Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)
The Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) was created by the Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005 and signed into law on February 8, 2006. The initiative of this grant is to encourage students to take more challenging courses in high school in order to become academically prepared for college.
Students must meet certain criteria in order to be eligible for the grant. A student must meet all of the following requirements in order to receive the grant:
- Must be a first or second year student enrolled in a two or four year degree program
- Must be a U.S. Citizen (eligible non-citizens are eligible beginning January 1, 2009)
- Must be eligible for the Federal Pell Grant in the same award year
- Must be enrolled full time (at least 12 credit hours)
- Must have completed a Rigorous Curriculum in high school
- Must have financial need
- Must have a cumulative GPR of 3.0 at the completion of the First Academic Year in order to receive second year ACG
First Year ACG:
First Year ACG students can receive up to $750 per academic year. This is a one time (lifetime) payment. In order to receive first year ACG, a student must have graduated from high school with a rigorous curriculum after January 1, 2006. A student’s ACG can be reduced in the case of an over award situation.
Second Year ACG:
Second Year ACG students can receive up to $1300 per academic year. This is a one time (lifetime) payment. In order to be eligible for the Second Year ACG, a student must have graduated from high school with a rigorous curriculum after January 1, 2005. Students must also have a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale at the end of their first academic year in order to be eligible. A student’s ACG can be reduced in the case of an over award situation.
If a student does not have the GPA requirement of at least a 3.0 at the end of the first academic year, the student will not be eligible for Second Year ACG at a later date (after future terms have been completed). The GPA is a one time snapshot taken and a later GPA cannot be used even if the grades improve. Second Year ACG is awarded based on the one time snapshot.
For the purposes of awarding ACG and ACG eligibility, an Academic Year is complete when 30 hours and 30 weeks have been completed. ACG is not awarded based on hours alone (like loan limits are calculated). Just because a student has Sophomore status, does not actually mean they are eligible for the Second Year ACG.
Because of the stipulation that 30 hours and 30 weeks have to be completed for an Academic Year to be considered complete, any hours a student took while enrolled in high school (dual enrollment, credit by exam, etc) have no weeks automatically because the student was not a regularly enrolled student in college. Therefore, although the student may have 30 hours, s/he has not completed an academic year because s/he has not completed 30 weeks.
Also, because of the regulation that in order to award Second Year ACG a GPA snapshot must be taken, a student that has 30+ hours from dual enrollment, credit by exam, etc is not eligible for second year ACG because there is no GPA on those hours.
Therefore, many students will be classified by the university as Sophomores but have been awarded First Year ACG or they will be classified as Juniors but have been awarded Second Year ACG.
There are three options for a rigorous curriculum.
- Secretary’s recognized program
- For Texas residents this would be the Recommended or Distinguished Programs
- Each state has a similar recognized program
- Two AP scores of at least a 3 OR two IB scores of at least a 4
- Coursework
- 4 years of English
- 3 years of Math (must include Algebra 1 and above)
- 3 years of Science (must include at least two of the following: Biology, Chemistry, or Physics)
- 1 year of a language other than English (Can include ASL (American Sign Language))
An over award by federal regulations is an award that exceeds the student's financial need. Financial Need is determined by taking the COA (cost of attendance) - EFC (expected family contribution). A student cannot exceed their need-based aid. Our department will also look at adjustments for students who exceed our cost of attendance. We adjust over awards for students who are over need and for those students who exceed their cost of attendance prior to all aid being disbursed. If a student receives additional aid resources after all aid is awarded or disbursed we will adjust for that as well and in most cases, funds will need to be returned.