What is an Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)?
The Academic Competitiveness Grant was made available for the first time for the 2006-2007 school year for first year college students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2006, and for second year college students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2005. The Academic Competitiveness Grant award is in addition to the student's Pell Grant award.
An Academic Competitiveness Grant will provide up to $750 for the first year of undergraduate study and up to $1,300 for the second year of undergraduate study to full-time students who are eligible for a Federal Pell Grant and who had successfully completed a rigorous high school program, as determined by the state or local education agency and recognized by the Secretary of Education. Second year students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0.
How do I qualify?
To be eligible for each academic year, a student must:
- Be a U.S. citizen;
- Be a Federal Pell Grant recipient;
- Be enrolled full-time in a degree program;
- Be enrolled in the first or second academic year of his or her program of study at a two-year or four-year degree-granting institution;
- Have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study (after January 1, 2006, if a first-year student, and after January 1, 2005, if a second-year student);
- If a first-year student, not have been previously enrolled in an undergraduate program;
and;
- 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.
Note that the amount of the AC Grant, when combined with a Pell Grant, may not exceed the student's cost of attendance. In addition, if the number of eligible students is large enough that payment of the full grant amounts would exceed the program appropriation in any fiscal year, then the amount of the grant to each eligible student may be ratably reduced.
How much money can I get?
An Academic Competitiveness Grant will provide up to $750 for the first year of undergraduate study and up to $1,300 for the second year of undergraduate study to full-time students who are eligible for a Federal Pell Grant and who had successfully completed a rigorous high school program, as determined by the state or local education agency and recognized by the Secretary of Education. Second year students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0.
How will I be paid?
ACG checks are mailed directly to the mailing address you have on file in the Admissions Office unless you are a non-resident student. If you are a non-resident student, the Grant will be credited to your tuition account.
ACG payments at Trade Tech are paid 2 times in each academic year. You will get one payment during the Fall semester and one payment in the spring semester. The checks are mailed to the eligible full time students at the end of each semester.
Can I receive an Academic Competitiveness Grant if I'm enrolled less than full time?
No, you must be enrolled at least full time throughout the whole semester in order to be eligible for the ACG payment.
What are the recognized rigorous secondary school programs of study for Academic Competitiveness Grant program?
In order to provide options to students, the following three programs will be recognized as evidence of rigor in a secondary school program of study.
- The California Golden State Seal Merit Diploma
- A set of courses similar to the State Scholars Initiative. This program of study requires passing grades in the following:
- Four years of English;
- Three years of Math (including Algebra I and a higher level course such as Algebra II, Geometry, or Data Analysis and Statistics);
- Three years of science (including at least two courses from biology, chemistry or physics);
- Three years of social studies; and
- One year of a foreign language.
- Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses and test scores. This program requires a minimum of two Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses in high school and a minimum passing score on the exams for those classes. Students must score 3 or higher on AP exams and 4 or higher on IB exams.
- California A-G Requirements. This program is available to students who complete the normal course requirements for the A-G requirements for admission to the UC or CSU, or complete a modified version of the A-G requirements for admission to the UC and CSU, in which a year-long, career technical education course that meets or exceeds the rigorous academic content standards approved by the State Board of Education may substitute for one of the courses that counts toward completion of the “G” requirement.
- A. History/Social Science: 2 years required. Two years of history/social science selected from world history, cultures and geography; U.S. history; or, a combination of U.S. History, American government/civics, and economics equal to one year; and
- B. English: 4 years required. Four years of college-preparatory English that includes frequent and regular writing, and reading of classic and modern literature. No more than one year of ESL-type courses can be used to meet this requirement; and
- C. Mathematics: 3 years required. Three years of college-preparatory mathematics that include the topics covered in elementary and advanced algebra and two- and three-dimensional geometry. Approved integrated math courses may be used to fulfill par or all of this requirement; and
- D. Laboratory Science: 2 years required. Two years of laboratory science chosen from biology, chemistry, physics, or physical science. Advanced laboratory science classes that have biology, chemistry or physics as prerequisites and offer substantial additional material may be used to fulfill this requirement. Two years of an approved integrated science program may be used to fulfill this requirement; and
- E. Language other than English: 2 years required. Two years of the same language other than English. Courses should emphasize speaking and understanding, and include instruction in grammar, vocabulary, reading, composition and culture; and
- F. Visual and Performing Arts: 1 year required. A single yearlong approved arts course from a single VPA discipline: dance, drama/theater, music or visual art. Courses used to fulfill this requirement must satisfy the five State standards for artistic perception, creative expression, historical and cultural context, aesthetic valuing, and connections, relations and application; and
- G. College Preparatory Electives: 1 year required. One year, in addition to those required in “A-F” above, chosen from the following areas: visual and performing arts (non-introductory level courses), history, social science, English, advanced mathematics, laboratory science and language other than English (a third year in the language used for the “E” requirement or two years of another language).
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