Federal Grants & Scholarships
The federal and state governments offer many financial aid opportunities for students. Please click through the options below to see if you are eligible to receive more financial aid!
Current Announcement |
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Federal Pell Grant |
Unlike a loan, grants do not have to be repaid. The Federal Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to low-income students to promote access to postsecondary education. Grant Amount Grant amounts are dependent on: the student’s expected family contribution (EFC); the cost of attendance (as determined by the institution); the student’s enrollment status (full-time or part-time); and whether the student attends for a full academic year or less.
2022-2023 Amount: Eligibility Limit Effective on July 1, 2012, you can receive the Federal Pell Grant for no more than 12 semesters or the equivalent (roughly six years). You’ll receive a notice if you’re getting close to your limit. If you have any questions, contact us. |
SEOG |
The SEOG (Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant) Program provides need-based grants to help low-income undergraduate students finance the costs of postsecondary education. Grant Amount Up to $500. Awarded to Pell-eligible students with the lowest expected family contribution until funds are used up. Eligibility Determination Each participating school receives a certain amount of SEOG funds each year from the U.S. Department of Education’s office of Federal Student Aid. When making SEOG awards, the institution must give priority to those students with “exceptional need” (those with the lowest Expected Family Contributions, or EFCs, at the institution) and those who are also Federal Pell Grant recipients. Once the full amount of the school’s SEOG funds has been awarded to students, no more SEOG awards can be made for that year. This system works differently from the Federal Pell Grant Program, which provides funds to every eligible student. Make sure you apply for federal student aid as early as you can because SEOG is awarded on a first come, first serve basis. |
TEACH Grants |
Secondary and Elementary education majors may be eligible for the Federal TEACH Grant. Please see the criteria below to find out if you qualify for this opportunity. What is the TEACH Grant Program? The TEACH Grant Program provides grants of up to $4,000 a year to students who are completing or plan to complete course work needed to begin a career in teaching. As a condition for receiving a TEACH Grant, you must sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve in which you agree to (among other requirements) teach in a high-need field at an elementary school, secondary school, or educational service agency that serves students from low-income families for at least four complete academic years within eight years after completing (or ceasing enrollment in) the course of study for which you received the grant. What majors are eligible for a TEACH Grant? You must be enrolled in one of the following majors at Alma College to be eligible for the TEACH Grant:
If you plan to teach in a high-need field that is included in the Nationwide List, that field must be listed for the state where you teach either at the time you begin your qualifying teaching service or at the time you received a TEACH Grant. Students pursuing a second Bachelor degree or certification are not eligible. To receive a TEACH Grant you must:
How do I renew the TEACH Grant? Each year you receive a TEACH Grant, you must sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve and Promise to Pay (service agreement) that will be available electronically on a Department of Education Web site. The TEACH Grant service agreement specifies the conditions under which the grant will be awarded, the teaching service requirements, and includes an acknowledgment by you that you understand that if you do not meet the teaching service requirements you must repay the grant as a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, with interest accrued from the date the grant funds were first disbursed. What is my teaching obligation after graduation?
Highly-Qualified Teacher: You must perform the teaching service as a highly-qualified teacher, which is defined in federal law. The definition can be found online. Full-Time Teacher: You must meet the state’s definition of a full time teacher and spend the majority (at least 51 percent) of your time teaching one of the high-need subject areas. Schools Serving Low-Income Students: Schools serving low-income students include any elementary or secondary school that is listed in the Department of Education’s Annual Directory of Designated Low-Income Schools for Teacher Cancellation Benefits. What are the documentation requirements? You must respond promptly to any requests for information or documentation from the U.S. Department of Education, even if they seem repetitive. These requests will be sent to you while you are still in school as well as once you are out of school. You will be asked regularly to confirm that you either still intend to teach or that you are teaching as required. You must provide documentation to the U.S. Department of Education at the end of each year of teaching. If you temporarily cease enrollment in your program of study or if you encounter situations that affect your ability to begin or continue teaching, you will need to stay in touch with the U.S. Department of Education to avoid your grants being converted to loans before you are able to complete your teaching obligation. Can a TEACH Grant service obligation every be suspended or canceled? You may request a temporary suspension of the eight-year period for completing your TEACH Grant service obligation based on the following situations:
Suspensions are granted in one-year increments, not to exceed a combined total of three years for the first two conditions listed above, or a total of three years for the third condition. If you receive a suspension, the eight-year period for completing your service obligation is put “on hold” during the suspension period. For example, if you receive a one-year suspension after two years of the eight-year period for completing your service obligation have elapsed, you would have six years left to complete your service obligation when the one-year suspension period ends. Your TEACH Grant service obligation may be canceled (discharged) if you die or if you become totally and permanently disabled. You may also receive a discharge of some or all of your four-year teaching requirement if you are called or ordered to qualifying military active duty for a period that exceeds three years. IMPORTANT REMINDER: If you receive a TEACH Grant but do not complete the required teaching service, as explained above, you will be required to repay the grants as a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, with interest charged from the date of each TEACH Grant disbursement. |
Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act |
On March 23, 2018 the President authorized the Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act for students eligible for Pell grant whose parent or guardian died in the line of duty as a public safety officer. For more specific eligibility criteria and information you can read the announcement here.
As defined in section 1204 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796b); or A fire police officer, defined as an individual who is serving in accordance with State or local law as an officially recognized or designated member of a legally organized public safety agency and provides scene security or directs traffic in response to any fire drill, fire call, or other fire, rescue, or police emergency, or at a planned special event.
Have been less than 24 years of age or enrolled at an institution of higher education at the time of his or her parent’s or guardian’s death; and Be Pell-eligible and have a Pell-eligible EFC. In subsequent award years, the student continues to be eligible for the scholarship, as long as the student has a Pell-eligible EFC and continues to be an eligible student. |