Grants

Federal Pell Grants

Pell Grants are awarded as determined by the U.S. Department of Education based on financial need and federal funding.

Supplemental Grants

Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG) are federally funded grants awarded to students with exceptional financial need and who qualify for a Federal Pell Grant.

ACG and SMART Grants

Academic Competitiveness Grants, Section 401 A of the "Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005" establishes a grant program for students who have concentrated in math/science or a foreign language critical to U.S. national security.

Grants for first- or second-year undergraduate students are called "Academic Competitiveness Grants."  Grants for third- or fourth-year undergraduate students are called "National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant," or SMART Grant.

The grant program is managed by the Academic Competitiveness Council, chaired by the Secretary of Education and consisting of officials from federal agencies already managing federal programs that promote mathematics and the sciences.

Eligibility Requirements and Grant Amounts:

1^st academic year undergraduate

Recipients must:

• Be full-time students
• Be U.S. citizens
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Be eligible and qualify for federal Pell Grants
• Must have completed a rigorous secondary school program after January 1, 2006
• Not have been previously enrolled in a program of undergraduate education

Grant amount:  Up to $750 over two semesters.

2^nd academic year undergraduate:

Recipients must:

• Be full-time students
• Be U.S. citizens
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Be eligible and qualify for federal Pell Grants
• Must have completed a rigorous secondary school program after January 1, 2005 AND be classified as a sophomore
• Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 at the conclusion of the first-year of undergraduate education (completion of 30 credit hours)

Grant amount:  Up to $1,300 over two semesters.

3^rd or 4^th academic year undergraduate:

Recipients must:

• Be full-time students
• Be U.S. citizens
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Be eligible and qualify for federal Pell Grants
• Be pursuing a major in physical, life, or computer sciences; mathematics, technology, engineering (as determined by the Secretary of Education pursuant to regulations), or foreign language as determined by the Secretary and Director of National Intelligence as critical to U.S. national security National SMART Grants - Fields of Study
• Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in the coursework for their major
• Only receive one award at each grade level (one award as a junior and one award as a senior)

Grant amount:  Up to $4,000 over two semesters

Additional Rules:

• The grant amount, in combination with the student's Federal Pell Grant assistance and remaining financial aid, many not exceed the cost of attendance.
• If the total amount of the grant fund is less than the amount required to provide grants to all eligible students, then the amount of the grant for each student will be reduced.
• If additional amount are then appropriated for any fiscal year, the reduced grants will be increased in the same manner as they were reduced.
• Grants will not be awarded to any students for an academic year for which the student received credit before the date of enactment.

Definition of Rigorous Programs of Study:

Because many states do not yet offer formally recognized rigorous programs of study, and to ensure that private school students, home-schooled students and students enrolled in the Department of Defense schools are eligible, the Secretary of Education will immediately recognize four options for eligibility.  They are:

• Advanced or Honors diploma programs.  The Secretary of Education immediately recognizes all Advanced or Honors diplomas conferred by the states as rigorous programs of study.  According to research by the Department, 19 states currently offer such diplomas upon completion of recognized coursework.
• Stat Scholars Initiative requirements.  This program, supported by Congress, sets course requirements modeled after the National Commission on Excellence in Education recommendations.  Fourteen states participate in this program, and eight additional states begin participation this year.
• Course requirements similar to the State Scholars Initiative.  This program of study includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of science, three years of social studies, and one year of a foreign language.
• Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses and scores.  Students have taken two AP or IB courses and received passing scores on the exams for those courses will be considered eligible.

These guidelines will define rigorous secondary school programs of study for academic years 2006-07 and 2007-08, while long-term coursework guidelines are established.  States that wish to identify alternative rigorous programs of study for 2006-07 have the option of submitted proposals to the Department by June 1, 2006.  To identify alternative programs for 2007-08, the deadlines is November 1, 2006.

State Grants

Nebraska has a grant program for its citizens who receive Pell Grant funding.

Institutional Grants

Doane College awards funds to students who are eligible to receive money to help meet their need as defined by FAFSA.