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Federal Aid Programs

Presented ByDrew Johnson

Brown Mackie College Atlanta

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Federal Aid Programs

Overview

• The major source of federal student aid is the Title IV programs (so named because the programs are authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act). These programs are administered by the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) in the U.S. Department of Education.

• Most federal student aid is based on financial need rather than scholastic achievement. Most grants are targeted to low-income students.

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• Pell Grant• Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)• National Science and Mathematics

Access to Retain Talent Grant (SMART)

Gift Aid

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Federal Pell Grants

• Awarded to eligible undergraduates pursuing first baccalaureate or professional degree and certain students enrolled in post-baccalaureate teacher certification or licensing programs

• Actual award amount based on COA, EFC, and enrollment status

• Maximum award for 2010/2011 = $5,550

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Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)

• Federal Pell Grant recipient• U.S. citizen, or eligible non-citizen• Completed a rigorous secondary program of study• Enrolled at least half-time (prorated for less than full-time)• 3.0 GPA (for second year)• Completed secondary school after January 1, 2006, for

first year students and after January 1, 2005, for second year students

• $750 first year students• $1,300 second year students

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• Awarded to students who are in their third and fourth years of an undergraduate academic program

• Federal Pell Grant recipient• U. S. citizen or eligible non-citizen• Maintain a 3.0 GPA• Enrolled at least half-time (prorated for less than full-time)• Pursue an eligible major such as mathematics, science,

technology, engineering and certain foreign languages• Award amount is $4,000.

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

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• Campus-based programs are administered by participating schools that receive funds allocated by the federal government. The money is limited, and schools decide how much to award each eligible student using guidelines set by Congress and ED.

Campus Based Programs

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• Eligible students:– Undergraduates pursuing first baccalaureate or

professional degree– Awarded first to students with “exceptional financial

need” (i.e., students with lowest EFCs at that school)– Priority to Federal Pell Grant recipients

• Annual award amounts:– $100 minimum– $4,000 maximum

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)

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• Eligible students: Undergraduate, graduate, and professional students

• Employment may be on or off campus• Eligible employers:

– Schools– Federal, state, or local public agencies– Certain private nonprofit and for-profit organizations

• Schools must use portion of FWS funds for community service employment activities

Federal Work-Study (FWS) Earnings

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• http://ifap.ed.gov/ifap/• http://studentaid.ed.gov/

PORTALSWebApp/students/english/index.jsp

To find out more about Federal Aid Programs you can visit

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Questions or Comments?