2024 Most Affordable Colleges in Pennsylvania

Blind or Deaf Beneficiary Grant

Summary: As its title would suggest, this grant provides financial aid to blind or deaf students attending a postsecondary institution. It’s not a big one—the maximum award amount cannot exceed $500 per year. The grant can replace your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) but cannot exceed your cost of attendance. Funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Eligibility: You must:

• Be a Pennsylvania resident
• Supply written documentation to PHEAA showing that you have been evaluated and are eligible to receive benefits from the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) or supply documentation from your physician regarding your visual and/or hearing impairment
• Be enrolled at least half-time in a postsecondary institution and maintain satisfactory academic progress

How to Apply: File your FAFSA, complete the separate Blind or Deaf Higher Education Beneficiary Grant Application Form and mail the form & additional documentation to PHEAA.

Partnerships for Access to Higher Education (PATH) Grant

Summary: If you receive a scholarship/grant from a participating PATH Partner (e.g. a County Community Foundation), PHEAA will match the money on a dollar-for-dollar basis up to the annual maximum amount. PATH grants cannot exceed $2,500 per year.

Eligibility: You must:

• Be nominated by a participating PATH Partner from which you received a scholarship/grant for the academic year by September 30
• Have received a PA State Grant for the semester or quarter for which you have been nominated to receive a PATH grant
• Demonstrate financial need for a PATH grant (as determined by the postsecondary institution)
• Be enrolled as an undergraduate, at least half-time in a PA State Grant–approved postsecondary institution in Pennsylvania and maintain satisfactory academic progress

How to Apply: File your FAFSA and contact a participating PATH Partner in your area about scholarships/grants.

Pennsylvania (PA) State Grant

Summary: The PA State Grant is the biggest and best known state aid program. It’s based on financial need—the amount of money you receive will depend on your financial situation (e.g. parents’ annual income) and the type of school you choose to attend in Pennsylvania (i.e. public or private). Most grants are in the range of $1,500-$4,000 per year.

A few things to note… The PA State Grant is only intended for undergraduate students; Summer State Grants are also available. The grant may be used at eligible institutions in Delaware, District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont and West Virginia. Finally, PHEAA has a lot of answers to PA State Grant FAQs.

Eligibility: You must:

• Be a Pennsylvania resident, as stipulated in the Pennsylvania State Grant law
• Be a high school graduate as stipulated in the Pennsylvania State Grant law (includes GED recipients)
• Demonstrate financial need
• Attend a postsecondary school approved by PHEAA
• Be enrolled at least half-time (i.e. at least six semester credits but less than 12 semester credits per semester, or the equivalent)
• Be unconditionally admitted and enrolled in an approved program of study of at least 2 academic years in length
• Be enrolled in a program of study where at least 50% of the total credit or clock hours needed for completion of the program are earned through classroom instruction
• Have made satisfactory academic progress (as defined by PHEAA)
• Not have already earned a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent
• Be of satisfactory character (e.g. not be incarcerated)
• Not have received the maximum number of Pennsylvania State Grants permitted
• Not be in default or pending default on an educational loan (this also applies to any program where the award has been converted to a loan and the loan is in a default status)

How to Apply:  File your FAFSA by the deadline & follow the link for the PA State Grant Form directly from your FAFSA confirmation page. Print, sign, and mail the last page of your PA State Grant Form to PHEAA. Missed the link? Go to the American Education Services (AES) website to complete the State Grant Form (SGF).

Pennsylvania Chafee Education and Training Grant

Summary: This grant is given to Pennsylvania undergraduate students aging out of foster care who are attending an eligible postsecondary institution. The maximum award in 2016 was $4,750, and the award amount cannot exceed your cost of attendance (COA) minus any other financial aid you receive.

Eligibility: To qualify as a foster care youth, you need to:

• Be eligible for services under Pennsylvania’s John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program
• Be identified as a youth in foster care or a youth discharged or adopted from foster care after age 16
• Be a new applicant participating in the Chafee Program prior to your 21st birthday, or be a renewal applicant who has not reached your 23rd birthday by July 1 of the upcoming academic year in which Chafee funds will be awarded

You must also:

• Be a Pennsylvania resident
• Be enrolled as an undergraduate, at least half time in a college or career school that is approved by the U.S. Department of Education for Title IV student assistance programs
• Demonstrate financial need for the grant (as determined by the postsecondary institution)
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress
• Not be in default on a federal student loan

How to Apply: File your FAFSA, complete the separate Pennsylvania Chafee Education and Training Grant Program Application and mail the application to PHEAA.

