Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)
The Academic Competitiveness Grant provides up to $750 for the first year of undergraduate study and up to $1,300 for the second year of undergraduate study. The program became available for the first time for the 2006-07 academic year for first year students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2006 and for second year 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.
To be eligible for each academic year, a student must:
- be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen;
- be a Federal Pell Grant recipient for the same award year;
- be enrolled at least half-time in a degree program;
- be a first-year or second-year undergraduate student or a student in a certificate program of at least one year in a degree program at a two-year or four-year degree granting institution;
- 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); and
- if a first-year student – not have been enrolled in an ACG-eligible program while at or below age of compulsory school attendance; or
- if a second-year student – have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale as of the end of the first year of undergraduate study.
| Award amounts based on grade and enrollment level: | |
|---|---|
| First year freshman: full-time (12 or more credits) | $750 |
| First year freshman: three quarter-time (9-11 credits) | $563 |
| First year freshman: half-time (6-8 credits) | $375 |
| Second year sophomore: full-time (12 or more credits) | $1,300 |
| Second year sophomore: three quarter-time (9-11 credits) | $975 |
| Second year sophomore: half-time (6-8 credits) | $650 |