For students who qualify, the U.S. Department of Education offers Pell Grants of up to $5,500 per year. The maximum number of grants a student can receive for 18 semesters or its equivalent. Pell Grants are only available to individuals who have not earned an undergraduate degree.
Students who qualify for Pell Grants may also qualify for the Academic Competitiveness Grant. To be eligible, first year students must have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study. Second year students must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The maximum grant for the first year is $750, the second year maximum is $1,300.
The National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant, or the National Smart Grant, is available to third and fourth year undergraduate students (and fifth year students of a five-year program). Students must be majoring in one of the following fields: physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, engineering or a critical foreign language. Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. The maximum grant amount is $4,000.
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is offered to students at more than 4,000 colleges. These grants are generally available to students from low-income families. The amount of aid depends on financial need, funding available to the college, and the policies of the financial aid office. FSEOG grants range between $100 and $4,000.
Many state governments also offer college grants. California offers student grants for tuition and housing expenses through the Cal Grants program. For the 2010-2011 academic year Cal Grants are $10,302 for University of California students, $4,429 for Cal State University students, and $9,708 for nonpublic colleges. To qualify, students must be residents of California and demonstrate financial need.