Pennsylvania Targeted Industry Program (PA-TIP)

Summary: PA-TIP gives need-based awards to students enrolled in short-term programs that are not eligible for PA State Grant funding. Those short-term programs must be in the career areas of energy, advanced materials and diversified manufacturing or agriculture and food production.

A PA-TIP award is the equivalent of the maximum PA State Grant award or 75% of your total direct educational costs after gift aid and employers aid (whichever is less). Award money can be used to pay for tuition, books, fees, supplies and specific living expenses. Even students who have completed a bachelor’s or graduate degree are still eligible to apply.

Eligibility: You must:

• Be a domiciliary of Pennsylvania
• Have a high school diploma, GED, or recognized home school certificate.
• Be enrolled at a PAT-TIP participating institution
• Be enrolled in an approved program of study that is at least 10 weeks but less than two academic years in length (students attending non-profit institutions must be enrolled at least half-time in an approved program; all other students must be enrolled full-time)
• Have financial need as determined by the program guidelines and certified by the school
• Not be in default or pending default on an education loan or owe a PA State Grant refund
• Not be receiving a PA State Grant for the program of study
• Not be considered an incarcerated student

How to Apply: File your FAFSA, complete the separate PA-TIP Student Application Form and mail the form & additional documentation to PHEAA. If you’re a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces who was honorably discharged, you’ll need to supply a copy of the DD214 form.

Ready to Succeed Scholarship (RTSS)

Summary: RTSS awards are given to high-achieving college students (i.e. a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or more) whose annual family income does not exceed $110,000. Scholarships can be up to $2,000 for full-time students and $1,000 for part-time students; the minimum award is $500. Award money can be used to cover tuition, books, fees, supplies and living expenses.

Students are nominated by a participating postsecondary institution when the school checks on their academic progress for the Pennsylvania State Grant Program. Funding is limited and scholarships are made on a first-come, first-served basis—even eligible nominees may miss out. PHEAA has answers to RTSS FAQs.

Eligibility: You must meet the PA State Grant eligibility requirements (except for the financial need stipulation). What’s more, you won’t be eligible until you file your FAFSA and submit a PA State Grant application. You must also:

• Have completed at least one academic year (at least 24 semester credits or the equivalent) by the time that the school checks your academic progress for the PA State Grant program.
• Demonstrate outstanding academic achievement by attaining a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25
• Have a family income that does not exceed $110,000

How to Apply: File your FAFSA, complete your PA State Grant application and contact your college’s Financial Aid Office to confirm that you meet the requirements for RTSS for the upcoming year. Then work like blazes to get that GPA of 3.25 or better!

Pennsylvania Bar Foundation – PA IOLTA Board Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP)

Summary: This LRAP is aimed squarely at attorneys working for IOLTA-funded civil legal services organizations. In return for 12 months of service at one of these organizations, participating attorneys receive a one-year loan that can be used to repay debts incurred for undergraduate and law school education costs and bar exam study.

This one-year loan is “forgiven” at the end of each year if eligibility requirements have been met. Participating attorneys can apply for—and receive—up to ten, one-year loans over their tenure in qualified employment. However, the amount of loan assistance depends on the available funding and the number of qualifying attorney applicants.

Eligibility: As an attorney, you must:

• Be licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania or be permitted to practice law under Bar Admission Rule 311
• Have a valid Pennsylvania Supreme Court-identification number
• Be in good standing and practice law as an employee of an IOLTA-funded organization

In addition:

• Your total gross salary may not exceed $66,000 at the time of application (however, if your annual net debt service is greater than or equal to 10% of your current annual gross salary, you may apply regardless of the annual gross salary cap).
• Your amount of educational debt (based on loans from commercial and government lending institutions, as well as university or other private institutional loans associated with law school and undergraduate educational debts) must be greater than or equal to the amount of the LRAP grant.
• Your qualifying educational debt must be in satisfactory repayment.

How to Apply: Complete the online WebGrant Application.

