Financial Aid Notes

Grants are generally awarded by federal and state governments for students in extreme financial need.

The grant is gift money that does not have to paid back. All federal grants require you to file the FAFSA form to determine eligibility. Grants are administered and disbursed by the schools.

There are five types of Federal Aid Grants:

1. Pell Grant:
   
   The most common federal grant. It is awarded to undergraduate students only (and in some cases, post-baccalaureate students in teacher certification programs).
   
   The amounts awarded range from $400-to-$4,731 per academic year. The Pell Grant is reserved for the neediest students.
   
   To see if you are eligible for the Pell Grant, you must first submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
   
   It will use a formula to estimate the qualified amount based on the EFC and cost of attendance (see aid step1 for EFC information). Any eligible amount will be noted in your financial award letter from your school:
   
   click to open FAFSA links and information
   
   
   download the Student Guide Book for further information:
   PDF file from the US. Dept. of Education
   
   
   
   
   
2. Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG):
   
   This grant is available for qualified undergraduate applicants who show exceptional financial need. The amounts awarded range from $100-to-$4,000.
   
   You must first compete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form to see if you qualify. It will use a formula to estimate the qualified amount based on the EFC and cost of attendance (see aid step1 for EFC information). Any eligible amount will be noted in your financial award letter from your school:
   
   click to open FAFSA links and information
   
   
   download the Student Guide Book for further information:
   PDF file from the US. Dept. of Education
   
   
   
   
   
3. Academic Competitiveness Grant

   
   An Academic Competitiveness Grant 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 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 grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0. The Academic Competitiveness Grant award is in addition to the student's Pell Grant award.
   
   
   download the Student Guide Book for further information:
   PDF file from the US. Dept. of Education
   

   
   
   

4. National SMART Grant

   
   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 eligible for a Federal Pell Grant and who are 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 grade point average (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.
   
   
   download the US Department of Education Student Aid Booklet for more detailed information about federal grant
   

   
   
   

5. Teacher Education Assistance (TEACH) Grant

   The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program, provides up to $4,000 a year in grant assistance to students who are completing or who plan to complete course work needed to begin a career in teaching.
   
   In exchange for the grant, a student must sign an agreement to serve as a full-time teacher at certain low-income schools or within certain high-need fields for at least four academic years.
   
   download the US Department of Education Student Aid Booklet for more detailed information about federal grants