Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is the largest federal grant program and is based on financial need. To qualify, there is no minimum grade point average or other academic requirements, as along as you attend an eligible school. However; you could lose your funding if you do not maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by your school. The maximum Federal Pell Grant award for the 2008-09 award year is $4,731.

The U.S. Department of Education determines your eligibility based on your answers on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Submit your FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible.

If you receive a Pell Grant, your school will credit your college account with the grant amount, pay you directly, or both. The federal government guarantees that each participating school will receive enough funding to pay the Federal Pell Grants of all eligible students.

Eligible Students:

• Student must be pursuing their first undergraduate degree.
• Student must be U.S. Citizens or eligible non-citizens.
• Student must have a high school diploma, GED, or demonstrate the ability to benefit from the program offered.

Ineligible Students:

• Incarcerated students.
• Students who owe a refund on a Title IV grant.
• Students in default on a Title IV loan.
• Males who have not registered with the Selective Service.

back to top^

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

Schools distribute the need-based FSEOG to full-time and part-time students. Awards range from $100 to $4,000. Your college financial aid office will determine whether you’re eligible from your EFC as reported on your ISIR (the school’s version of your Student Aid Report).

If you qualify to receive a FSEOG, the school will credit your account, pay you directly, or both.

Eligibility:

• Undergraduate students who have exceptional financial need (the lowest Expected Family Contribution) are eligible.
• Federal Pell Grant recipients receive priority but are not guaranteed a FSEOG.

back to top^

ACG & National SMART Grant

To meet the growing need for improved math and science instruction, The Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005 created two new grant programs:

• The ACG (Academic Competitiveness Grant)
• National SMART Grant (National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent)

These grants will encourage students to take more challenging courses in high school, making them not only more likely to be successful in college but also to pursue college majors in high demand such as science, mathematics, technology, engineering, and critical foreign language.

ACG Summary

An ACG will provide up to $750 for the first year of undergraduate study and up to $1,300 for the second year of undergraduate study to full-time students who are U.S. citizens, eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, and who had successfully completed a rigorous high school program, as determined by the state or local education agency and recognized by the Secretary of Education. Second year students must also have maintained a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.

The program is available for the first time for the 2006-07 school year for first year students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2006 and for second year students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2005.

The ACG award is in addition to the student's Pell Grant award. Student must complete the FAFSA to apply for this grant.

Eligibility:

If you can answer yes to all of the following questions, you may potentially be eligible to receive an ACG:

• Are you a U.S. citizen?
  
• Did you graduate from high school after January 1, 2005?
• Are you eligible to receive a Pell Grant?
• Will you be enrolled as a full-time first or second year student in a two- or four-year degree program?

Award Amount:

• $750 for the first year of undergraduate study
• $1,300 for the second year of undergraduate study

National SMART Grant Summary

A National SMART Grant will provide up to $4,000 for each of the third and fourth years of undergraduate study to full-time students who are U.S. citizens, eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, and majoring in physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, or engineering or in a foreign language determined critical to national security.

The student must also have maintained a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in coursework required for the major. The National SMART Grant award is in addition to the student's Pell Grant award. Students must complete the FAFSA to apply for this grant.

Eligibility:

To be eligible to receive a National SMART Grant, you must be able to answer yes to all of the following questions:

• Are you a U.S. citizen?
• Are you eligible to receive a Pell Grant?
• Are you enrolled as a full-time third or fourth year student in a baccalaureate degree program?
• Do you have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average?
• Are you currently enrolled in an eligible major in one of the following categories: computer science, engineering, critical foreign languages, life sciences, mathematics, physical sciences, technology, or multi-disciplinary studies?

Award Amount:

• $4,000 for the third of undergraduate study
• $4,000 for the fourth year of undergraduate study

back to top^

TEACH Grant

Through the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, Congress created the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program that provides grants of up to $4,000 per year to students who intend to teach in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families.

As a recipient of a TEACH Grant, you must teach for at least four academic years within eight calendar years of completing the program of study for which you received a TEACH Grant. If you fail to complete this service obligation, all amounts of TEACH Grants that you received will be converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan. You must then repay this loan to the U.S. Department of Education.

Eligibility

To receive a TEACH Grant you must meet the following criteria:

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), although you do not have to demonstrate financial need.
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
• Be enrolled as an undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, or graduate student in a postsecondary educational institution that has chosen to participate in the TEACH Grant Program.
• Be enrolled in coursework that is necessary to begin a career in teaching or plan to complete such coursework.
• Meet certain academic achievement requirements.
• Sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve

High-Need Field

High-need fields are the specific areas identified as:

• Bilingual Education and English Language Acquisition
• Foreign Language
• Mathematics
• Reading Specialist
• Science
• Special Education

Other identified teacher shortage areas as of the time you begin teaching in that field. These are teacher subject shortage areas (not geographic areas) that are listed in the Department of Education’s Annual Teacher Shortage Area Nationwide Listing (Word document).

Schools Serving Low-Income Students

Schools serving low-income students include any elementary or secondary school that is listed in the Department of Education’s Annual Directory of Designated Low-Income Schools for Teacher Cancellation Benefits.

back to top^

Merit-based Programs
Additional merit-based government programs:

Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP), formerly known as State Student Incentive Grants (SSIG), is funded by individual states and the federal government. College financial aid advisors and high school counselors notify students if they qualify.

Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program is an award that recognizes and promotes student excellence and achievement. High school counselors have additional information.

back to top^