New Year, New Budget Issues: PHEAA Funding Delays Spark Concern Among Students and Administration

A new academic year always poses challenges for both faculty and students, but the issues of the 2025-2026 year have caused significant confusion and frustration, according to the Pitt-Greensburg President Dr. Bob Gregerson.

Significant delays and little communication from the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA)  regarding grants have left many students at Pitt-Greensburg and across the state without answers.

“The state of Pennsylvania has not passed a budget yet. It was due June 30,” Dr. Gregerson said. 

This delay impacts low-income students who rely on PHEAA grants to help pay for school, causing uncertainty and confusion. Students who are waiting for grant funds have received emails from PittPay indicating they have outstanding balances on their accounts. 

According to BJ Sarneso, assistant director of financial aid at Pitt-Greensburg, the entire situation is out of Pitt’s control–something that also frustrates Dr. Gregerson. 

“Last year was a terrible year at the federal level, because of the FAFSA issue… but now we have it at the state level,” Dr. Gregerson said.

In the 2024-2025 academic year, students faced challenges due to issues with FAFSA loan disbursements, forcing many to pay out-of-pocket or defer payments altogether. The FAFSA issues stemmed from technical shortcomings and a botched rollout of the 2024 federal loan form. Now, the similar issues with loan disbursement from PHEAA are due to an ongoing stalemate over the state budget. Students have been left to fill the gap.

“It’s going to come in, they will fund that, there’s just this maddening delay,” Dr. Gregerson said. 

In the meantime, the lack of transparency and answers may make students feel anxious. Dr. Gregerson advises students to meet with financial aid experts on campus to explore options. To reach out to Pitt-Greensburg Financial Aid, contact: Brian J. Beighley, director of Financial Aid, 724-836-7167, bjb74@pitt.edu;  or BJ Sarneso, assistant director of Financial Aid, 724-836-7459, sarneso@pitt.edu. The Financial Aid Office is located in 120 Millstein Library. Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

photo by Alexander Grey