Pennsylvania Primary Care Loan Repayment Program (LRP)

Summary: This LRP provides funds for education loan repayment to PCPs (doctors, nurse practitioners, dentists and other eligible practitioners) who agree to work in federally designated Pennsylvania Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and other underserved Pennsylvania communities for a period of two years.

Physicians and dentists can receive up to $100,000 for a full-time work commitment and up to $50,000 for half-time; other practitioners can receive up to $60,000 full-time and up to $30,000 half-time.

Eligibility: In addition to be an eligible PCP (see above), you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national
• Participate (or be eligible to participate) as a provider in the Medicare, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program, as appropriate
• Meet discipline and speciality-specific education, training and licensure requirements
• Complete a full-time or half-time term of primary care health service at an LRP-approved practice site

How to Apply: Complete the separate PA Primary Care Loan Repayment Program Web-based Application. Your employer must also submit a Loan Repayment Practice Site Application, which must be approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, before your application will be considered.

Children of POW/MIA Soldiers

Summary: PHEAA has a special state grant for the children of any soldier in the U.S. Armed Forces who has been declared as a Prisoner of War (POW) or Missing in Action (MIA). The maximum award amount is $1,200, which can be used for tuition and fees; availability is dependent on state funding.

Eligibility: You must be a resident of Pennsylvania. In addition, your MIA or POW parent must have:

• Served on active duty after January 31, 1955
• Been a resident of Pennsylvania for at least the 12 months before serving on active duty
• Not deserted, defected to the enemy, or been discharged under conditions other than “honorable”

How to Apply: File your FAFSA and call PHEAA 1-800-692-7392 (toll-free) to request a POW/MIA Application.

Educational Gratuity Program

Summary: This program provides financial assistance to children of honorably discharged veterans who have service-connected disabilities and served during a period of war or armed conflict or children of veterans who die or died in service during a period of war or armed conflict. Surviving veterans must have a 100% permanent and total service-connected disability rating by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Award amounts are up to $500 per term/semester for up to four years. Educational gratuity payments are paid directly to the educational institution, not to the student.

Eligibility: As a dependent, you must:

• Be between the ages of 16 and 23
• Live within Pennsylvania five years prior to application
• Attend a school within Pennsylvania
• Demonstrate financial need

How to Apply: Contact the County Veterans Affairs Director in your county.

Pennsylvania National Guard Education Assistance Program (EAP)

Summary: The EAP provides tuition assistance for students who agree to a service commitment with the Pennsylvania National Guard (PNG) for a period of 6 years. If you fail to honor the service commitment, you must repay your total EAP award amount, plus interest.

Maximum award amounts depend on your status:

• Full-time Undergraduate Students: Either actual tuition charged for the full-time course of study, or 100% of tuition charged to a Pennsylvania resident studying full-time at a state-owned university, whichever is less
• Part-time Undergraduate Students: Either actual tuition charged for the part-time course of study, or two-thirds of the full-time tuition charged to a Pennsylvania resident at a state-owned university, whichever is less
• Part-time Graduate Students (or those who already hold a bachelor’s degree): Either one-half of the actual tuition charged for the part-time course of study, or one-third of the full-time tuition charged to a Pennsylvania resident at a state-owned university, whichever is less

Eligibility: In addition to fulfilling your six-year PNG service commitment, you must:

• Be a resident of Pennsylvania
• Be enrolled in a degree- or certificate-granting program of study at an approved Pennsylvania institution

How to Apply: Current members of the Pennsylvania National Guard should contact the readiness NCO at your unit of assignment. Aspiring National Guard members should contact the Pennsylvania National Guard.

Contact the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) for more information on education benefits for veterans and active military.

Pennsylvania State Work-Study Program (SWSP)

Summary: The state of Pennsylvania runs a separate work-study program independent of federal work-study initiatives. Eligible students who participate in SWSP gain relevant work experience and earn money for higher education costs at the same time.

You may work up to 40 hours per week under the program. Award amounts can be up to $4,000 during the academic year and up to an additional $4,000 during the summer term. (Note: award amounts are the maximum amount of earnings an employer may submit to PHEAA for reimbursement. However, your employer may choose to pay you more than that!)

You can search for a SWSP job on the PHEAA website or try to find your own employer. Employers who don’t yet participate in the SWSP program need to complete a New Employer Application. PHEAA also has answers to some SWSP FAQs.

