Grants
Federal Pell
Grants
Federal Pell Grants are federal funds
that may be awarded to undergraduate students who have not received
a Bachelor’s degree and who are U.S. citizens or eligible
noncitizens. The amount of the award is determined by the federal
government and is based on each student’s eligibility and
the number of hours for which a student is enrolled. The Federal
Pell Grant award ranges from $400 to $4,500 per academic year. Please
contact our office if you are in the Teacher Licensure Program for
you may qualify for the Federal Pell Grant even if you have obtained
your Bachelor’s degree.
Things You Should Know About Federal Pell Grants
- If you receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) that requires corrections, please refer to the instructions on the SAR. Our office must obtain official authorization of all corrections from the federal processor before any funds can be disbursed to students.
- The amount of your Federal Pell Grant is based on the number of credits for which you enroll each semester. Full-time students will receive their full eligibility. Awards for students enrolled less than full time are prorated based on actual enrollment.
- Federal Pell Grant eligibility is not based on the date you file your application. Filing your FAFSA after the priority application deadline does not affect your eligibility. Federal Pell Grant funds may be used for fall, spring, or summer semesters. Summer Federal Pell Grants may be available to you if you did not enroll full time for the previous fall and spring semesters. Full-time enrollment is considered to be 12 credit hours or more. Please refer to the Summer Semester brochure.
- You may receive the equivalent of two full time semesters of Federal Pell Grant funds each fiscal year. If you attend another school for a semester during your enrollment at Metro State or transfer from another school, we must determine the amount of Federal Pell Grant you can receive. If you are paid in excess of the equivalent of two full-time semesters of Federal Pell Grant, you are responsible for repayment of the overage.
- If you are in default or have a federal
overpayment, you will not be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant.
You must also be making Satisfactory Academic Progress to be eligible
for a Federal Pell Grant.
Federal Supplemental
Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG)
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity
Grants (SEOG) are federal funds awarded to undergraduate students
who have not yet received a bachelor’s degree and who are
U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens. This type of grant is usually
awarded to students demonstrating exceptional need. The amount of
SEOG awards awarded at Metro State range from $200 to $600 per semester.
Academic
Competitiveness Grant (ACG)
Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) is
a new student grant program signed into law on February 8, 2006
as part of the "Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005
(HERA)." The ACG Grant program will be awarded to first- and
second-year college students who have successfully completed a rigorous
secondary school program. First year students must have graduated
after January 1, 2006. Second year students must have graduated
after January 1, 2005. Students must also meet the following criteria
to be eligible for the ACG.
Requirements:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Be a Federal Pell Grant recipient
- Be enrolled full time in a degree program (full-time enrollment is 12 credit hours)
- Be enrolled in your first or second year of study at a two or four year program
- *Have completed a rigorous High School program of study. The student cannot have a GED, but can be home schooled.
- If this is the first year of school, cannot have been enrolled in any undergraduate program
- If this is the second year of school, must have a cumulative 3.0 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 grading scale, and have completed the rigorous high school curriculum. (Summer grades will not be used to boost a spring GPA that is below a 3.)
*Rigorous High School Program Requirements - The Admissions Office is reviewing students' transcripts to determine if a student meets the requirements for a rigorous high school program.
- The qualifications to be eligible
for first-year students out of high school are a minimum of two
Advanced Placement (AP) courses or International Baccalaureate
(IB) courses in high school. The student must score a 3 or higher
for AP exams or a 4 or higher for the IB exams.
OR - Must meet the requirements for the Colorado Higher Education Admission Requirements (HEAR)
The Colorado Higher Education Admission Requirements (HEAR)
- Four years of English
- Three years of math - Algebra I level or higher
- Three years of natural science - two must be lab based
- Three years of social sciences
- Two years of electives, foreign language, music theater, or
other academic courses
ACG Awards
| Fall | Spring | Total | |
| ACG First Year (1-24 earned credits) | $375 | $375 | $750 |
| ACG Second Year (25-48 earned credits) | $650 | $650 | $1300 |
*Please note that the Office of Financial Aid must follow federal regulations when awarding a grant and cannot offer more aid in combination with outside resources and other financial aid than is allowed in a student budget. Some students may not be eligible to receive the full grant award because of budget restrictions and federal regulations./p>
National
Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (SMART Grant)
The National Science and Mathematics Access
to Retain Talent Grant (SMART Grant) is a new student grant program
signed into law on February 8, 2006 as part of the "Higher
Education Reconciliation Act of 2005 (HERA)." The SMART Grants
will be awarded to third- and fourth-year college students who major
in mathematics, science, technology, engineering, or critical foreign
languages. At Metro State, majors eligible to receive the SMART
Grant have Banner codes of CSI, CET, EET, MET3, SUM, BIO, MTH, MTR,
CHE, and PHY. Students must also meet the following criteria to
be eligible for the SMART.
