Academic Competitiveness Grant

As an addition to the Pell Grant, the ACG (Academic Competitiveness Grant) is a brand new grant made available by the federal government for students who qualify by meeting strict academic eligibility requirements. New for the 2006-2007 academic year, this grant is only available to first and second year students, and only if they meet both the graduation deadlines and academic requirements.

To be eligible for this new college grant, first year students are eligible for this grant if they are a high school graduate by January 1^st, 2006 or later. Those second year students may be eligible for the ACG if they are a high school graduate by January 1^st of 2005.

Grant Awards

First year undergraduate students are eligible to receive the Academic Competitiveness Grant of a maximum of $750. Those in their second year can receive an ACG of a maximum of $1,300. There are conditions and requirements necessary to become eligible for this grant.

This grant was designed to supplement the Pell grant and the maximum award is not necessary the award the student will get. Essentially, as a combination the ACG and the Pell Grant awards cannot be more than what it will cost the student in tuition.

Academic Competitiveness Grant Eligibility Requirements

The ACG has a set of strict eligibility requirements, in which every student or recipient must follow to become eligible. Let's take a look at some of these requirements now. In order to receive the Academic Competitiveness Grant any student must be:

Citizen of the United States
Recipient of the Pell Grant
Be attending a 2 or 4 year accredited college and in their first or second year of studies
Studied in the identified school program
First year students may not have attended any other college prior to applying
Second year students must attain and maintain a GPA of no less than 3.0 on a GPA scale of 4.0 during the first year of attendance.

Identified School Program

Those students that may be eligible for the Academic Competitiveness Grant are required to participate in what is known as rigorous study of secondary school programs. There are three different programs that qualify as meeting these requirements. One program is called the State Scholars Initiative. In this program, which is available in 14 states, students must have 2 years of foreign language, 3 ½ years of social studies, 3 years of physics, chemistry, or biology (also known as basic lab science), 3 years of math, and 4 years of English.

Another eligible program are any programs that are similar to that of the initiative above, which must include passing and completing 1 year of foreign language, 3 years of social studies, 2 years of science, 3 year of math, and 4 years of English.

Lastly, any student passing two IB (International Baccalaureate) or two (AP) Advanced Placement classes while in high school is eligible for the ACG as well. In order to pass, you must have a minimum score of four on the International Baccalaureate exams or a minimum score of 3 on the Advance Placement exams.