Eligibility: You must:

• Be a Pennsylvania resident for at least 12 consecutive months before you file the FAFSA (excluding any time you were enrolled in a Pennsylvania postsecondary school)
• Be enrolled at least half-time in a PHEAA-approved higher education institution in a program of study that is at least 2 years long
• Be an undergraduate student who is eligible for a PA State Grant or be a graduate student who still has financial need after gift aid has been applied
• Be able to benefit from a career-related work experience
• Not be in default or pending default on an education loan or owe a PA State Grant refund

How to Apply: File your FAFSA, complete the separate Pennsylvania State Work-Study Application and mail the application to PHEAA.

Postsecondary Educational Gratuity Program (PEGP)

Summary: The PEGP waiver is only available to the children (birth or adopted) of individuals who lost their lives protecting the citizens of Pennsylvania. Those individuals include:

• Police officers, firefighters, rescue and ambulance squad members, corrections employees and active National Guard members who have died in the line of duty since January 1, 1976
• Sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, National Guard members or other individuals who were on federal or state active military duty and died after September 11, 2001 as a direct result of performing his/her official duties

PEGP provides a waiver for tuition, fees, and on-campus room and board costs charged by eligible Pennsylvania postsecondary institutions. However, the waiver applies only to charges that remain after all other grants (federal, state, and outside scholarships) have been taken into account.

Eligibility: You must:

• Be a resident of Pennsylvania
• Be the child—by birth of adoption—of a qualifying individual (see above)
• Be 25 years of age or younger when you apply
• Have already applied for available scholarships, as well as state and federal grants
• Be enrolled at a Pennsylvania community college, state-owned institution or state-related institution as a full-time undergraduate student pursuing an associate’s or bachelor’s degree

How to Apply: File your FAFSA, complete the separate PEGP Application and mail the application, a certified copy of your birth certificate or adoption record and a copy of your letter of admission to PHEAA.

In general, on-campus housing is usually more expensive than renting or staying at home. Most Pennsylvania universities are generous enough to admit this—you’ll usually find a side-by-side comparison of expenses in the Rates section of your school’s website. You can also use the budget calculators on MappingYourFuture.org and CalcXML.com to compare on-campus costs (meal plans, dorm fees, etc.) with off-campus bills (groceries, utilities, etc.).

On the other hand, living in a dorm means you’re not responsible for commuting costs, room furnishings and utilities. If you’re extremely lucky, you’ll find that your university has set aside certain dorms/residence halls for affordable housing or family living. For instance, Wilson College’s Single Parent Scholar Program provides on-campus housing year-round to single parents and their children.

It also pays to remember that you may have little choice in your decision. For example, unless they are enrolled as a commuting student, all freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors at York College are required to live on campus. Allegheny College has a similar on-campus living requirement.

Worried that your financial aid package won’t cover living expenses? Talk to your school’s residential life/housing coordinator or the Financial Aid Office about your choices. You may be eligible for private/institutional scholarships or work-study programs that will pay for room and board. For example, IUP’s Living-Learning Scholarship specifically covers on-campus housing costs.

Even in big cities like Philadelphia or Pittsburgh, students often choose to rent in order to save money. In fact, with certain community colleges and commuter schools like Peirce College, off-campus housing may be your only option.

When that happens, the first place to start—oddly enough—is your university’s housing website. A lot of schools have pages or sites devoted to off-campus living, with advice, links and resources. Examples include UPenn’s Off-Campus Housing Search, PSU’s Office of Off-Campus Living and Penn College’s Off-Campus Living & Commuter Services.

But you don’t have to stop here. Along with searching for cheap apartments/rooms on Craigslist, you can try websites such as ApartmentGuide.com, CampusRent.com and MyApartmentMap.com. These allow you to target affordable housing listings around your specific school. If a crisis hits or you’re evicted, the Pennsylvania Homeless Shelter Directory includes emergency shelters and transitional housing opportunities.

When you’re renting, utility payments—especially heating and electricity bills—can really add up. Before you sign any rental agreement, it’s important to know what utilities you’re responsible for and what your landlord is willing to cover. Ask for a monthly estimate of utility bills and/or talk to former renters to get a sense of how much money you need to set aside.