Requirements:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Be a Federal Pell Grant recipient
- Be enrolled full time in a degree program with one of the above majors (full-time enrollment is 12 credit hours)
- Be enrolled in a four year degree granting program
- Major in physical life, computer science, engineering, mathematics, technology, or a critical foreign language (must be one of the above Banner codes to be an eligible major at Metro State)
- Have, at least, a cumulative 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale (The GPA must be calculated for all incoming transfer students from all other schools attended. These calculations will be done through the Admissions Office/Transfer Center.)
SMART Grant Awards
| Fall | Spring | Total | |
| SMART Grant Third Year (49-72 credits) | $2,000 | $2,000 | $4,000 |
| SMART Grant Fourth Year (73-96 credits) | $2,000 | $2,000 | $4,000 |
*Please note that the Office of Financial Aid must follow federal regulations when awarding a grant and cannot offer more aid in combination with outside resources and other financial aid than is allowed in a student budget. Some students may not be eligible to receive the full grant award because of budget restrictions and federal regulations.
Colorado College Responsibilities Grants (CCRG)
Colorado College Responsibilities Grant
(CCRG) are state
funds awarded to undergraduate students who have not yet received
a bachelor’s degree and who are Colorado residents for tuition
purposes. The amount of CCRG awards range from $200 to $600 per
semester.
Eligibility criteria for CCRG are specific to Metro State. The college’s criteria are a modification of the State of Colorado regulations.
Colorado Leveraging
Educational Assistance Program Grants (CLEAP)
Colorado Leveraging Educational Assistance
Program Grants (CLEAP) are a combination of federal and state funds
awarded by the same criteria as CCRG.
- Eligibility criteria for CLEAP are
specific to Metro State. The college’s criteria are a modification
of the State of Colorado regulations.
Supplemental
Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Program (SLEAP) Grants
Supplemental Leveraging Educational Assistance
Partnership Program (SLEAP) is the name given in Colorado to the
federal education grant program known as the Leveraging Educational
Assistance Partnership (LEAP) Program. SLEAP funds are awarded to
undergraduate students who are enrolled in a CCHE- authorized teacher
licensure program, who are participating in student teaching during
the semester of the award, and who demonstrate financial need. To
receive SLEAP funds students must also be U.S. citizens and must
be considered Colorado residents.
Eligibility criteria for SLEAP are specific to Metro State. The
college's criteria are a modification of the State of Colorado regulations.
Metro State will be participating in the Federal TEACH Grant Program beginning in the 2008-2009 academic year. Only students who are completing their first Bachelor’s Degree will be eligible at Metro State. Other eligibility requirements include:
- GPA of 3.25+ or score within the 75th percentile in any battery of the ACT/SAT
- Citizen or eligible non-citizen
- Sophomore standing or greater (30+ completed/transferred credits)
- Complete Financial Aid file
- Completing coursework to become a teacher in one of the following areas:
- Secondary Education/Math
- Secondary Education/Science
- Special Education
- K-12 Modern Languages
- Elementary Education with Linguistically Diverse Endorsement
If you feel you may qualify for and are interested in receiving the Federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant, please contact Metro State’s Teacher Application Center in order to complete a Pre-Application. They can be reached in the West Classroom 136 or by calling 303-556-3691.
Important Notice: The Federal TEACH Grant is not need based and is awarded in amounts of up to $4,000/academic year and is subject to an undergraduate maximum of $16,000. The Grant is pro-rated based on the student’s enrollment status. Students receiving the Federal TEACH Grant agree to teach full time for at least four years in a Title I school in a high-need field within eight years of receiving their teacher licensure. If the student fails to do so, the Federal TEACH Grant is converted to an unsubsidized loan, accruing interest as of the date of the first disbursement.
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