Grants

Federal Pell Grant

Qualifications: Undergraduate students only.
Annual Amount: Up to $4,310
Deadlines & Application: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Description: Pell Grants are given to both in-state and out-of-state undergraduates with financial need. To qualify, you must also have a high school diploma or GED certificate and be enrolled as a student at the university in a degree-seeking program. Check for other specific qualifications in The Student Guide, Financial Aid, from the U.S. Department of Education. The Financial Aid Office has copies, or you can find it also on-line.
To be considered for a Pell Grant, as well as other federal financial aid, you must submit the FAFSA. Your eligibility is determined by your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Early registration and enrollment will help Financial Aid determine what your expected Pell Grant award will be. You will be notified of the amount when you receive your Financial Aid Package, usually in June.
Federal Pell Grants do not have to be paid back. Students with the greatest need receive Pell Grants. The maximum amount depends on what the Department of Education authorizes for the year, the cost of tuition and fees and other expenses at Highlands, the number of hours you take, and whether you attend one or two semesters. Recently (2007-08 AY), the annual maximum amount has been increased to $4,310 for full-time students (12 or more hours) enrolled for both semesters. To continue to receive Pell Grants, recipients must demonstrate Satisfactory Academic Performance (SAP), with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 1.75 for freshmen and 2.0 for sophomores, juniors, and seniors.

Your Pell Grant is part of your Financial Aid Package. At the beginning of the semester, the grant amount is applied to what you owe in your student account in the Business Office (SAR).

Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)

An Academic Competitiveness Grant will provide up to $750 for the first year of undergraduate study and up to $1,300 for the second year of undergraduate study to full-time students who are U.S citizens, eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, and who had successfully completed a rigorous high school program, as determined by the state or local education agency and recognized by the Secretary of Education (see below). Second year students must have also maintained a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0. The program is available for the first time during the 2006-07 school year, to first-year students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2006 and for second year students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2005. The Academic Competitiveness Grant award is in addition to the student's Pell Grant award.
For the 2007-08 school year, ACG1 is available based on eligibility to students who graduated after January 1, 2007 and second year ACG for those who graduated after January 1, 2006.
If a student can answer YES to all of the following questions, they may potentially be eligible to receive an Academic Competitiveness Grant.

Are you a U.S. citizen?
Did you graduate from high school after January 1, 2006?
Are you eligible to receive a Pell Grant?
Will you be enrolled as a full-time first or second year student in a two-year or four-year degree program?

If you answered YES to all of the above questions, you meet the initial requirements for the grant. The FAO will review the rest of the requirements to determine eligibility (High School Academic Rigor; GPA equal to 3.0 and Academic Year Progression).

National SMART (Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent) Grant

A National SMART Grant will provide up to $4,000 for each of the third and fourth years of undergraduate study to full-time students who are U.S. citizens, eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, and majoring in physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, or engineering, or in a language determined critical to national security. The student must also have maintained a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 in coursework required for the major. The National SMART Grant award is in addition to the student's Pell Grant award.
To be eligible to receive a National SMART Grant, you must be able to answer YES to all of the following questions:

Are you a US citizen?
Are you eligible to receive a Pell Grant?
Are you enrolled as a full-time third or fourth year student in a baccalaureate degree program?
Do you have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average?
Are you currently enrolled in an eligible major in one of the following categories: Computer Science, Engineering, Critical Foreign Languages, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Technology, or Multidisciplinary Studies? (Please click below to view complete list of eligible majors).

If you could not answer YES to all of the above questions, you do not qualify to receive a National SMART Grant. However, you may still qualify to receive other types of federal student financial aid (see below).

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

Qualifications: Undergraduate students only (must be Pell Grant recipient)
Annual Amount: Up to $2,000
Deadlines & Application: March 1st Free Application for Federal student Aid (FAFSA); April 15th complete file
Description: Similar to Pell Grants, FSEOG Grants are given to students with high financial need who qualify for Pell Grants. No application is necessary other than the early completion of the FAFSA, and they do not have to be repaid.
Unlike Pell Grants, the university is given a set amount for FSEOG Grants, and all qualified applicants are not guaranteed funding. They are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis to those who have qualified for Pell Grants and, by preference, to out-of-state students. This preference is because the State Student Incentive Grants, funded by both federal and state sources, are identical to the FSEOG Grants in amount, but are reserved for New Mexico residents.

The maximum FSEOG Grants is $2000 for single parents with a zero EFC and pro-rated thereafter; but, the amount will depend on your financial need, the number of eligible students, and the total funding available when your file is complete. The lower your EFC, the larger the amount likely to be funded; however, funding is not guaranteed. The sooner your FAFSA is completed and your EFC determined, the more likely it is you will receive a FSEOG (grant).

State Student Incentive Grant (SSIG)

Qualifications: Undergraduate students only (must be Pell Grant recipient); NM resident.
Annual Amount: Up to $2,000.
Deadlines & Application: March 1st Free Application for Federal student Aid (FAFSA); April 15th complete file
Description: Similar to Pell Grants, SSIG Grants are given to students with high financial need who qualify for Pell Grants. They do not have to be repaid.

Unlike the Pell Grant, the university is given a set amount by the state for SSIG Grants, and all qualified applicants are not guaranteed them. They are given on a first-come, first-serve basis to those who have qualified for Pell Grants and, by law, to state residents. They are identical to the FSEOG Grants in amount, with a $2000 maximum for single parents with a zero EFC and pro-rated thereafter.

College Affordability Grant

Purpose
The purpose of the College Affordability Grant is to encourage New Mexico students with financial need, who do not qualify for other state grants or scholarships, to attend and complete educational programs at a public New Mexico college or university.
How much is the award? Maximum of $1,000 per semester. Renewable if student maintains satisfactory progress. May receive scholarship for a total of eight (8) consecutive semesters.
What are the eligibility requirements? New Mexico residents; undergraduate; must demonstrate financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). May not be receiving any other state or federal grants (other than Pell Grant) and scholarships. Enrolled at least half-time (6 credit hours).

When is the deadline? Deadlines & Application: March 1st Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and April 15th complete file.