Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh LibAnswers: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh FAQs

Are you worried about the cost of the next step in your educational journey?  Not sure what the difference is between a grant and a loan?  Are you looking for scholarships that might be a good fit for you? Whether you’re going to community college, a four-year college, trade school, or grad school, here’s a list of resources that might help. 

Understanding Financial Aid 

Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency- PHEAA: The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency offers a wide range of services, from general financial aid advice, to FAFSA and loan application assistance, to directly awarding grant money to qualifying PA residents.  The PHEAA Education Planner is a great place to start. 

Scholarship Resources: 

There are several scholarship programs available to students in the Pittsburgh area and nationwide. Some, like the Pittsburgh Promise, have very specific criteria. Others may ask you to write an essay. Still others may require you to have a specific major or play a particular musical instrument or sport.   

Finding scholarships that may be a good fit for you can be a little confusing. Here are a few resources to get you started. 

As you search for scholarships and learn about the application process, it is important to know that most legitimate scholarship applications will not ask for an application fee or your social security number.    

Pittsburgh Promise: If you’ve attended Pittsburgh Public Schools from 9th to 12th grades, have a 2.5 GPA and 90% attendance record, you may be eligible for a scholarship of up to $5,000 towards tuition and expenses for up to four years of college or trade school. 

The Pittsburgh Foundation manages hundreds of scholarships. Most use a centralized application through the site, so you can complete one application to apply for multiple scholarships offered on the site. Make sure to double check due dates and other information provided for each scholarship opportunity. 

NEED: NEED provides career and college access services that empower youth from the Pittsburgh region to aspire to, learn about, prepare for and complete higher education.    

POISE Foundation Scholarships: Find a list of scholarships, specifically for students in the Greater Pittsburgh area. 

Tuition Funding Sources is an excellent site to find scholarships by searching for things that are specific to you! Do you play an instrument? You can search for that. Do you know what career you plan to prepare for? You can search for that. Are you left-handed? Yep, you can search for that.