Academic Competitiveness Grant and National SMART Grant Programs

Two grant programs, available through the U.S. Department of Education, that provide financial assistance to qualified Pell-eligible students are the Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) and the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant.

Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)

Eligibility
To be eligible for the ACG in New York state, a student must:

• Be a U.S. citizen, or eligible non-citizen
• Be eligible for and a receive a Federal Pell Grant
• Be enrolled at least half-time in a degree program
• Be enrolled in the first or second year program of study 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, but before July 1, 2009) such as:
• a New York State Regents Diploma with Honors or Advanced Designation or
• completion of a set of courses similar to the State Scholars Initiative or
• a specified score on Advance Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses
• If a first-year student, not have been previously enrolled in an ACG elligible program
• If a second-year student, have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average for the first academic year
• Students graduating on or after July 1, 2009, can meet the rigorous secondary school program of study requirement for either a first- or second-year ACG by successfully completing a program that is required by an appropriate official, consistent with state law, to prepare students for college and is reported to the Secretary when the Secretary requires.

Awards

• Up to $750 for the first year of undergraduate study
• Up to $1,300 for the second year of undergraduate study

National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant

Eligibility
To be eligible for the SMART grant in NYS, a student must:

• Be a U.S. citizen, or eligible non-citizen
• Be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant
• Be enrolled at least half-time in a degree program
• Be enrolled in the third, fourth, or fifth (for programs that require a fifth year) year program of study at a four-year degree-granting institution
• Major in physical, life or computer science, engineering, mathematics, technology,eligible liberal arts program, or a critical foreign language
• Have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average

Awards

• Up to $4,000 for each year of study

Additional Information About These Grant Programs

Additional information on both grant programs is available on the U.S. Department of Education’s Web site.

Interesting Scholarship Opportunity

Applicants to these grant programs may also be interested in the NYS Math and Science Teaching Incentive Scholarship.