Federal Grants
To be considered for Federal Funding Sources, a student must submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Grants are awards based on financial need as determined by the FAFSA information and do not have to be repaid. Some grant funds are limited, so it is important for students to plan to file their FAFSA by our priority application date of March 1st each year. Only students who have not yet earned a Bachelor’s Degree can qualify for the federal grant programs.
Pell Grant
The Pell Grant is awarded to students who demonstrate a low EFC (Expected Family Contribution). The EFC determines who receives the Pell Grant and, depending on the student’s enrollment status, the award amount. Full time students will receive the full amount they are eligible for, and students who are less than full time will receive a prorated amount. The maximum award is determined each year by Congress. The award is indexed, so all qualifying students will not receive the same amount.
SEOG (Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant)
SEOG is awarded to Pell Grant recipients as an additional award based on high financial need. These grants generally range from $300 to $1000 per year. Students must be enrolled at least three-quarter time (nine credit hours in most cases) to receive the award.
ACG and SMART Grant
The ACG (Academic Competitiveness Grant) and the SMART (National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent) Grant are available to Pell-eligible students who meet certain academic requirements. Up to $750 can be awarded to eligible first-year ACG students and up to $1,300 to second-year ACG students. Students eligible for the SMART Grant will receive up to $4000 per year during their third and fourth academic year.
Student requirements for both grants include all of the following criteria:
- Must receive a Pell Grant during the semester.
- Must be a U.S. Citizen (Permanent residents and other non-citizens are not eligible.)
- Must be enrolled full time.
ACG Requirements
- Student must be a recent high school graduate.
- Student must be in their first or second academic year of study.
- Student must have completed a rigorous high school curriculum according to the state where student graduated.
- Student must have at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average as of the end of the first academic year to be considered for the second year renewal amount.
SMART Grant Requirements
- Student must be in the third or fourth academic year of an undergraduate degree program.
- Student must be pursuing a major in mathematics, science (including physical, life, and computer sciences), technology, engineering or a critical foreign language, such as Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Russian.
- Student must have at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average as of the beginning of each semester.
