The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) is excited to announce that if you're part of the Commonwealth workforce in Pennsylvania, we've got a great deal for you. PHEAA proudly offers a 0.25% interest rate discount on any new PA Forward or Keystone Student Loan that is disbursed on or after December 1, 2023. This offer is available to Commonwealth employees who are either the borrower, co-signer, or student working at an approved Commonwealth agency.
- Attorney General
- Auditor General
- Board of Claims
- Board of Pardons
- Capitol Preservation Committee
- Center Rural PA
- Civil Service Commission
- Department of Aging
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Banking and Securities
- Department of Community and Economic Development
- Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
- Department of Corrections
- Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs
- Department of Education
- Department of Environmental Protection
- Department of General Services
- Department of Health
- Department of Human Services
- Department of Insurance
- Department of Labor & Industry
- Department of Military and Veteran Affairs
- Department of Revenue
- Department of State
- Department of Transportation
- Environmental Hearing Board
- Ethics Commission
- Executive Offices
- Fish & Boat Commission
- Game Commission
- Governor's Office
- Health Care Cost Containment
- Historical & Museum Commission
- House of Representatives
- Independent Fiscal Office
- Joint State Government Comm.
- Legislative Budget and Finance
- Legislative Data Processing
- Legislative Reference Bureau
- Lieutenant Governor's Office
- Liquor Control Board
- Local Government Commission
- Milk Marketing Board
- PA Commission on Sentencing
- PA Emergency Management Agency
- PA Gaming Control Board
- PA Higher Education Assistance Agency
- PA Housing Finance Agency
- PA Infrastructure Investment
- PA Municipal Retirement Board
- PA Port Authorities
- PA Turnpike Commission
- Patient Safety Authority
- Pennsylvania Parole Board
- Pub School Employees' Retirement System
- Public School Building Auth.
- Public Utility Commission
- Regulatory Review Commission
- Senate
- State Employees' Ret Sys
- State Police
- System of Higher Education
- Treasury
This benefit applies to PA Forward and Keystone Student Loans. Plus, this interest rate reduction is on top of any other rate benefits you might qualify for, both now and in the future, including the:
- 0.25% Direct Debit interest rate reward when approved for automatic payments
- 0.50% Graduation Benefit interest rate reward (for undergraduate and graduate loans only) when you graduate from your program of study
- 0.35% Loyalty Benefit interest rate reward when you choose to consolidate an existing PA Forward or Keystone loan into a new PA Forward Refinance Loan
At PHEAA, we are passionate about creating affordable access to higher education. We hope by adding this perk to your state service that it will help make paying for college easier.
Learn more about PA Forward Student Loans.
Learn more about Keystone Student Loans.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Applicants must select that they are a Commonwealth employee during the online application process. PHEAA will verify that the applicant is part of the Commonwealth workforce in Pennsylvania and the discount will be applied to the applicant's account effective the date of the disbursement. Typically, the reduction is applied in less than 60 days after your loan disburses.
No. Once the rate reduction is applied, you will not lose the benefit. However, once you're no longer a Commonwealth employee, you won't be eligible for the discount on new loans taken out after leaving your state agency.
No. This discount is only good for new loan applications and disbursements that happen on or after December 1, 2023.
No. PA Forward and Keystone Student Loans are credit-based products, so you still need to meet the required credit standards for the loan.
If you have any questions about your eligibility or the processing of your benefit, please contact us at 1-800-233-0557.