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Grants

Grants are aid that does not have to be repaid.

Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG):

A new federal grant for first-year ($750) and second-year ($1300) students. Eligibility requirements are:

• Be a Federal Pell Grant recipient;
• Have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study (evaluated by the CSU Admission Office using Department of Education regulations).  First-year students must have completed the rigorous program after January 1, 2006 and second-year students after January 1, 2005;
• Be a U.S. citizen;
• Be enrolled in at least 6 hours of a 2-year or 4-year degree program; The maximum amount of ACG is paid for full-time enrollment (12 or more hours). Payments are prorated for 6 to 11 hours of enrollment.
• If a first-year student, must not have been previously enrolled in an undergraduate program;
• If a second-year student, must have a cumulative 3.0 gpa for the first academic year (30 earned hours).

Federal Pell Grant:

Pell Grants are awarded only to students who have not earned a bachelor's or professional degree.
(A professional degree would include a degree in a field such as pharmacy or dentistry.) To determine if you are eligible financially, the U.S. Department of Education uses a standard formula, established by Congress, to evaluate the information you report when you apply. The formula produces an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) number. Your Student Aid Report contains this number and will advise if you are eligible. How much you receive will depend not only on your EFC but on your cost of attendance, whether you are a full-time or part-time student, and whether you attend school for a full academic year or less. The Pell Grant can be credited to your school account, paid directly to you, or a combination thereof. This type of Federal Aid does not have to be repaid.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG):

FSEOG is for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need--that is, students with the lowest EFC. Priority is given to students who receive Federal Pell Grants. An FSEOG does not have to be repaid.

Georgia's Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) Grant:

Awarded to Georgia residents receiving the Federal Pell Grant who demonstrate substantial need. The student must enroll at least half-time (6 semester hours).

National SMART Grant:

The new National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant of $4000 is available to third and fourth year undergraduate full-time students who are majoring in physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, engineering or in a foreign language determined critical to national security.  The student must have maintained a cumulative 3.0 gpa in coursework for the major.  Additional eligibility requirements are:

• Be a Federal Pell Grant recipient;
• Be a U.S. citizen;
• Be enrolled in at least 6 hours of a 4 year degree-granting institution. The maximum amount of a SMART Grant is paid for full-time enrollment (12 or more hours.) Payments are prorated for 6 to 11 hours of enrollment.
• Be enrolled in at least one course necessary to complete the degree program and fulfill the   
  requirements of the intended major.

The 3.0 grade point average is checked each term.  SMART recipients must have a minimum of 60 earned semester hours and no more than 119 semester hours. 

TEACH Grant:

The new Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant provides up to $4000 per year to full-time undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in eligible CSU programs of study who intend to teach in an approved public or private elementary or secondary school serving low-income students. TEACH Grant recipients attending less than full-time will have their grant reduced. Students must agree to serve four academic years as a full-time teacher in a high-need field at an eligible school. To qualify for a TEACH Grant, students must meet and maintain academic requirements of a 3.25 gpa or score above the 75th percentile on a national college admissions test. The gpa requirements do not apply to graduate students who are current teachers or retirees. Failure to complete the service obligation will result in the TEACH Grant funds converting to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan with interest charged from the date the grant was disbursed.

For a full description of TEACH Grant eligibility requirements, please see
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/TEACH.jsp

For a listing of the CSU 2008-2009 eligible programs in high-need fields - Click Here
To discuss the eligible teaching programs at CSU, call 706-568-2191.

For the directory of schools serving low-income students, please see
https://www.tcli.ed.gov/CBSWebApp/tcli/TCLIPubSchoolSearch.jsp

To begin the TEACH Grant application process:

1. Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov and submit any requested documents.
2. Complete the “TEACH Grant initial and subsequent counseling” available online at
   https://teach-ats.ed.gov/ats/studentHome.action.  Do not complete the Agreement to Serve until instructed by the Financial Aid Office.
3. If you scored above the 75th percentile on a national college admissions test, provide a
   copy of the admissions test results to the TEACH Grant coordinator in the Financial Aid
   Office.

Once these steps are completed, the Financial Aid Office will review the student’s eligibility and advise of any additional actions needed.