Grants

Grants are gifts of money that do not have to be earned or repaid. To apply for grants awarded by the Office of Student Financial Aid, students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and complete all other required documents each year.  For information on the financial aid application process, refer to our Step-by-Step Process web page.

The U.S. Department of Education web site has additional information on grant programs.

Students will automatically be considered for the following grants, if they have submitted all required financial aid documents.  There is no additional application process (Exception: TEACH Grant).

 

Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)

This federal need-based grant is for first and second year full-time students (twelve or more hours per semester) who are U.S. citizens. The student must be a Federal Pell Grant recipient and have successfully completed a rigorous high school program as established by a state or local educational agency. Eligible first-year students receive up to $750 for the academic year and second-year students receive up to $1300 for the academic year.

To qualify for the first-year ACG the student:

• must have graduated from high school after January 1, 2006
• may not have previously enrolled in an undergraduate degree program

To qualify for the second-year ACG the student:

• must have graduated from high school after January 1, 2005
• must have sophomore status (earned between 30 and 59 hours) at the beginning of the semester
• must have earned a cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.0 or greater by the end of their freshman year

 

Federal Pell Grant

This federal need-based grant is awarded to the most needy students, determined by filing the FAFSA. Only undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's degree are eligible. The amounts vary each award year depending on program funding, number of hours for which the student is enrolled, and the expected family contribution. The maximum 2008-2009 academic year award for a full-time student is $4,731. Less than half-time enrollment is allowed in certain circumstances.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

This federal need-based grant is awarded to students with exceptional financial need, determined by filing the FAFSA. Only undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's degree are eligible. Students must be enrolled at least half-time (six hours per semester) and may receive this grant for a maximum of eight semesters.

Iowa Grant

This state need-based grant is awarded to students with exceptional financial need, determined by filing the FAFSA. Only undergraduate students who are residents of Iowa and have not earned a bachelor's degree are eligible. Students must be enrolled at least half-time (six hours per semester) and may receive this grant for a maximum of eight semesters.

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

This federal need-based grant is for third and fourth year (earned between 60 and 120 hours at the beginning of the semester) undergraduate students who are U.S. citizens. Students must be full-time (twelve or more hours per semester) Federal Pell Grant recipients and maintain a 3.0 cumulative Grade Point Average in the coursework required for their major. Students must be majoring in physical, life or computer sciences, engineering, mathematics, technology, or a foreign language that is critical to U.S. National Security. Eligible students could receive a maximum of $4,000 per academic year.

University of Iowa Pathways Grant

The Iowa Pathways Program is available to first-time, first-year undergraduate dependent students (not transfer students) who are residents of Iowa and graduate in the top ten percent of their Iowa high school graduating class. The parent income must be at or below 150% of poverty level and the student must be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant.

The FAFSA must be submitted to the Department of Education by March 1 preceding the academic year for which the student is applying.  All other required documents must be submitted to the University of Iowa Office of Student Financial Aid by May 1 for the upcoming academic year.

To participate in the Pathways program in subsequent years, students must:

• be enrolled full-time each semester,
• maintain a 3.0 University of Iowa grade point average,
• have a parental income at or below 150% of poverty level, and
• be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant (determined by filing the FAFSA). Each year the FAFSA must be filed by March 1 and all supporting documents must be submitted by May 1 for the upcoming academic year.

 

Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant

To apply for this grant, students will need to complete a separate application, available from the Office of Student Financial Aid. The TEACH Grant Program is a non-need-based program providing grants of up to $4,000 per year to graduate students enrolled in select College of Education teacher certification programs.

Eligibility requirements are:

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), though students do not have to demonstrate financial need
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Be enrolled as a graduate student taking coursework that is necessary to begin a career in teaching or
  plan to complete such coursework, or an endorsement in a high need field (Math, Science, Foreign Language/ESL, Special Education, Developmental Reading). Such coursework may include subject area courses (e.g., math courses for a student who intends to be a math teacher)
• Have a 3.25 cumulative grade point average OR meet GRE requirements

In exchange for receiving a TEACH Grant, students must:

• agree to teach for at least four academic years in a high-need field within eight calendar years of completing the program of study for which they received a TEACH Grant
• teach in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves low-income students
• teach at least 70 percent of the time in a high-need field (part-time teaching is not eligible for loan forgiveness)

IMPORTANT--If you receive a TEACH Grant but do not complete the required teaching service, as explained above, you will be required to repay the grant as a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, with interest charged from the date of each TEACH Grant disbursement.

Refer to the Department of Education TEACH Grant Program Web Site for additional information.

 

The University of Iowa, Office of Student Financial Aid
208 Calvin Hall, Iowa City, IA, 52242-1315
financial-aid@uiowa.edu, 319-335-1450, 800-553-4692
Fax 319-335-3060

© 2007 The University of Iowa