Grants

The following grants are awarded on the basis of financial need to undergraduates who have not yet received a four-year degree.  Financial Need is the Cost of Attendance or Budget for the school a student is attending less the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).  The EFC is produced as a result of completing and submitting the FAFSA to the Department of Education Federal Student aid.  Wages, gross income, taxes paid, size of family and number in college, and non-taxed income are just a few of the things that affect the EFC.

Federal Pell Grani
This grant program is based on financial need as determined by the results of the completion of the Federal Application for Federal Student  Aid (FAFSA). A new FAFSA needs to be completed each year.   Students are selected to receive this grant based on federal rules and the student’s EFC.  Each year Federal Student Aid sets the Federal Pell Grant amount and EFC range of eligibility.  Providing the student meets all other eligibility requirements for Federal Student Aid and their EFC is within the Pell Grant range, they will be awarded the Pell Grant.  The amount of the grant is pro-rated for hours less than full-time.  Any enrollment changes must be reported to the Financial Aid Office.  The maximum Pell Grant award for the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 aid years is $5,550.  Pell Grants are only available to undergraduates who have not yet earned a bachelor's degree.  Please note:  Due to new Federal Program Integrity Regulations, a student is considered to be no longer eligible for the Federal Pell Grant if they have completed the necessary classes for their bachelor's degree even if they did not apply for graduation.  You must also comply with the current Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.  Be sure to review this policy as it also has been revised to include requirements based on new Federal Program Integrity Regulations.   

A student can only receive a Federal Pell Grant for a limited number of semesters (12) (assuming full-time).

West Virginia Higher Education Grant
The West Virginia Higher Education Grant is a grant awarded by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.  The award amount varies and is currently set at a maximum of $2500 for 2012-2013 for Pell  eligible WV residents.  The award amount can vary depending on your financial need and Expected Family Contribution Number.  This grant is available only to full-time undergraduates who have not yet earned a bachelor's degree.  It can only be renewed for seven terms. Graduating High School Seniors must complete a FAFSA each year by April 15 in order to be eligible for the grant.  Older adult students may have up to June 15 to submit their FAFSA to be considered for the State Grant.  Students who have previously received the grant must complete 24 credit hours between the fall and spring terms for which they were awarded the grant and maintain an overall GPA of 2.0.  Students must also comply with the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.

WV Higher Education Assistance for Part Time Students (HEAPS) Grant
The West Virginia HEAPS Grant is a grant awarded by the WV Higher Education Policy Commisssion.   This grant is awarded by the Fairmont State Financial Aid Office based on available funding. The award amount varies and funding is limited.  This grant is available only to part time students:  enrolled in at least 3 credit hours, but not more than 11.  To be eligible, you must have not yet earned a bachelor's degree.  You must complete a FAFSA each year and have financial need.  Students must also comply with the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
This grant program is based on financial need as determined by completion of a FAFSA each year.  SEOG is awarded primarily to students with exceptionally high financial need who are eligible for a Federal Pell Grant. (See Pell Grant eligibility above).  Awards vary as funds are limited.  You must also comply with the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. 

Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) (Freshmen and Sophomores)  This grant is currently not funded for the 2011-2012 Aid Year due to lack of Federal Funding
This grant program is for first and second year college students who graduated from high school after January 2005 and completed a Rigorous Academic Program of Study.

First-year students must be:
* U.S. citizens
* Pell Grant eligible
* Enrolled at least half-time (6 credits) (Amount adjusted based on enrollment)
* Enrolled in a degree-granting program
* Finished with a "rigorous secondary school program," as defined by the Secretary of Education after January 1, 2005

Second-year students must:
* Be a U.S. citizen
* Be Pell Grant eligible
* Enrolled at least half-time (6 credits) (Amount adjusted based on enrollment)
* Have earned at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA the freshman year
* Have completed a rigorous high school curriculum

The National Science and Mathematics to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant (Juniors and Seniors) This grant is currently not funded for 2011-2012 Aid Year due to lack of Federal Funding
Third and fourth year college students who choose to study physical, life, or computer sciences; math; technology; engineering or a foreign language that is considered critical to national security may be eligible for this award.

Juniors and seniors must:
* Be U.S. citizens
* Be Pell Grant eligible
* Be enrolled full-time
* Have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA for classes for that major
* Be enrolled in an approved plan of study as defined by the U.S. Department of Education

ALL FEDERAL FUNDS ARE SUBJECT TO FEDERAL BUDGETARY RESTRAINTS.