Despite the $336 million allocated this year to the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), students and higher education officials agree there is still need for more higher education funding in Pennsylvania.

In an annual event sponsored by the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania, students arrived at the state capitol last week to lobby for increased funding for PHEAA.

While Gov. Tom Ridge had proposed a 7 percent increase in funds to the state financial-aid agency, students proposed PHEAA's original request of a 3 percent increase during budget talks.

"There's always an additional need," said Mary Young, spokeswoman for the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania.

With an increase in funding for financial aid, 2,000 students — both from private and public higher education institutions — would benefit, Young said.

The more resources that state grants can provide means less money coming from "students' pockets," she added.

Penn State students agree that the university does not provide enough aid for tuition and other costs.

Bethany Santa (junior-hotel, restaurant and institution management) emphasized a need for more scholarships at Penn State. The way financial aid is awarded is another problem, she said.

"(I) have so many people in (my) family. It's unfair that we get cut off (from aid) because our income's too high," Santa added. At Penn State, there often is also a disparity between cost of attendance and the amounts of money students receive in state grants.

According to the Office of Student Aid, the total expenses for an academic year including tuition, living expenses, activity fees and books amount to $12,000. The average grant for an in-state Penn State student is $2,000.

"There's a great need for as much grant support as possible," said Anna Griswold, assistant vice provost for enrollment management and administration.

The Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania will continue to discuss increases in funding for PHEAA when they meet with legislators next week.