The federal Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) was a real program for several years — and it has been discontinued for more than a decade. If you found this page looking for the ACG, the honest update is that it is no longer awarded. The good news: most students who would have been ACG-eligible can now access larger awards through the Federal Pell Grant, FSEOG, TEACH Grant, and need-based state grants.
Quick facts on the ACG
- What it was: A federal grant program created by the Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005 for Pell-eligible first- and second-year undergraduates who had completed a rigorous high school program.
- Who administered it: U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid.
- Award size when active: Up to $750 in the first academic year and up to $1,300 in the second year for qualifying students who maintained at least a 3.0 GPA.
- Companion program: The National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (National SMART) Grant, for Pell-eligible third- and fourth-year STEM majors. Up to $4,000/year.
- End date: Both ACG and National SMART awards were terminated for award years after 2010–11. They have not been funded since.
If you receive correspondence or see a website claiming you can still apply for the ACG today, the information is out of date.
Why the ACG was discontinued
The ACG and National SMART grants were funded as supplemental programs by Congress through the College Cost Reduction and Access Act and earlier legislation. When the funding authority expired, Congress redirected resources into expanding the Pell Grant maximum and improving the FAFSA process rather than renewing ACG. The Pell maximum has roughly doubled since the ACG was last awarded.
What ACG-eligible students should apply for now (2026)
Federal Pell Grant
The Pell Grant is the primary federal need-based grant. The maximum for 2026–27 is up to $7,580 — far larger than the ACG ever was. ACG used to layer on top of Pell; today, the larger Pell does the bulk of the work alone.
FSEOG — Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
FSEOG provides $100–$4,000/year for Pell-eligible students with exceptional need. It is awarded through your college's financial aid office; campuses receive a fixed allocation and award until funds run out, so file the FAFSA early.
TEACH Grant
TEACH provides $4,000/year (capped at $16,000 undergrad / $8,000 graduate) for students entering teaching in high-need fields at high-need schools. Includes a service obligation — converts to a loan if unmet.
State need-based grants
Most states administer their own need-based grant programs (Cal Grant, TAP, Bright Futures, TEXAS Grant, Illinois MAP, Pennsylvania PHEAA, HOPE, etc.) using FAFSA data. Several states also operate merit-recognition grants that reward rigorous high school preparation — a similar idea to the ACG but state-funded.
Federal work-study and Direct Loans
Both are accessed through the FAFSA.
How to apply (for current federal aid)
- Gather documents — Social Security number, federal tax return, records of untaxed income, and bank/investment statements.
- File the FAFSA at studentaid.gov. The form opens October 1 for the following academic year.
- List every school you are considering on the FAFSA so each can prepare a financial aid offer.
- Review your Student Aid Index (SAI) when your FAFSA is processed.
- Accept aid through your school's financial aid portal once offered.
- Apply for state need-based grants through your state higher-education agency (some states use the FAFSA, others have separate applications).
There is no application fee for the FAFSA or any legitimate federal grant. Any service charging to "process" a federal student grant or "guarantee" approval is a scam. Report scams to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Common questions
Can I still apply for the Academic Competitiveness Grant? No. The ACG has not been awarded since the 2010–11 award year. Federal Student Aid no longer accepts ACG applications.
Does the SMART Grant still exist? No. The National SMART Grant for STEM upperclassmen also ended after the 2010–11 award year.
Did the ACG get replaced by anything? Not by a single named program. Congress redirected funding toward larger Pell Grants and improved FAFSA processing. STEM students who would have qualified for SMART today rely on Pell plus institutional and private STEM scholarships.
What if a website still lists the ACG as an option? The page is outdated. Verify any federal grant claim at studentaid.gov.
Are there any new federal grants for high-achieving low-income students? The active federal grants for undergraduates are Pell, FSEOG, TEACH, and the much smaller Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant. Merit/academic awards at the federal level were not renewed; merit recognition now happens primarily through state grants and institutional scholarships.
If you arrived here looking for the ACG, file the FAFSA today, claim your full Pell and state aid, and look for institutional merit awards at every college you are admitted to. The federal funding mix in 2026 is different from 2010 — but for most students, it is meaningfully larger.