Grants are a form of financial aid, based on need, which you do not have to repay.

Federal Grants

Pell Grant – Largest Federal need-based grant program. The maximum award amount is $5,550 for the 2009-2010 academic year and $5,710 for the 2010-2011 academic year. To apply, must submit FAFSA.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) – Awarded to applicants with most financial need. Priority given to Pell Grant recipients, but funding is limited. Awards range from $100 to $4000 per year. To apply, must submit FAFSA.

Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) – This grant is for students who are enrolled in their first or second year of a program of study at a two-year or four-year degree granting institution. A student who is a first-time freshman or who is enrolled in a certificate program that is at least a one year program at a two-year or four-year degree granting institution may receive up to $750 for that year of study. A student who is enrolled in his second year or who is enrolled in the second year of a two year certificate program at a two-year or four-year degree granting institution may receive up to $1,300 for that year of study. To be eligible, a student must:

1. Submit the FAFSA 2. Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen 3. Be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant 4. Be enrolled at least half time in a degree program in the 1st or 2nd academic year of his or her program of study at a two-year or four-year degree-granting institution. 5. Have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study (After January 1, 2006, if a 1st year student, and after January 1, 2005, if a 2nd year student. Note: The TOPS Core Curriculum or Louisiana’s CORE 4 curriculum qualify as rigorous secondary school programs.)

The President's 2011 Budget Proposal allows the ACG to expire at the end of the 2010-11 academic year.

National Science and mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant – This grant is for students who are in their third, fourth, or fifth year of study majoring in science, engineering, math, or critical foreign language. A student who is enrolled in four-year program of study may receive up to $4,000 for each of the third and fourth years of study at a four-year degree granting institution of higher education. A student who is enrolled in a fifth year in a program of study which requires five full years of coursework as certified by the degree-granting institution may receive $4,000 for the fifth year of study. To be eligible, a student must:

1. Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen 2. Be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant 3. Be enrolled half-time in a degree-granting program 4. Major in physical, life or computer science, engineering, mathematics, technology, or a critical foreign language or if enrolled in an institution that offers a single baccalaureate-level liberal arts curriculum that permits no subject area, but are taking coursework in an area equivalent to a SMART-eligible major at other bachelor degree-granting institutions. 5. Have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale in the coursework required for the student's major

The President's 2011 Budget Proposal allows the National SMART grant to expire at the end of the 2010-11 academic year.

The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant provides $4,000 a year (not to exceed $16,000 for undergraduates or $8,000 for a graduate student). To be eligible a student must:

1. Have a grade point average of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale (Freshmen students must have a 3.25 high school grade point average or score in the 75th percentile on at least one school admissions test) 2. Be completing (or plan to complete) coursework and requirements necessary to begin a teaching career.

Teach Grants must be used for tuition and fees and can only be used for room and board in the case of institutionally owned housing.

Part-time TEACH Grant candidates will have their award reduced in proportion to the amount of time the candidate attends school (a student attending half time will receive half the award)

The amount awarded in combination with other student aid shall not exceed the cost of attendance. If the TEACH Grant exceeds the cost of attendance it shall be reduced until it does not exceed the cost of attendance.

Undergraduate and Graduate students may receive TEACH Grants for the period required to complete their 1st course of study, except for time spent in a noncredit or remedial course of study. Noncredit and remedial and study abroad courses shall not be excluded from eligibility.

TEACH Grant applicants must agree to serve as a full-time teacher for at least four academic years at a high-need school within eight years after completing the course of study. They must teach in one of the following fields:

1. Math 2. Science 3. Foreign Language 4. Bilingual Education 5. Special Education 6. Reading Specialist 7. Another field documented as high need by the Federal Government, State government, or local education agency and approved by the Department

A student must also:

1. Submit certification by the Chief Administrative Officer of the school upon completing a year of teaching. 2. Comply with requirements for being a highly qualified teacher as defined by the Department

Students who do not complete their obligations will have their grant aid treated as a federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan!

Louisiana State Grants

Go Grant – A grant for Louisiana residents that can range from $500 to $2,000. Submit FAFSA to apply. In order to be eligible, a student must:

1. Be a Louisiana resident 2. Receive a Federal Pell grant or a financial need grant 3. Have an Education Cost Gap (ECG) greater than $0 4. Be enrolled in an eligible Louisiana Institution on a full-time or part-time basis have entered college as a first time freshman during academic year 2007-08 or later; OR entered college as a first time freshman during academic year 2007-2008 or later and have become eligible for the Federal Pell Grant or financial need grant after the freshman year; OR be age 25 or older and have entered college as a first time freshman before the 2007-2008 academic year and have had a break in enrollment of at least two consecutive semesters, not including a summer semester or term, immediately preceding the period of enrollment for which the student is being considered for receipt of grant; OR Any student who was a first time freshman beginning with the 2007-2008 academic year or later who was not initially Pell eligible, but subsequently becomes Pell eligible

Leveraging Education Assistance Partnership (LEAP) – A grant for Louisiana residents who are full time students attending Louisiana Post Secondary Schools. Award can range from $200 to $2,000. Submit FAFSA to apply. In order to be eligible a student must:

1. Be a U.S. citizen or national or eligible non-citizen 2. Register with Selective Service, if required 3. Be a resident of Louisiana for at least one year prior to July 1st of the award year Have a high school diploma with at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average or a minimum average score of 45 on the GED Test or an ACT composite score of at least 20 or a postsecondary school GPA of at least 2.00 from the most recent term Be certified as a full-time undergraduate student in an eligible program at an eligible institution 4. Have substantial financial need of at least $199 5. Be in compliance with the terms of other federal and state student aid programs that are administered by LASFAC, which the applicant may be receiving 6. Not be in default of an educational loan 7. Not have a criminal conviction, except for misdemeanor traffic violations 8. Agree that the award proceeds will be used exclusively for educational expenses

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Scholarships are financial aid awards for prospective college students. Award amounts and criteria for the awards vary. Scholarships usually do not have to be repaid. Some scholarships have stipulations requiring the recipient to maintain a certain grade point average or complete certain employment requirements. The penalty for failing to meet these obligations can be repaying the money received.

Louisiana State Scholarships

TOPS (Taylor Opportunity Program for Students) is a program of state scholarships for Louisiana residents who attend either one of the Louisiana Public Colleges and Universities, schools that are a part of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System or institutions that are a part of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.

The four different award components of the TOPS Program are:

TOPS Opportunity Award TOPS Performance Award TOPS Honors Award TOPS Tech Award

Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship - The Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship is a competitive scholarship that awards $1000 annually to a student pursuing a degree in forestry, wildlife or marine science at a Louisiana Public College or University. The cumulative maximum award is $7,000 for up to five years of undergraduate study and two years of graduate study. Click Here for more information.