Second 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 the 
Second Year Academic Competitiveness Grants (ACG)

What is a Second Year Academic Competitiveness Grant?

The Second Year Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) provides additional funding to college sophomores who are receiving a Pell Grant, have earned at least a 3.0 GPA and have met other general criteria.

What are the criteria to receive a Second Year ACG?  

To qualify you must meet the following: 

• Have sophomore class standing (have 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 (at least 12 credits); 

• Be a U.S. citizen; and  

• Receive Pell Grant funding.

How do I apply for the Second Year ACG?  

Washington State University students will automatically be considered for the ACG when they submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

How much is the Second Year ACG worth?

The maximum annual Second Year ACG amount is $1300 and will be equally disbursed between semesters in your second academic year.  You can only receive the second year ACG for two semesters.

Do I have to pay the ACG back?

An ACG doesn't have to be paid back.

How do I maintain my Second Year ACG eligibility?

To receive a second year ACG , you must continue to be: 

• A college sophomore receiving a Pell Grant, 

• Enrolled full-time (12 semester credit hours), 

• Have U.S. citizenship, and 

• Have completed a program of rigorous high school course work. 

If at any time, these qualifications are not met, the ACG will be revoked and/or discontinued.