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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 full-time in a 2-year or 4-year degree program;
• 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).

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).

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.

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:

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.