The FAFSA form is the first step in applying for financial aid. The FAFSA is used to apply for federal student financial aid, such as grants, loans and work-study. In addition, most states and schools use information from the FAFSA to award non-federal aid. Students should never pay someone to help them complete it. You can complete the form on-line at www.fafsa.gov.

If you would like help completing the FAFSA form, please contact an Outreach Manager in your area or call the College Access Hotline at (877) COLG4ME (265-4463).

Students and their families can receive help completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at this event held annually at 18 sites across Montana.

Participants in the program get free, one-on-one help from financial aid officers and other qualified professionals who volunteer their time to ensure students receive assistance in understanding and completing the paperwork necessary to receive financial aid.

In addition, coordinators hold random drawings at each of the event locations for at least one, $500 scholarship for the winners to use at the school of their choice.

For more details about the event, visit www.CollegeGoalMT.org.

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), the enrollment status, and the cost of attending the school. Pell Grants are usually only awarded to undergraduate students. The maximum award for the 2009-10 year is $5,350. The maximum for the 2010-2011 award year is $5,550. The maximum EFC for Federal Pell Grant eligibility in the 2010-2011 award year is 5273.
• 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.

2009 Acce$$ Grant Distributions
	Grant Amount
Blackfeet Community College	$14,638
Carroll College	$36,596
Chief Dull Knife College	$7,319
Dawson Community College	$10,979
Flathead Valley Community College	$58,553
Fort Belknap College	$6,099
Fort Peck Community College	$10,979
UM-Helena College of Technology	$23,202
Little Big Horn College	$9,271
Miles City Community College	$13,418
Montana Tech of the U of M & College of Technology	$64,043
Montana State University-Billings and College of Technology	$141,504
Montana State University	$281,806
Montana State University-Northern	$36,596
Montana State University-Great Falls College of Technology	$34,961
Rocky Mountain College	$24,397
Salish Kootenai College	$24,397
Stone Child College	$6,099
University of Great Falls	$19,518
The University of Montana and College of Technology	$363,640
UM Helena College of Technology	$23,202
The University of Montana Western	$29,277
Total	$1,217,292

Circle of Success Grants

Circle of Success Grants are near and dear to the hearts of Student Assistance Foundation employees — the program was originally established through payroll deductions. Recently, funds raised through Student Assistance Foundation’s Golf Scramble have been added to that pool. A committee of Student Assistance Foundation employees determines which applicants receive the $1,000 grants.

Who Qualifies? Applicants must be:

• Montana residents attending a Montana college or university.
• Attending school at least half time.
• In their second, third or fourth year of postsecondary education.
• Maintaining a 2.5 grade point average (GPA).

• Scholarship applications will be available January 2011 for the 2011-2012 academic year.

Questions?
Contact Darbie Hess, grants manager, at (406) 495-7393.

College Scholarships

Scholarships are money for postsecondary education that does not have to be repaid, and for which students must generally apply. Students and their families should begin exploring scholarship opportunities about a year before the student intends to attend college. Some scholarships include:

• Foster Care to Success Scholarship — These scholarships are awarded based on a combination of merit and need, and funding levels are determined based on cost of attendance and other resources. Apply at http://orphan.org/index.php?id=30.
• GEAR UP Scholarships — Student Assistance Foundation provides $50,000 a year to the Montana GEAR UP Program for scholarships for eligible high school students. Successful applicants receive $1,000 in December of each year. For more information, visit the GEAR UP Web site.
• State Scholarships — The Montana Guaranteed Loan Program (MGSLP) administers several state scholarships such as the Community College Honor Scholarship, MUS Honor Scholarship and Honor Scholarship for National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists. For more information, visit the MGSLP Web site.
• National Merit Scholarships — The independent, not-for-profit National Merit Scholarship Corporation conducts annual competitions for recognition and college undergraduate scholarships. For more information about these programs visit http://www.nationalmerit.org.
• Private Scholarships — Funds for these types of scholarships often come from professional associations, civic organizations, colleges, universities and more.
• Warning! No guarantees exist when it comes to obtaining scholarships. Some individuals and businesses advertise scholarships for a finder’s fee. Legitimate scholarships do not require payment to apply.

