Academic Competitiveness Grant 

 The Academic Competitiveness Grant is available for the first time for the 2006-2007 school year for first year students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2006, and for second year students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2005. The Academic Competitiveness Grant award is in addition to the student's Pell Grant award.

An Academic Competitiveness Grant will provide up to $750 for the first year of undergraduate study and up to $1,300 for the second year of undergraduate study to full-time students who are eligible for a Federal Pell Grant and who had successfully completed a rigorous high school program, as determined by the state or local education agency and recognized by the Secretary of Education. Second year students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0.

Eligibility requirements for this grant are as follows:

1. Be a U.S. citizen (Awards for 2009-10 will include eligible non-citizens)
2. Be a Federal Pell Grant recipient
3. Be enrolled full-time in a degree program (Awards for 2009-10 will include those attending at least half-time)
4. 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
5. 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)
6. If a first-year student, not have been previously enrolled in an undergraduate program
7. If a second-year student, have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale for the first academic year.

To be considered for this grant, students must submit a final transcript from their high school.