Financial Aid Updates for the 2016-17 School Year
It’s that time again! Have you started to prepare your financial aid application for the new year? A Department of Education PIN number is available at http://www.pin.ed.gov/.
Go there if you need to change your PIN or need to apply for one. With your PIN number you can fill out a FAFSA online. If you completed and returned the form prior to January 1st, then go back and do it again as your application was probably rejected. If you will be filing Federal income taxes for 2015, then it is best to complete your tax return before filing your new FAFSA.
National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant or National Smart Grant
A National SMART Grant will provide up to $4,000 for each of the third and fourth years of undergraduate study to full-time students who are U.S. citizens, eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, and majoring in physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, or engineering or in a foreign language determined critical to national security. The student must also have maintained a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 in coursework required for the major. The National SMART Grant award is in addition to the student’s Pell Grant award. To be eligible to receive a National SMART Grant, you must be able to answer YES to all of the following questions:
- Are you a US citizen?
- Are you eligible to receive a Pell Grant?
- Are you enrolled as a full-time third or fourth year student in a baccalaureate degree program?
- Do you have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average?
- Are you currently enrolled in an eligible major in one of the following categories: Computer Science, Engineering, Critical Foreign Languages, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Technology, or Multidisciplinary Studies? (Please click below to view complete list of eligible majors).
Do you qualify?
If you could not answer YES to all of the above questions, you do not qualify to receive a National SMART Grant. However, you may still qualify to receive other types of federal student financial aid. If you have not completed a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), please go to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ and apply today. If you answered YES to all of the above questions and you have already submitted a FAFSA form, please contact the Financial Aid Office at your school to identify yourself as a potentially eligible student. Click Here For a Complete List Of Eligible Majors