If you’re already struggling with utilities, don’t give up. The DHS administers the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which provides financial assistance to needy households for home energy bills, but utility companies are also ready to help. Initiatives like Hardship Funds, the Customer Assistance Referral and Evaluation Program (CARES) and the Customer Assistance Program (CAP) are all aimed at low-income customers. Check out the comprehensive list of Pennsylvania energy assistance programs from the Public Utility Commission (PUC) or ask your utility company what programs are available.

In search of affordable medical care? Visit your college’s student health center and talk to its medical professionals. You won’t be surprised to hear that big universities tend to have more services than smaller schools and community colleges. For instance, UPenn’s Student Health Services offers sports medicine, acupuncture and massage; PSU’s University Health Services is equipped to perform x-rays and ultrasound. But you’ll find basic care such as immunizations, testing and preventative health at practically any institution.

When this doesn’t work, you can try your neighborhood. Both NeedyMeds.org and FreeClinicDirectory.org have useful lists of Pennsylvania community clinics and health centers that offer free/affordable medical care. The same procedure applies to mental health situations. Talk to your student health center first. If that fails, the DHS has a Mental Health Services section, with links to its Human Services Provider Online Directory. In the case of emergencies, call a crisis hotline in your Pennsylvania county or the National Mental Health Crisis/Suicide hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

Finding cheap dental care can be more challenging. Unless your student health center has a dentist on staff (most don’t), you’re going to have to look beyond it. One option is to try the nearest university dental school. Since dental schools are training dentistry students, they’re often eager to attract patients. For example, the Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry offers reduced fees and a discount to Temple University students. Or you may wish to search for free and low-cost clinics in your community on FreeDentalCare.us: Pennsylvania.

Affordable child care can make or break a college education plan. Many schools in Pennsylvania offer daycare, including Lehigh University, Pennsylvania State University, and University of Pennsylvania, among others. Contact schools to ask whether they provide discounts or assistance for low-income students. For example, PSU offers a Student Parent Child Care Subsidy Program to qualifying parents.

If your school doesn’t have daycare, the DHS (using Compass) has a useful Online Child Care Provider Search database. You can choose to filter your choices by the Keystone STARS rating. This program rates child care providers on various quality standards, including state regulations for safety and a kid-friendly atmosphere.

Don’t forget, too, that you may be eligible for state benefits. For example, Pennsylvania’s Child Care Works program is run by the Child Care Information Services (CCIS) office in your county. This subsidy is intended for low-income parents who need help paying child care bills while they work or attend an education program. The Child Care Works helpline is 1-877-4-PA-KIDS. Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children website also has an excellent list of Pennsylvania Child Care Assistance Programs and Scholarships.

Transportation expenses will depend a lot on your choice of campus (rural vs. suburban vs. urban) and your responsibilities (e.g. part-time jobs, child care pick-ups, housing location, etc.). But it’s still worth taking a look at the Transportation or Commuter section on your university’s website. Schools cram these pages with information on free campus buses, rideshare and car pool programs, parking facilities, bike routes and more.

And they’ll always point if your student ID entitles you to free transportation on city networks. For example, UPitt students ride Port Authority buses and trolleys fare-free with their Panther Card. A number of Pennsylvania schools—including UPenn, Temple and Drexel—participate in SEPTA’s University Pass (discount transit) program. National networks like Amtrak and Greyhound also offer cheap student deals.

Please don’t miss out on meals in order to afford college! Even if you don’t qualify for SNAP benefits (food stamps), you have alternatives. For example, a number of Pennsylvania schools, (e.g. PSU, Wilson, Penn College, MCCC, etc.) have opened food pantries on campus. You’ll find a list of them on the College and University Food Bank Alliance (CUFBA) Members page.

If your university has nothing, try your neighborhood. FoodPantries.org has a directory of Pennsylvania Food Pantries and HomelessShelterDirectory.org has a similar database of PA soup kitchens, pantries and food banks. New moms or moms-to-be might also want to see if they qualify for the Pennsylvania WIC Program. WIC provides supplemental nutrition, breastfeeding support and healthy foods to qualified candidates.

Like any major city, Philadelphia has its expensive neighborhoods and its cheaper areas. According to Sperling’s Best Places, utility and grocery cost are above the national average, but housing is a great deal better than New York or the West Coast. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is the nation’s sixth-largest public transit system and there’s a lot of entertainment and nightlife. General info for residents can be found on the City of Philadelphia website.

