Academic Competitiveness (AC) Grant Program
Beginning in 2006-07, qualifying students who have completed a rigorous secondary school program and are eligible for federal Pell grants may be eligible to receive additional funds from the Academic Competitiveness Grant Program. Eligible recipients may receive up to $750 for the first year of study and up to $1,300 for the second academic year of study.
Criteria for the Academic Competitiveness Grant
- Be a U.S. citizen;
- Submit a current award year FAFSA (www.fafsa.ed.gov) and qualify for the Federal Pell Grant
- Be enrolled in at least 12 credits each semester in a degree program; beginning 09-10, full time enrollment is not a requirement;
- Be enrolled in the first or second academic year of your program of study;
- Graduated from high school after January 1, 2006 if you are a first-year student, or graduated from high school after January 1, 2005 if you are a second-year student;
- If you’re a first-year student, you cannot have been previously enrolled in an undergraduate program (excluding dual enrollment and tech prep credits); and
- If you’re a second-year student, you must have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale) during your first academic year
- Have completed a rigorous high school program of study (defined as meeting one of the three criterion below):
- California Golden State Seal Merit Diploma
- A set of courses similar to the State Scholars Initiative. This program of study requires passing grades in the following:
- 4 years of English
- 3 years of Math (including Algebra 1 and a higher level course such as Algebra II, Geometry, or Data Analysis and Statistics)
- 3 years of Science (at least 2 courses from biology, chemistry, or physics course)
- 3 years of Social Science; and
- 1 year of a Foreign Language
Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses and test scores.
This program requires a minimum of two Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) course in high school and a minimum passing score on the exams for those classes. Students must score 3 or higher on AP exams and 4 or higher on IB exams.
If you meet all of the criteria listed above, have your high school complete the AC Grant Verification Form at this link: http://cmsauth/NR/rdonlyres/C5389857-3A36-477E-812F-7108EEC15CE6/0/ACG_verification_form_2009_10.pdf
This form must be completed by December 9, 2009.