Academic Competitiveness grants are awarded to students who can demonstrate that they completed a rigorous high school program of study before enrolling in college.
Eligible students receive up to $750 in their first year of college, and $1,300 for the second year if they also maintain a 3.0 grade point average in college. This grant is awarded to students over and above any other grants or scholarships.
The program is one among many government grant programs for students. This program is different from other need-based grant programs because students must demonstrate completion of a rigorous course curriculum in high school.
What are the eligibility requirements?
To be eligible to receive an Academic Competitiveness grant, students must:
- be eligible to receive a Pell Grant;
- be enrolled in college in a two- or four-year degree-granting program;
- have completed high school on or after January 2005;
- be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen;
- demonstrate completion of a rigorous academic curriculum in high school as defined for Minnesota and maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 once in college.
How do students apply?
First, students must complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Recent high school graduates who submit the FAFSA and are eligible to receive a Pell grant will be notified by mail or e-mail of their possible eligibility. From there, students bring documentation of their completion of a rigorous high school curriculum to the financial aid office at the college they plan to attend. There is no separate application for the Academic Competitiveness grant.
How does a student demonstrate completion of a rigorous high school curriculum?
It is up to the student to bring appropriate high school transcripts and records from Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs to the college to which he or she is enrolling. The college’s financial aid office will make the eligibility determination.
Option 1
- four years of English;
- three years of mathematics (including Algebra I and a higher level course such as Algebra II, geometry, or data analysis and statistics);
- three years of science (including one year each of at least two of the following courses: biology, chemistry and physics);
- three years of social studies; and
- one year of a language other than English
Option 2
- requires a minimum of two Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses 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.
Option 3
- four years of language arts;
- three years of mathematics (including one year each of geometry and two years of algebra, one of which is intermediate or advanced algebra);
- three years of science (including one year each of a biological and physical science);
- three years of social studies; and
- two years of a single foreign language.
Option 4
- Minnesota Dual Credit Program. High School students taking BOTH a math course (Algebra 2 level or higher) AND a science course (Biology, Chemistry, or Physics) under the Postsecondary Enrollment Options program worth a total of a least six college credits shall meet the rigorous course of study requirement for the Academic Competitiveness Grant.
Are students entering their second year of college potentially eligible?
Yes, as long as they completed high school in January of 2005 or later and maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0
Can home-schooled students qualify for Academic Competitiveness grants?
Yes, as long as a parent or guardian provides documentation of completion of a rigorous course of study.
Do college courses taken during high school through the Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program count?
Yes. College courses taken while still in high school through PSEO can be applied to the eligibility criteria above to demonstrate completion of one of the rigorous programs of study.
Where can students find more information and answers about the Academic Competitiveness grants offered by the U.S. Department of Education?
The financial aid staff at the college where the student is enrolled will be able to answer questions about the grants. Information is also available online at www.studentaid.ed.gov.