Academic Competitive Grants/National SMART Grants

Academic Competitiveness Grants (ACG) and National Science and Mathematics
Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grants were developed by the federa government 

to encourage high school students to take more challenging courses, to pursue college

majors in high demand such as science, mathematics, technology, engineering and

certain foreign languages, and to better prepare
students for college.
The Iowa College Student Aid Commission provides free information and resources to Iowa families interested in pursuing education opportunities beyond high school. Planning, preparing, and paying for college is less confusing if you are well informed. The information below will provide you with details on  the ACG and SMART Grants.

What Are the Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) Eligibility Requirements?
Academic Competitiveness Grants are available to students who take challenging courses in high school and who meet the following eligibility criteria:

• U.S. Citizen
  
• Federal Pell Grant Recipient
• Enrolled full-time in the first or second year of an undergraduate degree program at a two-year or four-year degree-granting institution
• Completed a rigourous secondary school program of study
• First-year students cannot have been previously admitted to an ACG-eligible undergraduate program while in high school
• Second-year students also must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale at the end of first acabemic year
• Must not be in default on a federal student loan

What are the Award Amounts?

Eligible recipients will be awarded:

• Up to $750 for eligible first-year students
• Up to $1,300 for eligible second-year students

What are the Recognized Rigorous Programs of Study?
In addition to the eligibility criteria, students who graduate from Iowa high schools will qualify for ACG if they have completed one of the following three Iowa recognized rigorous programs of study:

1. Passing Grades in the Following Coursework

• Four years of English;
• Three years of math (including Algebra I and a higher level course such as Algebra II, geometry,or data analysis and statistics);
• Three years of science (including at least two courses from biology, chemistry or physics);
• Three years of social studies; and One year of a foreign language.

2. Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses and test        scores
 

To qualify in this category, students are required to take a minimum of two AP or IB courses while in high school. Students must score 3 or higher on AP exams and 4 or higher on IB exams.

3. Passing Grades in the Following Coursework

This option is similar to option 1 which was previously describe, but offers same flexibility in fulfilling certain coursework requirements.