Determining Financial Need

• Pregnant women in Pennsylvania who are interested in obtaining grants for school must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to determine their financial need. The information you provide on this form allows the federal government to calculate the amount of money you can afford to pay toward educational costs. The federal government calculates your financial need by subtracting the amount you can afford to pay from the total cost of attendance. If you have at least one child or are over age 24, the federal government considers you independent when calculating your financial need, which typically increases the amount of aid you can receive.
  
  

Federal Aid

• Pregnant women in Pennsylvania who have limited income may be eligible for federal aid in the form of a Federal Pell Grant or Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant. If you qualify for a Federal Pell Grant, you can receive between $555 and $5,550, depending on your financial need. If you qualify for an FSEOG, you can receive between $100 and $4,000. If you receive a Federal Pell Grant, you have a better chance of qualifying for an FSEOG.
  
  

Pennsylvania State Grant Program

• The Pennsylvania State Grant Program offers funding to Pennsylvania students who demonstrate financial need on their FAFSA forms. During the 2010 school year, individuals could qualify to receive up to $4,348 from this program, depending on the severity of their need and the amount of funding available. If you are pregnant and have low income, you may be eligible for funding from this program.
  
  

Other Sources of Assistance

• Pregnant women in Pennsylvania may qualify for additional financial aid in the form of loans, such as the Federal Stafford Loan or Federal Perkins Loan. They may also qualify for the work-study program, which are programs offered by colleges that allow students to work and earn money they can use to pay for schooling. Women who need childcare during school may be able to obtain assistance from Pennsylvania's Child Care Works Subsidized Child Care Program.