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Financial Aid - Grants Information
There are Federal and
State grant programs. There Grants, unlike loans, do not have to be
repaid. For information about State of New Jersey
grants programs
Federal Pell Grant
A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid. Pell
Grants are awarded to undergraduate students who have not earned a
bachelor's or a professional degree. Pell Grants are considered a
foundation of federal financial aid, to which aid from other federal and
nonfederal sources might be added.
How much can I get?
The maximum Pell Grant award for the 2007-08 award year (July 1, 2007 to
June 30, 2008) is $4,310. The maximum award for the 2008-09 award year
(July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009) is $4,731. The maximum can change each
award year and depends on program funding. The amount you get, though,
will depend not only on your financial need, but also on your costs to
attend school, your status as a full-time or part-time student, and your
plans to attend school for a full academic year or less.
If I am eligible, how will I get the Pell Grant money?
Financial Aid Office must disburse funds to your student account at
least once per term. Typically, the funds will be applied by the
financial aid census date, which is after the add / drop period.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) program
is for undergraduates with exceptional financial need. Pell Grant
recipients with the lowest expected family contributions (EFCs) will be
considered first for a FSEOG. Just like Pell Grants, the FSEOG does not
have to be repaid.
How much can I get?
You can receive between $100 and $4,000 a year, depending on when you
apply, your financial need, and the institutional funding. Awards are
based upon the student attending full-time. If students are not
registered for full-time, at the time of disbursements, your award will
be prorated based upon the number of credit hours that you are
registered for.
If I am eligible, how will I get the FSEOG money?
Financial Aid Office must disburse funds to your student account at
least once per term. Typically, the funds will be applied by the
financial aid census date, which is after the add / drop period.
Academic Competitiveness Grant
The Academic Competitiveness Grant was made available for the first time
for the 2006-2007 school year for first year college students who
graduated from high school after January 1, 2006, and for second year
college students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2005.
The Academic Competitiveness Grant award is in addition to the student's
Pell Grant award.
How Much Can A Student Receive?
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
maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0.
1. Eligible Students
An eligible student may receive an Academic Competitiveness Grant (AC
Grant) of up to $750 for the first academic year of study and up to
$1,300 for the second academic year of study. To be eligible for each
academic year, a student must:
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Be a U.S. citizen;
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Be a Federal Pell Grant recipient;
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Be enrolled full-time in a degree program;
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Be enrolled in the first or second academic year of his or her
program of study at a two-year or four-year degree-granting
institution;
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Have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study (after
January 1, 2006, if a first-year student, and after January 1, 2005,
if a second-year student);
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If a first-year student, not have been previously enrolled in an
undergraduate program; and
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If a second-year student, have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point
average on a 4.0 scale for the first academic year.
*Note: that the
amount of the AC Grant, when combined with a Pell Grant, may not exceed
the student's cost of attendance. In addition, if the number of eligible
students is large enough that payment of the full grant amounts would
exceed the program appropriation in any fiscal year, then the amount of
the grant to each eligible student may be reduced.
2. Recognized rigorous
secondary school programs of study for Academic Competitiveness Grant
program in 2007-2008
In order to provide options to students, the following three programs
will be recognized as evidence of rigor in a secondary school program of
study.
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The
State Scholars Initiative requirements. Students who participate in and
complete the State Scholars program will be eligible. This program,
currently offered in fourteen States and patterned after the
recommendations of the National Commission on Excellence in Education,
requires at least four years of English, three years of math (including
Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry), three years of basic lab science
(biology, chemistry, physics), three-and-one-half years of social
studies, and two years of the same foreign language other than English.
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A
required set of courses similar to the State Scholars Initiative. This
program of study includes four years of English, three years of Math
(including Algebra I and a higher level course such as Algebra II,
Geometry, or Data Analysis and Statistics), three years of science
including one year each of at least two of the following courses:
biology, chemistry or physics, three years of social studies, and one
year of a language other than English. The program of study must be
completed with passing grades.
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Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses and test
scores. This program requires a minimum of two Advanced Placement (AP)
or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses in high school and a minimum
passing score on the exams for those classes. Students must score 3 or
higher on AP exams and 4 or higher on IB exams.
National SMART Grant
The National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant, also
known as the National Smart Grant is available during the third and
fourth years of undergraduate study to full-time students who are
eligible for the 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 be enrolled in the courses necessary to complete the
degree program and to fulfill the requirements of the intended eligible
major in addition to maintaining 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.
How Much Can A Student Receive?
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 amount of the SMART Grant, when combined with a Pell Grant, may not
exceed the student's cost of attendance. In addition, if the number of
eligible students is large enough that payment of the full grant amounts
would exceed the program appropriation in any fiscal year, then the
amount of the grant to each eligible student may be reduced.
1. Eligible Students
An eligible student may receive a National SMART Grant of up to $4,000
for each of the third and fourth academic years of study. To be eligible
for each academic year, a student must:
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Be a U.S. citizen;
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Be a Federal Pell Grant recipient;
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Be enrolled full-time in a degree program;
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Be enrolled in a four-year degree-granting institution;
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Major in physical, life or computer science, engineering,
mathematics, technology, or a critical foreign language; and
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Have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale
(as set forth in regulations to be promulgated soon).
Note: A student is
eligible to receive a National SMART Grant if the student enrolls in the
courses necessary to complete the degree program and to fulfill the
requirements of the intended eligible major. That is, an otherwise
eligible student can receive a National SMART Grant for a payment period
only if the student is enrolled in at least one course that meets the
specific requirements of the student's National SMART Grant-eligible
major and it is not necessary that the course be offered by the academic
department that confers the degree in the eligible major. For example, a
student majoring in biology is eligible to receive a National SMART
Grant during a semester in which he or she is enrolled in a physics
course if the physics course is required for the major even if the
student is not enrolled in any biology courses.
A student who is taking
general education courses or electives that satisfy general degree
requirements for the student's National SMART Grant-eligible program,
but who is not taking at least one course specific to and required for
the National SMART Grant-eligible major, is not eligible for a National
SMART Grant payment for that payment period. For example, the biology
student described above may be taking courses during a semester in the
humanities, the arts, and physical education in order to fulfill the
general education requirements of the degree program or major. However,
to be eligible for a National SMART Grant the student must also be
enrolled in at least one course required for the student's National
SMART Grant major. If the student were enrolled only in courses that
satisfy the general education requirements of the National SMART
Grant-eligible program, but not in any courses that are specific to the
major, he or she would not be eligible for a National SMART Grant
payment for the semester.
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