Office of Financial Aid

Federal Grants

Pell Grant

The Pell Grant program is the largest of the federal student aid grant programs and provides a "foundation" of financial aid to which assistance from other federal and non-federal sources may be added.

The Federal Pell Grant is available to students who have never received a baccalaureate degree and meet the general eligibility requirements.

The awards are based on the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) assigned by the federal government need analysis method, cost of education and the number of hours the student enrolls. The maximum annual grant may not exceed $4,310 (This fluctuates from year to year according to Congressional appropriations.) To be eligible to receive a Pell Grant, the student's EFC has be be less than 4,111. The maximum annual grant for the 2008-09 academic year may not exceed $4,731 (This fluctuates from year to year according to Congressional appropriations.) Some less than half-time students may qualify for Pell Grants.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

The SEOG grant funds are available on a limited basis to undergraduate Pell eligible students with high demonstrated financial need who are pursuing their first undergraduate degree. The recipients must also meet the general eligibility requirements. SEOG Grants are up to $500 per semester beginning in the 2008-09 academic year.

Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)

An eligible student may receive the Academic Competitiveness Grant in the amount of $1,300 for the second year of study at a two- or four-year degree granting school. Students must be a Pell-eligible U.S. citizen, be enrolled full-time in a degree program, must have completed a rigorous high school program (after January 1, 2006, for second year recipients in 2007-08), and have earned a minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA at the end of the first year of undergraduate study in coursework required for the degree program. Eligible students must self-identify themselves as completing the rigorous high school program by reporting the information to the Department of Education either during the completion of the FAFSA process or after receiving an informative letter from the Department of Education, complete the process described in the letter. Students must also meet the general eligibility requirements.

Rigorous Texas high school programs are the Distinguished Achievement or the State Scholars program.

Federal Science & Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant

The SMART Grant Program can be awarded up to $4,000 per year for the third and fourth year of an undergraduate study. Recipients must be a Pell-eligible U.S. citizen, be enrolled full-time in the third or fourth year of an undergraduate program at a four-year degree granting institution, earn at least a 3.00 cumulative GPA in the coursework required for the major. In addition, students must be majoring in Computer Science, Information Systems, Biology, or Mathematical Sciences at UHV. Students must also meet the general eligibility requirements.

Federal TEACH Grant (New for 2008-2009)

The Federal TEACH Grant program that provides up to $4000 per year to students who are enrolled in an eligible program and agree to teach in a high-need field, at a low-income elementary or secondary school for at least four years within eight years of completing the program for which the TEACH Grant was awarded. The award is prorated according to enrollment status.  TEACH Grant eligible programs at UHV are:  Biology major with Teacher Certification; Mathematics with Teacher Certification; Middle School BSIS program; Special Education certification programs; or Elementary or Middle School program with English as a Second Language certification.

A student may not receive a TEACH Grant for enrollment in a second post-baccalaureate degree program or in a second baccalaureate program, even if the first program was a non-TEACH Grant-eligible program. Students awarded the TEACH Grant must complete the TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve at http://www.teach-ats.ed.gov and TEACH Grant Entrance Counseling (http://mappingyourfuture.org) each academic year.  If the grant recipient fails to complete the required teaching service, the TEACH Grant will be treated as a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan. For more details, refer to this website: http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/TEACH.jsp