016-171,117 (13%)$4,340340 (4%)$1,337935 (11%)$3,7132,641 (31%)$7,736
2017-18991 (13%)$4,566304 (4%)$1,440909 (12%)$3,4512,363 (30%)$7,838
2018-193,486 (22%)$4,6251,164 (8%)$1,4223,181 (21%)$3,3436,727 (43%)$5,855
2019-20--
2020-21--
2021-221,197 (14%)$5,0442,703 (32%)$1,982810 (9%)$4,2582,506 (29%)$9,167
2022-231,156 (13%)$5,381234 (3%)$2,994933 (10%)$4,1333,182 (35%)$8,733
Average1,419 (14.29%)$4,599763 (8.29%)$1,7431,235 (12.43%)$3,6893,246 (33.71%)$7,739
*Grant or scholarship aid includes aid received, from the federal government, state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
**percentage of number of students receiving aids among all undergraduate students.

The following table describes number of students and average amount of loans by loan type. The following table shows the trends of grants or scholarships over time.

For the last 10 years, on average, 4,478 (47.29 % of students) get any students loan help and its average loan amount is $4,478.

YearTotalFederal student loansOther student loans
Number Received (percent)Average AmountNumber Received (percent)Average AmountNumber Received (percent)Average Amount
2014-153,822 (47%)$9,1303,716 (46%)$5,639759 (9%)$18,366
2015-163,434 (45%)$9,5403,334 (44%)$5,541700 (9%)$20,413
2016-173,993 (47%)$10,5033,885 (46%)$5,415977 (12%)$21,394
2017-183,794 (48%)$10,9423,699 (47%)$5,368984 (13%)$22,011
2018-198,112 (52%)$9,9857,863 (51%)$5,3412,098 (14%)$18,593
2019-20--
2020-21--
2021-224,019 (47%)$13,4143,855 (45%)$5,3541,268 (15%)$26,238
2022-234,173 (45%)$13,7364,032 (44%)$5,3471,356 (15%)$26,372
Average4,478 (47.29%)$11,0364,341 (46.14%)$5,4291,163 (12.43%)$21,912

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