Grants
The following types of assistance are available to students at the University of Kentucky:
Federal Pell Grant
A Federal Pell Grant is federal gift assistance that does not need to be repaid. The Federal Pell Grant is based upon eligibility and enrollment status. Your grant may increase or decrease according to the exact course load for which you enroll each semester. Baccalaureate degree holders are not eligible for Federal Pell Grants. The current maximum amount is $4,310 per year. For more details, visit the Department of Education's web site.
Academic Competitiveness Grant
An Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) is a federal grant offered to first and second year students who meet certain criteria. The student must be eligible to receive the Federal Pell Grant, be an U.S. citizen, enrolled in a four-year degree program, enrolled fulltime, and if a first-year student they must have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study on or after January 1, 2006. If a second-year student they must have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study on or after January 1, 2005. A first-year student can receive up to $750. A second-year student can receive up to $1,300 if they meet the above criteria as well as have a 3.0 GPA after their first year. The U.S. Department of Education will notify students who submit the FAFSA and are potentially eligible for the Academic Competitiveness Grant. The student will be directed to a website where they will complete a self-certification process. The school will receive the results. The school will award and notify eligible students.
Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant
A SMART Grant is a federal grant offered to third and fourth year students who meet certain criteria. The student must be eligible to receive the Federal Pell Grant, be an U.S. citizen, enrolled in a four-year degree program, enrolled fulltime, pursing a major in mathematics, science, technology, engineering, or a critical foreign language and have a 3.0 GPA. Third and fourth-year students can receive up to $4,000 per year. The school will award and notify eligible students.
College Access Program (CAP) Grant
A CAP Grant is state funded gift assistance awarded by the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance (KHEAA). You will receive official notification by mail directly from KHEAA regarding the amount for which you are eligible and the campus where the grant may be used. If you decide to attend an educational institution other than the one you listed first in Step 6 of your FAFSA, you must notify KHEAA in writing as soon as possible. Failure to do so will result in cancellation of your CAP Grant award. This award may not exceed your need. Baccalaureate degree holders are not eligible for CAP Grants. The current maximum amount is $1,900 per year. For more details, visit the Kentucky Department of Education's web site.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
Federal SEOG is federal gift assistance normally awarded to full-time students with the greatest levels of financial need and who are Pell Grant recipients. Baccalaureate degree holders are not eligible for Federal SEOG Grants. The AVERAGE award is $600 per year. For more details, please see the Department of Education's web site.