Where to Go for Help in Philadelphia

Maybe you already live in Philadelphia and think college is out of your budget. Maybe you need a little bit of assistance with other parts of your life (e.g. groceries, child care, housing, etc.). Maybe you just want some practical financial advice. If any of the above are true, one of these Philly organizations may be able to help.

• BenePhilly Centers offer one-on-one counseling—over the phone or in-person—to residents who need information about state benefits (e.g. food stamps, energy assistance, etc.). There are six walk-in centers throughout Philadelphia; the toll-free number is 844-848-4376.
• Philadelphia’s Share Food Program works with a variety of local partners to provide emergency food relief, below-retail food packages, affordable produce and family dinners. Learn more about its programs.
• Philadelphia Futures caters to low-income, first-generation-to-college students. Kids receive personalized college guidance, placement and retention services, academic help and financial resources. Its College Connection program is especially tailored to help juniors in high school negotiate the process of getting into college.
• The Urban League of Philadelphia (ULP) has all kinds of youth & education programs designed to prepare students for college and help them navigate the financial aid system. Check out ULP’s Community Scholarships program, which includes scholarship money, support services and a College Internship Fair.
• Diversified Community Services, Inc. (DCS) is a neighborhood-based non-profit offering a hand to residents of Point Breeze and surrounding communities. Programs includes affordable housing, child care initiatives and energy assistance.

We’ve only picked a few examples. For more ideas, try searching by category (e.g. education, food, etc.) in SERVE Philadelphia directory of volunteer organizations.

Pittsburgh is a cheaper city than Philadelphia across the board. Some residents complain about the lack of public transportation options, high utility bills and the weather, but the cost of housing is traditionally low. That’s good news for renters. The population is skewing younger, and you’ll find plenty of affordable entertainment venues and restaurants. Just keep in mind heating costs during the chilly winters. General info for residents can be found on the City of Pittsburgh website.

Where to Go for Help in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh has plenty of non-profit organizations that are geared towards helping aspiring college students. What’s more, other organizations are more than ready to offer assistance with bills and issues (e.g. child care) so you can focus on your goal of a degree.

• North Hills Community Outreach (NHCO) serves individuals and families across northern Allegheny County. They offer a huge range of programs to low-income residents, including a food pantry, emergency assistance, seasonal sharing, affordable car ownership, financial literacy and free legal advice. Their Education Assistance program provides education grants to students with financial need for any college-related expense (including child care and transportation).
• The Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh was established to enable African Americans to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power, and civil rights. Its Education & Youth Development Department can help with internships, college preparation, year-long activities for African American high school boys and technology training.
• Neighbors in Need provide grants to folks who are going through a crisis or need urgent services (e.g. avoid foreclosure), but are ineligible to receive help from existing non-profits. It also offers a limited number of scholarships for Pittsburgh students to take an intensive summer SAT preparation course.
• Catholic Charities of Pittsburgh helps Pittsburgh residents with emergency needs, housing & homeless assistance, healthcare for the uninsured, counseling and more.

Allentown may not be a huge college city, but it has plenty going on for Lehigh, Muhlenberg and Cedar Crest students. Like Pittsburgh, most cost of living indices are near the national average and housing costs are nice and cheap. (One thing to note—many Allentown colleges have a residency requirement for freshmen and sophomore years.) The city is served by a public system (LANTA) and downtown nightlife usually has affordable options. General info for residents can be found on the City of Allentown website.

Where to Go for Help in Allentown

It takes a village to create an affordable college education in Pennsylvania. If you’re a low-income Allentown resident with dreams of a degree, there are a number of non-profit organizations that can help you achieve your goals.

• Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley supports Lehigh Valley residents with food assistance, financial counseling, job placement and a variety of neighborhood-focused initiatives.
• The Lehigh Valley Community Foundation manages a number of scholarship funds that support students from a specific high school, students attending a specific college/university or students with specific academic skills/goals.
• Hispanic American Organization (HAO) is devoted to helping Hispanic individuals and families in the Lehigh Valley. HAO has GED-preparation programs, ESL classes, housing services, referral services and an employment agency.
• The Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council offers GED classes, adult basic education and family literacy programs. Conversational English classes are available for ESL learners.