Many types of grants are available to undergraduate students. You do not need to repay grants, as long as you remain in good academic standing and maintain your enrollment status. The information you submit on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be used to determine your eligibility for federal, state, and institutional grants.

Federal Pell Grant
Pell Grants, reserved almost exclusively for undergraduate students, are an especially important means of aid for low-income students. The size of your grant depends on your income (and, if you are a dependent student, the income of your family), your educational costs, and your enrollment status. If you qualify for a Pell Grant, you may also be eligible for other federal and institutional grants. See Pell Grant for more information.

Academic Competitiveness Grant
The federal government offered Academic Competitiveness Grants for the first time in 2006-2007 to reward students who have completed rigorous high school programs. If you qualify, you can earn up to $750 toward your first year of college. If you are a second-year student and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, you might be eligible for up to $1,300. In order to keep an Academic Competitiveness Grant, you need to continue full-time enrollment and maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher. See Academic Competitiveness Grant for more information.

SMART Grant
The federal government made National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grants available to encourage students to pursue majors that would meet demands in the global economy. Awarded to students in the third or fourth year of their degree programs, SMART grants are reserved for those who major in math, science, technology, engineering, or a critical foreign language. Students can receive up to $4,000 per year, in addition to their Pell Grant funds. See SMART Grants for more information.

State and Institutional Grants
Many states and colleges have their own grant programs. Most often, you can apply for these programs when you complete the FAFSA. These grants are awarded based on information you provide on the FAFSA. Contact your school's financial aid office for more details on institutional grant options.