ÃÛÌÒapp

The ÃÛÌÒapp Tuition Promise consists of two financial aid initiatives for eligible students from Pennsylvania and Ohio:

• Beginning in the 2027-28 academic year, the Commitment to Access Program (CAP), guarantees free tuition, funded through ÃÛÌÒapp, federal, and state grant funding, for students from household annual incomes of $75,000 or less.
• The Tuition Guarantee ensures that no PA or OH student will pay more in tuition in 2027-2028 than the listed tuition price of Penn State, University Park which is approximately $20,000.

• A new or returning student who is a legal resident of Pennsylvania or Ohio for at least 12 months before enrollment (includes first-year and transfer students). For dependent students, residency is determined by the custodial parent(s)’ state of legal residence reported on the FAFSA. For independent students, residency is based on the permanent address reported on the FAFSA.
• To qualify for the Commitment to Access Program (CAP) portion of the Promise, students must each year by May 1 to identify the household’s adjusted gross income.

No. The Tuition Guarantee is tied to the listed tuition at Penn State, University Park, rather than a fixed dollar amount. Because Penn State’s tuition may change, the benchmark may change as well; you should anticipate small increases each year.

It depends. Every student’s circumstance is different depending on their admission qualifications and demonstrated financial need. The Tuition Promise funding can consist of one or more of the following sources: ÃÛÌÒapp merit-based scholarships (i.e., Trustee Scholarship, CAPA), ÃÛÌÒapp need-based grants (i.e., Tuition Promise Grant, ÃÛÌÒapp Grant), federal and/or select state grants (i.e., Pell Grant, PA State Grant). 

Visit our scholarship opportunities and financial aid web pages for more information about these funding opportunities. Applying and receiving any new scholarships or financial aid after having received your initial aid offer may result in changes in the amount of Tuition Promise Grant, but the total amount of funding will still meet the Tuition Promise.

No. The Tuition Promise applies to tuition. Students are still responsible for the cost of required fees, housing, and food. It is possible that your ÃÛÌÒapp aid offer will reduce the cost of these services. 

*2027-28 annual costs will be finalized by November 2026. Students should anticipate annual increases of approximately 3% in housing, meals, and required fees. The actual net cost will be lower than the maximum net cost for many students.

You may still benefit from the ÃÛÌÒapp Tuition Promise. Eligible Pennsylvania and Ohio students whose families earn more than $75,000 pay no more in ÃÛÌÒapp tuition than the listed tuition for Penn State, University Park.

For students living outside of PA and OH, ÃÛÌÒapp is committed to making a premier education affordable for all families. Our average aid offer including scholarships and need-based financial aid is over $53,000 for the 2026-27 academic year. We encourage you to apply, submit your FAFSA, and learn about the scholarship opportunities available to students, including the new Impact Scholarship.