On July 19,2024, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) announced it has partnered with national nonprofit uAspire to launch a free statewide helpdesk to assist students with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application.

FAFSA completion nationwide is at crisis-low levels due to delays in the application release and subsequent processing and data errors, which is why it is now more important than ever for Pennsylvania to lend support to postsecondary students. PDE has worked closely with the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, higher education institutions, and high school administrators to increase support for students who need help completing the FAFSA or addressing errors on their FAFSA application. The launch of the new helpdesk ensures that students have the help they need during the summer months when they can’t rely on school resources.

This summer, Pennsylvania students, families, and aspiring postsecondary learners can text 313-PA-FAFSA (313-723-2372) to receive personalized support through a scheduled phone call or virtual advising session. Assistance is available in English and in Spanish. In addition to the FAFSA helpdesk, the partnership will also provide postsecondary practitioners with free professional development on all aspects of FAFSA completion, including corrections and verification, as well as financial aid offer review. 

FAFSA is the sole gateway to all federal, state, and most institutional financial aid in Pennsylvania, including student loans available for all income levels.  For more information, click here.