On Feb. 8, 2006, President Bush signed into law two new student grant programs; the Academic Competitiveness (ACG) Grant and the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant.

Both grants have been created to encourage students to take more challenging courses in high school and to pursue college majors that are in high demand in the global economy, such as science, mathematics, technology, engineering and critical foreign languages. If you do qualify for the ACG grant, the amount for students who have earned between 0 and 29 credits is $750 per year and $1300 for those students who have earned between 30 and 59 credits. The amount for National SMART Grants is $4,000 per year.  Students are eligible for only 4 semesters of each type of grant if they meet all the eligibility requirements.

Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)

To qualify, students must meet all of the following requirements
• Students must apply each academic year for financial aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). 
• Students must be eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant, as determined by Purchase College’s Financial Aid Office.
• Students must be U.S. Citizens.
• Students must be enrolled in a two- or four-year degree program.
• Students must be enrolled fulltime each semester which the federal government has determined to be 12 credits or more per semester.
• Students must be in their first or second academic year of a two- or four-year degree program.  In other words, they cannot have earned more than 59 credits. 
• First-year students must have completed high school after January 1, 2007.
• Second-year students must have completed high school after January 1, 2006.
• All ACG students must have completed a rigorous high school program of study as designated by the Purchase College Office of Admissions.
• Students must maintain a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0.

In order to apply you must complete a FAFSA.  Part of the FAFSA process may include a section that will determine if you are eligible to apply for the Academic Competitiveness Grant. If you meet the basic qualifications, you will be asked to answer additional questions to initially determine if you meet the standards of rigorous secondary coursework. However, Purchase College makes the ultimate decision regarding your final eligibility for this program.

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

To qualify, students must meet all of the qualifications:
• Students must apply for financial aid each academic year by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Students must be eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant, as determined by Purchase College’s Financial Aid Office.
• Students must be U.S. Citizens.
• Student must be enrolled in a two- or four-year degree program.
• Students must be enrolled fulltime each semester, which the federal government has determined to be 2 credits or more each semester.
• Students must be in their third or fourth academic year of a four-year degree program. In other words, student must have earned between 60 and 120 credits.
• Students must be pursuing a major in mathematics, science (including physical, life, and computer sciences), technology, engineering, or a critical foreign language, such as Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Russian.
• Students must maintain a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 each semester.
In order to apply you must complete a FAFSA and Purchase College will determine if you are eligible for the SMART Grant. There is no separate application, other than a completed FAFSA, and the award will disburse automatically once you are registered.

A student can become ineligible to receive a SMART Grant if they:
• Change to an ineligible major during the period for which they were awarded a SMART Grant, or
• Have a grade point average of less than 3.0 for any semester that were awarded a SMART Grant, or
• Become ineligible for a Pell Grant or,
• Drop below 12 credits per semester or,
• If they have already received 4 semesters of SMART Grant funds

Previously eligible students should check with the Financial Aid Office at the beginning of each semester to make certain of their continued eligibility.  All SMART Grant awards are considered to be “estimates” until after the add/drop registration period when credits and any change of majors can be verified.  The Financial Aid Office will notify the student via email if they are no longer eligible for this grant.