Student Financial Services

Grants

Did You Know?
A Grant is a type of aid based on financial need that the student does not have to repay

Grants are based on financial need do not have to be repaid. Each of the following grants are available to Simmons undergraduates who demonstrate financial need and other criteria, as designated by the guidelines for each individual grant. 

Federal Pell Grants
This federal program provides grants to undergraduate students demonstrating exceptional financial need. The Federal government sets award amounts annually.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)
The FSEOG program provides grants to undergraduate students demonstrating exceptional financial need.

Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)
The Academic Competitiveness Grant provides up to $750 for the first year of undergraduate study and up to $1,300 for the second year of undergraduate study. The program became available for the first time for the 2006-07 school year for first year students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2006 and for second year 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.

To be eligible for an ACG each academic year, a student must:

  • Be a U.S. citizen;
  • Be Federal Pell Grant eligible;
  • 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.

If you are completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online (www.fafsa.ed.gov), FAFSA on the Web will predetermine if you are eligible to answer the ACG questions.

If you have submitted a paper FAFSA and have received your Student Aid Report (SAR) indicating that you may be eligible to answer the ACG questions, please call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4FED-AID.

National Science & Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART Grant)
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 in coursework required for the major. The National SMART Grant award is in addition to the student's Pell Grant award.

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 eligible for a 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.

1. Eligible Students  

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 physical, life or computer science, engineering, mathematics, technology, or a critical foreign language; and
  • Have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale (as set forth in regulations to be promulgated soon).


Note that the amount of the SMART 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.


2. Eligible Fields of Study

Click here for a list of eligible fields of study.

Gilbert Grant
The Gilbert Grant program provides grants to undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional financial need. To be eligible a student must meet the Massachusetts residency requirements as detailed by the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance.

Simmons College Grants
This institutional program provides grants to students demonstrating financial need.

MASS Grant
The MASS Grant program provides grants to undergraduate students who meet the Massachusetts residency requirements as detailed by the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance and who demonstrate exceptional financial need. Award amounts are determined by the state government and are estimated until final state appropriations.

Massachusetts Part-Time Grant
The MASS Part-time Grant program provides grants to undergraduate students demonstrating exceptional financial need and is designed to assist students who are not eligible for MASS Grants solely due to being enrolled less than full-time. Students must be enrolled in 6-11 credit hours and a resident of Massachusetts in order to be eligible for a Massachusetts Part-Time Grant. Award amounts are determined by the state government and are estimated until final state appropriations. State scholarships may be substituted for institutional grant.

Massachusetts Performance Bonus
This program provides grants to undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional financial need and have completed at least 24 credit hours beyond high school while maintaining a 3.0 grade point average. The student must be a resident of Massachusetts in order to be eligible for a MA Performance Bonus. Award amounts are determined by the state government and are estimated until final state appropriations. State scholarships may be substituted for institutional grant.