Additional information about scholarships is available at locations including the Internet, college financial aid/admissions offices and public/college libraries.

Another source for free scholarship information is the Montana Career Information System (MCIS). MCIS offers a scholarship database for both Montana and national scholarships.

Direct Loans

Direct loans are the most common form of self-help aid for undergraduate, graduate, vocational and professional students. Direct loans are provided and administered by the U.S. Department of Education. They can be separated into two types:

Direct Subsidized Loans

• Based on need.
• Fixed interest rate.
  • For undergraduate students with loans disbursed between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011, the interest rate is fixed at 4.5 percent.
  • For graduate students with loans disbursed between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011, the interest rate is fixed at 6.8 percent.
• No payments required while the student is in school. (Interest is paid by the federal government while the student is in college, during an approved deferment period and during the six-month grace period.)
• Repayment begins six months after a student leaves college, graduates or drops to less than half-time attendance.

Direct Unsubsidized Loans

• In almost all cases, students enrolled at least half time are eligible.
• Fixed interest rate.
  • For loans disbursed between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011, the fixed interest rate is 6.8 percent.
• Interest starts to accrue immediately upon disbursement and continues throughout the grace period and in approved deferment.
• Repayment begins six months after a student leaves college, graduates or drops to less than half-time attendance.
• Interest that is not paid while the student is in school, grace period, deferment, or forbearance will be added to the principal of the loan when he/she enters repayment.

The amount that can be borrowed depends on college costs, expected family contribution, a student’s year in school, their enrollment status, how much other financial aid they receive and whether they are dependent or independent.

Dependent students may borrow up to $5,500 in their freshman year with a minimum of $2,000 in Direct Unsubsidized Loans and up to an additional $6,000 a year in unsubsidized loans for independent students.

Dependent Student�Direct Loan Levels
Grade Level	Combined Subsidized/Unsubsidized for Dependent Students	Additional Unsubsidized for Dependent Students
Freshman	$3,500	$2,000
Sophomore	$4,500	$2,000
Junior & Senior	$5,500	$2,000
Aggregate Limits	Subsidized Limits	Combined Subsidized/Unsubsidized Total Limits
Undergraduate	$23,000	$31,000
Independent Student Direct Loan Levels
Grade Level	Combined Subsidized/Unsubsidized for Independent Students	Additional Unsubsidized for Independent Students
Freshman	$3,500	$6,000
Sophomore	$4,500	$6,000
Junior & Senior	$5,500	$7,000
Graduate	$8,500	$12,000
Aggregate Limits	Subsidized Limits	Combined Subsidized/Unsubsidized Total Limits
Undergraduate	$23,000	$57,500
Graduate	$65,500	$138,500

For more information regarding the Direct Loan Program, please visit www.StudentLoans.gov.

Perkins Loans

• Federal loans issued to borrowers directly by the college.
• Based on need.
• Fixed, 5 percent interest rate.
• No payments required while the student is in school.
• No interest accrues while the student is in school, in an approved deferment or in the grace period.
• Repayment begins nine months after a student leaves school, graduates or drops to less than half-time attendance.
• A portion of a student’s loan may be canceled in certain cases, such as if he or she teaches at a low-income school following graduation. For more information, visit the campus financial aid office or Perkins Loan officer or go to http://studentaid.ed.gov.

Direct PLUS Loans (Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students)

• Available to parents of dependent, undergraduate students.
• Fixed interest rate.
  • For loans disbursed between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011, the interest rate is fixed at 7.9 percent.
• Parent is responsible for the repayment of the loan.
• Repayment begins 60 days after disbursement of the entire loan amount unless the parent chooses to defer payment.
• Borrower must meet minimal credit requirements.

