What is an Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)?

The Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) is a federally funded grant program, new for 2006-07 that qualified students may receive for no more than two years.  The maximum 1st year ACG is $750 per academic year ($375 per semester at CSUF).  The maximum 2nd year ACG is $1,300 per academic year ($650 per semester).

ACG Overview

To receive an ACG, you must

• be Pell Grant-eligible during the same award year;

• be enrolled at least half-time;*

• be a first-year or second-year undergraduate student

or a student in a certificate program of at least one year

in a degree program at a two-year or four-year degreegranting

institution;

• have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study;

and

• if a first-year student—have completed secondary school after

Jan. 1, 2006; not have been enrolled in ACG-eligible program

while at or below age of compulsory school attendance

or

• if a second-year student—have completed secondary school

after Jan. 1, 2005, and have at least a 3.0 grade point average

as of the end of the first year of undergraduate study.

Students can receive these grants at any one of approximately 4,000 participating postsecondary institutions. You may use the free College Matching Wizard to find participating programs.