Scholarships

Federal Aid Programs

 Pell Grant

A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid. Pell Grants are awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or professional degree. (A professional degree would include a degree in a field such as medicine, law, or dentistry.) For many students, Pell Grants provide a foundation of financial aid to which other aid may be added.  Maximum grant is $4,731, minimum $523, EFC must be $4,041 or under.

 Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)

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.  Program applies for students who have graduated from high school after January 1, 2005.
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
• If a first-year student, not have been previously enrolled in an undergraduate program
• If a second-year student, have a UI cumulative 3.0 grade point average or higher for the first academic year

 National Science & Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant(SMART)

The National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant, also known as the National SMART Grant is available during the third and fourth years of undergraduate study to full-time students who are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant and who are 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.
An eligible student may receive a National SMART Grant of up to $4,000 for each of the third and fourth academic years of study. 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 a four-year degree-granting institution
• Major in an eligible physical, life or computer science, engineering, mathematics, technology, or a critical foreign language
• Have a UI cumulative 3.0 grade point average or higher

 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

A grant program for full-time (12 credits per semester) undergraduates with exceptional financial need, that is, students with the lowest Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and gives priority to students who receive Federal Pell Grants and who meet the priority filing date of February 15. A FSEOG does not have to be paid back.  Maximum is $300.

The Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Program (LEAP) is a grant program, funded by both the federal government and the state of Idaho, available for a select number of full-time Idaho resident students (12 credits per semester) who have high need and who meet the priority filing date of February 15. A LEAP does not have to be paid back. Maximum is $300.

 College Work-Study & Idaho Work-Study

The Federal Work-Study Program provides jobs for full-time undergraduates (12 credits per semester) and graduate students (9 credits per semester for graduate students and 10 credits for law students) with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to your course of study. Maximum is $2,000.

Loans

 Federal Direct Stafford Student Loans (William D. Ford Direct Student Loans) *

Student loans are the major form of self-help aid which is available to students with at least half-time credits (6 credits per semester for undergraduates). Federal Direct Loans are available through the Direct Stafford Student Loan Program.  The U.S. government is the lender under this direct loan program. It also offers Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) loans for parents of dependent students and Consolidation Loans.

Cancellation for Stafford Loans

 Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans *

Federal Direct Graduate Plus Loans help graduate and law students pay for educational expenses.  There is no annual limit for Graduate PLUS loans but students cannot borrow in excess of your cost of attendance minus any other financial aid that they receive. Graduate PLUS loans require that the borrower not have an adverse credit history (a credit check will be done). If creditworthiness is a problem then the student may obtain a creditworthy endorser. The federal government charges interest from the date the first disbursement is made although monthly payments are not required as long as the borrower is enrolled at least half-time (5 credits per semester).

 Federal Direct Stafford Parent Loan - PLUS (William D. Ford Direct Parent Loans) * 

Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) Loans enable parents with good credit histories to borrow to help pay the education expenses of each child who is a dependent undergraduate student enrolled at least half-time (6 credits per semester).  Federal Direct PLUS Loans are available through the Direct Stafford Parent Loan Program.

* NOTE:  In order to receive funds through the Federal Direct Loan Program for students (Stafford/Ford Loans) or parents (PLUS), a paper or electronic Master Promissory note (MPN) must be completed. The MPN is available to complete at  http://dlenote.ed.gov with a federal PIN. To retrieve or apply for a federal pin, go to http://www.pin.ed.gov.  You may alternatively complete a paper copy of the MPN which will be mailed to you.