April 1-- UPJ's priority filing deadline for FSEOG. To apply for FSEOG, you must submit the FAFSA to the Federal Processor by April 1.
May 1-- PHEAA's priority filing deadline for the PHEAA State Grant. To apply for the PHEAA State Grant, you must submit the FAFSA to the Federal Processor by May 1.
...explore all grant options before seeking loans. Since grants do not have to be repaid, they are definately the cheapest financing option--they are free money!
...submit your FAFSA prior to the established deadline to ensure having your eligibility reviewed for all grant programs.
Grants and Other Gift AidGrants are free money that you do not need to repay. These funds come from a variety of sources including the college, the state and federal governments and outside organizations. Although you are not required to repay these funds, you may need to meet certain criteria in order to maintain eligibility for grant money, including making satisfactory academic progress. Grant programs include the following:
Federal Pell Grant
Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency Grant (PHEAA)
Grants from Outside Agencies
Academic Competitive Grants (ACG) and National Science & Mathematics Access To Retain Talent (Smart) Grants
ACG and SMART Grants are new federal grant programs authorized by Congress starting in 2007-2008 academic year. The following criteria will be used to determine grant eligibility:Academic Competitive Grants (ACG) will be available to first and second year undergraduate students who:¨ Are U.S citizens ¨ Have a Pell Grant award¨ Are enrolled as a first or second year student in a two-year or four-year degree program ¨ Are enrolled full time (12 credits per term) ¨ Have completed a “rigorous” high school curriculum¨ Are first year students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2007 and have not previously enrolled in an undergraduate program. College courses taken while in high school will not affect eligibility OR¨ Are second year students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2006 and have a 3.0 GPA. ACG will provide up to $750 for the first year of study and $1,300 for the second year of study. SMART Grants will be available to third and fourth year undergraduate students who: ¨ Are US citizens¨ Have a Pell Grant award ¨ Are enrolled full time ¨ Major in physical, life, or computer science, engineering, mathematics, technology, or a critical foreign language ¨ Have and maintain at least a cumulative 3.0 GPA for all quarters of eligibility. Students admitted as juniors for fall 2007 will have their initial eligibility based on their transfer GPA. SMART Grants will provide up to $4000 for the third and fourth year of study.
