Financial Aid Office
Student & Administrative Services Center, Rm. 1013 · (570) 327-4766 or (800) 367-9222 · Fax: 570.321.5552
Frequently Asked Questions about Grants
- How do I apply for a Federal Pell Grant?
- How do I apply for a state grant?
- I am not a Pennsylvania resident. Can I receive a grant from my home state to attend Penn College?
- I received a PHEAA Grant last year. Do I need to reapply for the next academic year?
- How do I apply for an Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)?
- I graduated from high school before 2005. Am I eligible for an ACG?
- During my first academic year at Penn College, I was awarded an ACG. Will I remain eligible for my second year?
- I was awarded an ACG for my first academic year. My GPA was below 3.00 at the start of my sophomore (second) year last semester, so I did not receive a second-year ACG. If I raise my cumulative GPA to or above 3.00 at the end of this semester, will I receive my second-year ACG next semester?
- How much funding can I receive from an ACG or National SMART Grant?
- How do I apply for a National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant?
- During how many years can I receive a National SMART Grant?
- I was awarded a National SMART Grant during this first (fall) semester of my junior year. Will I be awarded this grant during my next (spring) semester?
- Do I need to repay my student grants?
Q: How do I apply for a Federal Pell Grant?
A: To apply for a Federal Pell Grant, you need to submit a complete FAFSA.
Q: How do I apply for a state grant?
A: To apply for a state grant, you must first submit a FAFSA for the academic year you are or will be attending. Your FAFSA information will then be electronically transmitted to your home state's higher education agency, which may contact you for more information to determine state grant eligibility.
Q: I am not a Pennsylvania resident. Can I receive a grant from my home state to attend Penn College?
A: Some states provide grants to eligible students who attend Penn College. Other states, for example, New Jersey, New York, and Maryland; do not provide grants for any student to attend Pennsylvania colleges. If you are unsure about your home state’s policy, you should contact your state’s higher education agency.
Q: I received a PHEAA Grant last year. Do I need to reapply for the next academic year?
A: Yes. To reapply for the PHEAA Grant, you must submit the next academic year’s FAFSA before May 1. PHEAA will review your FAFSA information and your academic progress and determine if you are eligible for a PHEAA Grant next year.
Q: How do I apply for an Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)?
A: The ACG is a federal grant with specific eligibility criteria. To apply for an ACG, you first need to submit a complete FAFSA. For those students with completed FAFSAs who are eligible for Federal Pell Grants and meet the other eligibility criteria, the Financial Aid Office will need to review your high school transcript. It is important for you to request an official final transcript from your high school; have it forwarded to the Penn College Admissions Office.
Q: I graduated from high school before 2005. Am I eligible for an ACG?
A: Only students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2005 can be considered for an ACG. First-year students must have graduated from high school after January 1, 2006. Students must meet all eligibility criteria.
Q: During my first academic year at Penn College, I was awarded an ACG. Will I remain eligible for my second year?
A: The answer depends on a variety of factors. If you are eligible for a Federal Pell Grant during your second academic year and you will be a full-time student with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 as you start your sophomore year, you should be eligible for a second-year ACG. However, if you are still a freshman during your third semester, you will not yet qualify for a second-year ACG.
Q: I was awarded an ACG for my first academic year. My GPA was below 3.00 at the start of my sophomore (second) year last semester, so I did not receive a second-year ACG. If I raise my cumulative GPA to or above 3.00 at the end of this semester, will I receive my second-year ACG next semester?
A: The federal guidelines for ACG-eligibility only consider a student’s cumulative GPA at the end of the semester in which earned credits make the student a sophomore, not in any subsequent semesters. If that GPA is at or above 3.00, a student is eligible for the second-year ACG, provided the student continues to meet all other ACG eligibility criteria. Your GPA was below 3.00; as a result, you will remain ineligible for a second-year ACG throughout your sophomore year.
Q: How much funding can I receive from an ACG or National SMART Grant?
A: Students eligible for a first-year ACG will be awarded $375 for each of two semesters. Second-year ACG awards are $650 for each of two semesters. Third-year students eligible to receive National SMART Grants are awarded $2000 for each of two semesters; the same is true for eligible fourth-year students.
Q: How do I apply for a National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant?
A: The National SMART Grant is a federal grant with specific eligibility criteria. To apply for a SMART Grant, you need to submit a complete FAFSA. If you previously attended another college, you will need to request an official transcript from that college, and have it forwarded to the Admissions Office.
Q: During how many years can I receive a National SMART Grant?
A: Students can receive up to two full academic years of National SMART Grants, provided they meet all eligibility criteria, including earned credits between 60 and 120 in an eligible bachelor degree program.
Q: I was awarded a National SMART Grant during this first (fall) semester of my junior year. Will I be awarded this grant during my next (spring) semester?
A: You will remain eligible for the National SMART Grant as long as you remain a full-time student enrolled in one or more classes that pertain directly to your major (excluding electives and other non-major courses) and if your cumulative GPA at the end of fall semester is 3.00 or higher. If your GPA drops below 3.00, you will be ineligible for the next semester.
Q: Do I need to repay my student grants?
A: In general, grants are free money that do not need to be repaid. However, students who withdraw from the College during a semester may need to repay part or all of their federal financial aid, including grants. Learn more about the Federal Title IV Refund Policy.