Types of Financial Aid Available to MEC Students

Federal Pell Grant (FPELL)

Federal Work-Study (FWS)

Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

Federal SEOG (FSEOG)

CUNY Supplemental Tuition Assistance (CUSTA)

SEEK Program

Aid for Part-Time Students (APTS)

Federal Perkins Loan (FPL)

William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program

Federal Pell Grant (FPELL) is an award to help first-time undergraduates pay for their education after high school. A first-time undergraduate is one who has not earned a bachelor's or first professional degree. The award based on financial need rather than academic achievement. You must be a U.S. Citizen or a Permanent Resident who meets income criteria in order to qualify for a Federal Pell Grant.

To be eligible for Title IV Assistance, an applicant must meet the following general eligibility requirement:

• Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment at a college
• Be a matriculated student at a college
• Must have a high school diploma or a GED
• Meet enrollment status requirements
• Be a US citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Must not be in default on a Title IV student loan borrowed for attendance at any institution
• Be registered with the Selective Service System
• Must not have borrowed in excess of Title IV loan limits 
• Must not owe a repayment on a Title IV grant of scholarship received for attendance at any institution
• Must maintain satisfactory academic progress

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Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) is a New York State education grant which helps full-time students meet their tuition costs. You must be a U.S. Citizen or a Permanent Resident, who has lived in the State of New York for at least one year prior to the first term for which you are seeking payment. You must also meet certain income and enrollment criteria.
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City University Supplemental Tuition Assistance (CUSTA) is a City University administered program to assist students who experience a reduction in their TAP award in their 5th semester of TAP eligibility. To be eligible for the CUSTA award, students must be:
Enrolled in an undergraduate program at a CUNY senior or technical college.
Enrolled on a full-time basis.
Eligible for the maximum TAP award.
At least a fifth-semester TAP eligible recipient but have not exhausted their TAP eligibility.
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Aid For Part Time Student (APTS) is a New York State tuition grant for part-time students who are a U.S. Citizen or a Permanent Resident, you must have lived in the State of New York for at least one year prior to the first term for which you are seeking payment. You must meet certain income criteria and must be enrolled for at least six (6) credits but fewer than twelve (12) credits.
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Federal Work-Study (FWS) is a program that provides part-time jobs to students who need additional financial aid. Jobs are available both on and off campus. You can apply for Federal Work Study by indicating YES on question #26 on your FAFSA on the Web.
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Federal SEOG (FSEOG) is a grant which assists exceptionally needy students and is intended to supplement other forms of financial aid. A student is not required to repay this grant.
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Academic Competitive Grant (ACG)

An eligible student may receive an Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) of up to $750 for the first academic year of study and up to $1,300 for the second academic year of study. To be eligible for each academic year, you 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 year of your program of study at a two-year or four-year degree-granting institution (such as CUNY);
• 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.

In New York State, a Regents Diploma with Honors or Advance Designation will serve as evidence of a rigorous secondary school program. A student may also qualify through completion of a prescribed set of courses taken, or two Advance Placement (AP) courses with a minimum score of three (3) on the AP exams or two International Baccalaureate (IB) courses with a score of four (4) on the IB exams.

The prescribed set of courses must include four years of English, three years of Math (including Algebra I and higher level courses such as Algebra II, Geometry, or Data Analysis and Statistics), three years of science (including at least two courses from biology, physics, or chemistry) three years of social studies, and one year of a foreign language.

Most potential recipients will be notified by the U.S. Department of Education and will be given a web site link that will help them determine whether they have completed a 'qualifying rigorous secondary school program.' A student's college will then be notified and will verify eligibility. If you are not notified by the Department of Education and you think you may be eligible, contact your college financial aid office to determine your eligibility.

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National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grants

The Federal Department of Education has created a new grant program for third and fourth year students who are majoring in math, engineering, or science. 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 (defined as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Hebrew and Semetic, and Russian); and
• have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale in the coursework required for the student's major.

Under the National SMART Grant Program, CUNY will identify Pell-eligible federal student aid recipients who are majoring in physical, life or computer science, engineering, mathematics, technology, or a critical foreign language. Your colleges will be able to tell you which of their academic programs are designated by the Department of Education as eligible for SMART Grants.

For the National SMART Grant program, the amount of your grant, in combination with your Federal Pell Grant, other resources and estimated financial assistance, may not exceed your financial need (cost of attendance minus EFC equals financial need). A student may not receive more than one National SMART Grant award in each academic year for which the student is eligible.

All annual award amounts for an academic year may be reduced if sufficient funds are not available for all eligible students nationally in an award year.

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Search For Evaluation, Education And Knowledge (SEEK) Program is a program which provides higher education opportunity for educational and economical disadvantaged students. Students are provided with specialized counseling, tutorial services, academic instruction, and an additional financial aid stipend for books and fees. Requirements for eligibility are on the Freshmen Application for Admissions.
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LOANS

Federal Perkins Loan (FPL) is a low interest loan awarded by CUNY to students who demonstrate financial need. The current interest rate is 5 percent. Perkins loan recipient must complete an entrance interview before receiving the loan check and an exit interview prior to separation from the college. You can apply for this loan by indicating YES on question #26 on your FAFSA application. You must start repaying this money nine (9) months after graduation, or if you drop to less than (6) credits or if there is termination of attendance. This loan is not available to Freshmen.
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William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program provides federally insured, low interest, long term loans to students in order to help cover the costs of attending college. The Federal Government is the lender of this loan thereby allowing the students to obtain it directly through the college. Students who want to apply for a Direct Loan must first file a FAFSA application. There are two types of Direct Loan: (1) Subsidized - the federal government pays the interest while the student is in school; eligibility is based on financial need. (2) Unsubsidized - Available regardless of financial need. Interest is charged to the student while he/she is in school. An entrance and exit counseling interview, is required. Repayment begins six (6) months after graduation, or if you register for less than (6) credits or if there is termination of attendance.
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