First Year Academic 
Competitiveness Grant (ACG)

General Requirements

 To qualify, students must be 

1. Eligible for Federal Pell Grants; 
2. United States citizens; and 
3. Full-time students.

Academic Competitiveness Grants will be available to students for their first and second years of college.

• Up to $750 will be awarded to eligible first-year students, and up to $1,300 for second-year students.
• Students must have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study as established by a state or local educational agency and recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education.
• Students must be enrolled or accepted in a two- or four-year degree-granting institution of higher education.
• First-year students must not have been previously enrolled in a program of undergraduate education and must have graduated from high school after Jan. 1, 2006.
• Second-year students must have graduated from high school after Jan. 1, 2005, and have had at least a cumulative 3.0 grade-point average (GPA) during their first year of college.

Frequently Asked Questions About 
First Year Academic Competitiveness Grants (ACG)

What is a First Year Academic Competitiveness Grant?

The First Year Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) provides additional funding to college freshmen receiving a Pell Grant who have completed a rigorous course of study in high school and have met other eligibility criteria.

What are the criteria to receive a First Year ACG?  

To receive a First Year Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG), you must: 

• Be a college freshmen (have earned 10-29 credits);
• Receive Pell Grant funding;
•  Enroll full-time (12 semester credit hours); 
• Have U.S. citizenship; 
• Have completed a program of rigorous high school course work; and 
• Have graduated after 2006.

How much is the First Year ACG worth?

• The maximum annual ACG amount is $750 and will be equally disbursed between semesters in your first academic year.  
• You can only receive the first year ACG for two semesters.

Does the ACG have to be paid back? 

• No, the ACG does not have to be repaid.

How do I apply for the First Year ACG?

You will be automatically considered for the ACG when you submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Can I qualify for another ACG in the future?

You may qualify for up to $1300 in a Second Year ACG if you meet the following criteria: 

• Achieve official sophomore class standing (earn 30-60 semester credits);
• Earned a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade-point average (GPA) at the end of your freshman year (GPA is checked only at the end of the term when greater than 29 semester credits have been earned); 
• Enroll full-time;
• Maintain U.S. citizenship;        
• Receive Pell Grant funding.