These loans have no aggregate limit, meaning a parent can borrow as much as needed to pay for the student’s college education.

For more information regarding the Direct PLUS loan program, please visit www.StudentLoans.gov.

Direct Graduate PLUS Loans

• Available to graduate or professional students.
• Fixed interest rate.
  • For loans disbursed between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011, the interest rate is fixed at 7.9 percent.
• Student is responsible for repayment of the loan.
• Repayment begins within 60 days after loan is fully disbursed unless the student chooses to defer payment.
• Are unsubsidized loans.
• Borrower must meet credit requirements.

The main purpose of these loans is to supplement federal Stafford loans in amounts up to the cost of attendance less any other financial assistance. Students must have borrowed the full amount of subsidized and unsubsidized federal Stafford loans before becoming eligible for a Grad PLUS loan.

For more information regarding the Direct Grad PLUS loan program, please visit www.StudentLoans.gov.

Work-study is an effective method of helping students pay for postsecondary education and minimize the debt burden they accumulate through student loans.

• On and off-campus work-study opportunities are provided through college financial aid offices and are based on financial need. Work-study is usually awarded with a student’s financial aid package on a first-come, first-served basis. However, some state work-study funds are available at some colleges and jobs may be available on a non-need basis.
• The funds are earned throughout the term, and aren’t paid up front.
• Wages earned through work-study do not count against a student’s eligibility for aid for the next schoolyear.

Most colleges in the Montana University System offer waivers or exemptions that pay a portion of tuition. For more information about them and how to qualify, students should contact the financial aid office or visit the Montana Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education’s Web site.

Montana foster care youth are eligible to receive up to $5,000 per year to cover the cost of attending a postsecondary institution through the Foster Care Education and Training Voucher(ETV) program. The program is offered through a partnership between Student Assistance Foundation and the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (Montana Foster Care Independence Program). For more information download our ETV Fact Sheet.
Who Qualifies?

• Students who have “aged out” of the foster care system.
• Students who are currently in foster care.
• Students adopted from foster care or appointed a guardian after the age of 16.
• Students who are (or have been) under tribal court jurisdiction and meet the above eligibility criteria.

“The money I received through the ETV program helped me move from the dorms, to an apartment off campus, and aided my transition into the Bozeman community. This, and the ETV program helped make it possible for me to live on my own and make it in the real world.”
— Katie Yother, Montana’s first ETV graduate.
How to Apply:

• Download and complete the ETV Application and the ETV Agreement.
• Mail the forms to: Education Training Vouchers, c/o Rhonda Safford, Student Assistance Foundation, 2500 Broadway, Helena, MT 59601.
• The deadlines for the program are Jan. 15 for students planning on attending Spring and Summer courses, and July 15 for Fall courses or the full school year.

Questions?
Contact Rhonda Safford, community outreach manager/foster care coordinator, at (406) 495-7750 or the Montana Foster Care Independence Program at (406) 444-5900.

Indian Student Fee Waivers — Native American students may be eligible to have their tuition waived through this program. In order to qualify, students must:

• Be residents of Montana when they enroll in a two or four-year college in the Montana University System.
• Be at least one-quarter degree of Indian blood documented by a certificate or tribal enrollment card.
• Have demonstrated financial need by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• For more information, or to apply, visit the Montana University System Web site.

American Indian Business Leaders (AIBL) Scholarship Fund — This scholarship is available to AIBL members to help them achieve their dreams of higher education, and ultimately, assist in improving tribal economic environments. In order to qualify, students must:

• Be a full-time undergraduate student at an accredited two-year or four-year college/university or tribal college.
• Be a member of a federally recognized tribe.
• Be an active AIBL student member for one semester.
• Have a 2.5 or higher cumulative grade point average (GPA).
• For more information, visit www.aibl.org.