PA Targeted Industry Program (PA-TIP): Real Odds

The PA Targeted Industry Program, or PA-TIP, is a Pennsylvania need-based grant for students in shorter career programs, those lasting at least 10 weeks but less than two academic years, in four fields: energy, health, advanced materials and diversified manufacturing, and agriculture and food production. Typical examples are welding, HVAC, medical assisting, practical nursing and machining certificates at PHEAA-approved schools. Awards go up to the program maximum, currently $6,000 a year, or the student's unmet need after the Pell Grant, other gift aid and employer aid, whichever is less, and can cover tuition, books, required equipment and a living allowance. Students must be US citizens or eligible noncitizens and Pennsylvania domiciliaries, have a high school diploma, GED or homeschool certificate, file the FAFSA, and return the PA-TIP Student Application to PHEAA by May 1. Students at nonprofit schools need half-time enrollment; others must attend full time.

Other deadlines near this one

How hard is the PA Targeted Industry Program (PA-TIP) to win?

A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first. The provider does not publish applicant or winner counts, so Solyo shows no odds figure for this award.

Odds: not published by the provider
Paperwork: ~2 hrs to file

What drives the odds here

Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.

Fewer rivalsOpen only to Pennsylvania residents
Fewer rivalsRestricted to specific intended majors
Fewer rivalsOpen to a single grade level only

How Solyo estimates this: We model the applicant field from how narrow the eligibility rules are, then divide the awards available by that field. Requirements such as essays and recommendation letters improve a serious applicant’s odds, because most browsers never complete them. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.

Who can apply for the PA Targeted Industry Program (PA-TIP)?

These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.

Must be a resident of Pennsylvania
Must attend a college in Pennsylvania (the award does not travel out of state)
Open to high school seniors
Open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents (green card)
Planning to study Skilled Trades or Health & Medicine

Confirm these before applying

Only for approved programs of 10 weeks to under two years in energy, health, advanced manufacturing or agriculture and food production
Must be a Pennsylvania domiciliary and a US citizen or eligible noncitizen

Good to know

Award limited to unmet need after Pell and other aid

What the application takes

No essay, recommendation letters, or transcript are required. This is one of the lighter applications in the directory.

Deadline and application cycle

The current deadline is May 1, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around May 1 each year. Applications open October 1 (FAFSA opens). PA-TIP is not the PA State Grant: students in these short programs file the FAFSA and then a separate PA-TIP application by May 1.

2027-28 FAFSA opens: October 1, 2026
PA-TIP Student Application due to PHEAA: May 1, 2027

Remind me before May 1 Apply on the official site

Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee. We use your student's information only to build their plan.

Common questions about the PA Targeted Industry Program (PA-TIP)

How much is the PA Targeted Industry Program (PA-TIP) worth?

The PA Targeted Industry Program (PA-TIP) awards up to $6,000 per year (current maximum), limited to unmet need and is renewable in later years.

When is the PA Targeted Industry Program (PA-TIP) deadline?

The current deadline is May 1, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around May 1 each year. Applications open October 1 (FAFSA opens). PA-TIP is not the PA State Grant: students in these short programs file the FAFSA and then a separate PA-TIP application by May 1.

When do PA Targeted Industry Program (PA-TIP) applications open?

Applications open October 1 (FAFSA opens), and close May 1, 2027. PA-TIP is not the PA State Grant: students in these short programs file the FAFSA and then a separate PA-TIP application by May 1.

Who is eligible for the PA Targeted Industry Program (PA-TIP)?

Key requirements: Must be a resident of Pennsylvania; Must attend a college in Pennsylvania (the award does not travel out of state); Open to high school seniors; Open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents (green card). 1 more criteria are listed on this page.

Does the PA Targeted Industry Program (PA-TIP) require an essay?

No essay is required. The application is light on requirements. Expect to spend about 2 hours on it.

How hard is it to win the PA Targeted Industry Program (PA-TIP)?

A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first. The provider does not publish applicant or winner counts, so Solyo shows no odds figure for this award. What is known: open only to Pennsylvania residents and restricted to specific intended majors. Plan on about 2 hrs of work.

Is the PA Targeted Industry Program (PA-TIP) free to apply?

Yes. The PA Targeted Industry Program (PA-TIP) is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.

PA Targeted Industry Program (PA-TIP)