Student Grant Programs: Academic Competitiveness Grant and SMART Grant

Two grant programs have been established by the Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005 to further help Pell Grant eligible students. These programs, the Academic Competitiveness Grant (AC Grant) and the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant, will encourage students to take challenging high school courses as well as pursue college majors that are in high demand.

Academic Competitiveness Grant (AC Grant)
An Academic Competitiveness Grant will provide up to $750 for the first year of undergraduate study and up to $1,300 for the second year of study to eligible students. To be eligible for an AC Grant, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen
• Be a Federal Pell Grant recipient (determined by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid - FAFSA)
• Be enrolled full-time in an associate's or bachelor's degree program
• Be enrolled in the first or second academic year of your program of study at a two-year or four-year degree-granting institution
• Have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study (see below)
• Not have been previously enrolled in an undergraduate program (if a first-year student)
• Have at least a cumulative 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale for the first undergraduate academic year (if a second-year student)

The U.S. Department of Education has provided four options that are currently recognized as successful completion of a rigorous secondary school program of study. For the 2006-07 and 2007-08 academic years, the recognized options are:

• Receiving advanced or honors diplomas currently offered by States
• Completing a State Scholars Initiative program
• Completing a set of course requirements that is similar to the State Scholars requirements (four years of English; three years of math, including Algebra I and another higher level math course; three years of science, which must include two years of biology, chemistry, or physics; three years of social studies; one year of foreign language)
• Achieving a specified score on Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate tests after course completion

All states have the option of identifying additional secondary school programs to be recognized as rigorous. Click here to find out what other programs (if any) your state has added to their list.

National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant
A National SMART Grant will provide an eligible student with up to $4,000 for each of the third and fourth academic years of study. To be eligible for each academic year, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen
• Be a Federal Pell Grant recipient (determined by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid – FAFSA)
• Be enrolled full-time in a bachelor's or graduate degree program that includes at least three academic years of undergraduate study
• Be enrolled in a four-year degree-granting institution
• Major in physical, life, or computer science; engineering; math; technology; or a critical foreign language
• Have at least a cumulative 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale in the coursework required for your major

Your college or university will be able to determine if you are eligible for an AC Grant and/or National SMART Grant, so you will not have to provide any additional information beyond what you submit on your FAFSA.

For more information on the AC Grant and the National SMART Grant, visit www.federalstudentaid.ed.gov.