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

The Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005 (HERA) created two new grant programs, the Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) and the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant for full-time students at degree-granting institutions who are eligible for Federal Pell Grants an are U.S. citizens.

Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)

An eligible student may receive an ACG of up to $750 for the first academic year of study and up to $1,300 for the second academic year of study. To be eligible for each academic year, a student must:

• Be a U.S. citizen;
• Be a Federal Pell Grant recipient;
• Be enrolled full-time in a degree program;
• Be enrolled in the first or second academic year of his or her 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);
• If a first-year student, not have been previously enrolled in an undergraduate program; and
• If a second-year student, have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale at the end of the first academic year.

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

An eligible student may receive a National SMART Grant of up to $4,000 for each of the third and fourth academic years of study. To be eligible for each academic year, a student must:

• Be a U.S. citizen;
• Be a Federal Pell Grant recipient;
• Be enrolled full-time in a degree program;
• Be enrolled in a four-year degree-granting institution;
• Major in physical, life or computer science, engineering, mathematics, technology, or a critical foreign language;
• Have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.

And effective as of October 1, 2007

• Be enrolled in at least one (1) course that meets the specific requirements of the student’s National SMART grant-eligible major each payment period. If the student were enrolled only in courses that satisfy the general education requirements of the National SMART grant-eligible program, but not in any courses that are specific to the major, he or she would not be eligible for a National SMART Grant payment for the semester.

Note: The ACG or SMART Grant, when combined with a Pell Grant, may not exceed the student’s cost of attendance. Students must be receiving the Pell Grant at the time in which they receive the ACG or SMART Grant.