Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)

The Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) is for first-year undergraduate students (eligible to receive up to $750) and second-year undergraduate students (eligible to receive up to $1,300). The ACG eligibility criteria are listed below:

To be eligible for an ACG, you must:

1. Be a U.S. citizen

2. Be Federal Pell Grant eligible

3. Be enrolled full-time in a degree program

4. Be enrolled in the first or second academic year of your program of study at a two-year or four-year degree-granting institution

5. 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)

6. Not have been previously enrolled in an undergraduate program (if you are a first-year student)

7. Have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale for the first academic year (if you are a second-year student).

   FAFSA on the Web will predetermine if you are eligible for the Academic Competitiveness Grant.

   If you have submitted a paper FAFSA and have received your Student Aid Report (SAR) indicating that you may be eligible to answer the ACG questions, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4FED-AID.

   You can also contact the financial aid office at your school.

   If you have not yet filled out a FAFSA, the FAFSA Site will give you the information you need, or check my link to FAFSA for a downloadable application.

   Back to Grants 101