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College Grants

Federal Grants

• Federal Pell Grant - This is the largest grant program for postsecondary education. The amount you are eligible to receive is based on your EFC (Estimated Family Contribution) and the cost of attending the school. Pell Grants are usually only awarded to undergraduate students, one per year. The maximum award for the 2008-09 year is $4,731. The maximum for the 2009-2010 award year is $5350. The maximum EFC that a student may have to be eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant in the 2009-2010 award year is 4617.
• Academic Competitiveness Grants (ACG) - These grants are awarded to first and second-year undergraduate students seeking their first degree, are Federal Pell Grant eligible and have successfully completed a "rigorous high school program" as determined by the state or local education agency and recognized by the Secretary of Education.
• National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grants (National SMART Grant) - These grants are awarded to third and fourth-year (in some cases fifth-year) students of first undergraduate study that are also eligible for the Federal Pell Grant. These grants are federally funded and are for students majoring in physical, life or computer sciences, mathematics technology or engineering or a foreign language determined critical to national security. Students must also meet the GPA requirement of 3.0 and follow the prescribed curriculum for their major.
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) - Colleges award these grants to students with exceptional financial need. FSEOG awards range from $100 to $4,000 per year.
• Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants (TEACH Grant) - These grants are for students that are education majors who plan to teach in a high-need field at a low-income school. The postsecondary school the student is attending must be participating in the program. Failure to complete the requirements of the Agreement to Serve will result in the grant being transferred to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan. [ more ]

State Grants

• Montana Guaranteed Student Loan Program (MGSLP) Grants - These grants are need-based and funded by MGSLP. Recipients must be Montana residents attending eligible colleges or universities in Montana.
• Montana Higher Education Grant (MHEG) - These grants are awarded as determined by colleges to students with exceptional financial need. The average award amount is $500. This program is funded by the state of Montana and is matched with federal funds.
• Montana Tuition Assistance Program/Baker Grant (MTAP) - These grants are available for Montana residents that have not already received a bachelor’s degree who have earnings greater than 500 times the federal minimum wage and an expected family contribution that is less than the maximum federal Pell Grant plus $2500. Funds are limited and the award amount is between $100 and $2,000.

Private Grants

• Acce$$ Grants - These grants are distributed to the postsecondary schools in Montana by Student Assistance Foundation on an annual basis to help students in need to pay for their education. Award amounts vary by individual needs and are determined by the financial aid office.