Grant assistance is awarded on the basis of demonstrated financial need, so not every student will receive a grant. You do not have to work for a grant or repay it after you leave school. Grants are commonly referred to as "gift aid."
A Federal Pell Grant is awarded by the federal government to students with high financial need. The estimated maximum grant awarded for the 2009-2010 academic year is $4,731. If you become eligible for a Federal Pell Grant after your financial aid package is determined, a dollar-for-dollar reduction to your Carnegie Mellon need based grant funds will occur. More information about this grant is available on the U.S. Department of Education website.
A Federal SEOG is a grant for undergraduates with exceptional financial need. Carnegie Mellon usually awards these grants to students who receive a Federal Pell Grant. If there is a change in your Federal SEOG eligibility, a dollar-for-dollar adjustment to your Carnegie Mellon need-based grant funds will occur. More information about this grant is available on the U.S. Department of Education website.
This is a federal grant program for students at degree-granting institutions who are eligible for Federal Pell Grants and who are U.S. Citizens or eligible Non-Citizens. An eligible student may receive an Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) of $750 for the first academic year of study and $1,300 for the second academic year of study.
To be eligible for each academic year, a student must:
Be a U.S. Citizen or eligible Non-Citizens;
Be a Federal Pell Grant recipient;
Be enrolled in a degree program;
Be enrolled in the first or second academic year of his or her program of student at a two-year or four-year degree granting institution;
Have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study (after January 1, 2009, if a first-year student, and after January 1, 2008, if a second-year student);
If a first-year student, not have been previously enrolled in an undergraduate program;
If a second-year student, have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale for the first academic year.
Click here for additional information on the eligibility criteria and the Academic Competitiveness Grants (ACG) Recognized State Rigorous Secondary School Programs of Study.
This is a federal grant program for students at degree-granting institutions who are eligible for Federal Pell Grants and who are U.S. Citizens or eligible Non-Citizens. An eligible student may receive a national SMART grant of up to $4,000 for the third and fourth academic years of study.
To be eligible for each academic year, a student must:
Be a U.S. Citizen or eligible Non-Citizen;
Be a Federal Pell Grant recipient;
Be enrolled at a degree-granting institution;
Major in physical, life or computer science, engineering, mathematics, technology or a critical foreign language;
Have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale in the course work required for the student's major.
Click here for additional information on the eligibility criteria.
A Carnegie Mellon Undergraduate Grant is awarded by Carnegie Mellon to students who have financial need. Once you complete and submit the required financial aid forms for Carnegie Mellon: Carnegie Mellon Application for Financial Aid, FAFSA, signed copies of parent(s) and student 2008 Federal Income Tax Returns, and all parent W-2 Wage and Tax Statements, you are considered for this grant. If you are required to file a Federal Income Tax Return in a country other than the United States, you must provide us with a copy of your foreign tax return(s) and provide tax information translated into U.S. dollars on a 2008 U.S. Federal Income Tax Return. This document must be signed by you and your parent(s) and a tax accountant. If you or your parent(s)are not required by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to file a 2008 Federal Income Tax Return or to file a tax return in any other country, you or your parent(s) are required to provide a list of employers and the source(s) of any additional income for 2008. Note: This grant is not automatically renewed each year.
Some states provide educational grants to their residents who demonstrate financial need. Listed here are the states that permit their grants to be used in Pennsylvania, the date by which the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) must be processed, and the telephone number.
If you are eligible for grant assistance from your state but you do not apply, Carnegie Mellon will not provide additional grant assistance to replace your lost state grant funds. If you are a Pennsylvania resident and you do not apply by May 1, 2009 for Pennsylvania State Grant assistance, we will reduce your eligibility for the Carnegie Mellon Undergraduate Grant by $1,000 if you would have been eligible for a PHEAA State Grant.
This is the amount of institutional grant assistance Carnegie Mellon would have received from the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) if you had applied on time.
If you are awarded a state grant after your financial aid package is determined, a dollar-for-dollar reduction to your Carnegie Mellon need based grant funds will occur.