Grants Programs For College Are Looking For Applicants!
Are you interested in federal government grants to pay for college? You've probably heard of the Pell Grant, but you may not know about two other grants programs available to college students, the Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) and the National SMART Grant. Apparently, not too many students are aware of these new grants programs, because there was a LOT of money (hundreds of millions of dollars) left over last year. The Education Department hopes to award thousands more grants this year.
Federal grant money for college: they can't give it away!
The Academic Competitiveness and National SMART Grant programs are only two years old and not well publicized yet, which may explain why fewer students have applied for the grants than the program developers anticipated. The best thing about any grant, however, is that it's free money—you don't have to pay it back. If the federal government wants to help you pay for your college degree, step right up and apply.
Department of Education officials estimate that approximately 484,000 Academic Competitiveness grants and 71,000 SMART grants will be awarded in 2009, as more and more schools sign up to participate in these new grants programs.
The Academic Competitiveness and National SMART grants programs
Both the Academic Competitiveness Grant and National SMART grant programs were created to supplement Pell Grants for low-income students with good grades. In any given academic year, you must be a Pell grant recipient in order to be eligible for an ACG or SMART grant.
Academic Competitiveness Grant
The ACG program is geared for students who took challenging courses in high school and is available to qualifying first- and second-year college students who maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0. First-year college students can get up to $750 and second-year students can get up to $1300. For complete details on this grant program, see our Academic Competitiveness Grant article.
National SMART Grant
The National Science & Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) grant program is intended for college students willing to major in science, math, technology, engineering, or a foreign language defined as critical for homeland security careers. The SMART grant is awarded to full-time undergraduate third- and fourth-year students who maintain at least a 3.0 GPA. Qualifying students can get up to $4000 each year. After July 1, 2009, the SMART grant program will be open to part-time students, students in certificate programs, and students in their fifth year of a certified five-year program. See our National SMART Grant article for complete details on this program.
Pell Grant
The Pell grant is the best-known federal grant program. Designed for high-achieving students in significant need of financial assistance, Pell grants are generally awarded to undergraduates who don't have a bachelor's degree or professional degree. For the 2008-2009 academic year, qualifying students can get up to $4,731. Complete details of the program can be found in our Pell Grants article.
ACG and SMART grants programs are looking for takers
If you're going back to school this year, try to get as many grants as you're eligible for to help with your education costs. The U.S. Department of Education does not want money left lying on the table again this year when there are so many deserving students in need. When researching your college options, look for schools that participate in these new grants programs in addition to the time-honored Pell Grant.
Find a degree program that works for you
Source: "New Grants Have More Takers but Are Still Below Goals," by Kelly Field, Chronicle of Higher Education Online, 1/13/09