The Academic Competitiveness (AC) Grant is to provide college students who completed a rigorous course of study in high school with additional grant money. The AC Grant provides a one-time grant of up to $750 for the first-year college student and up to an additional $1,300 for second-year students who complete rigorous high school course work, are enrolled full-time and maintain a 3.0 GPA. A final high school transcript must be on file in the Records Office.
An eligible first-year college student is defined as a student who has earned 24 or less college level semester hours and graduated high school after Jan. 1, 2006.
An eligible second-year college student is defined as a student who graduated after Jan. 1, 2005 and has earned a 3.0 GPA in their first 24 college level semester hours.
To apply for an Academic Competitiveness Grant, you first must meet the following general eligibility requirements:
- Have received a high school diploma
- U.S citizen or eligible non-citizen
- Must be enrolled full-time
- Must be Pell grant eligible
- Not be in default on a Federal student loan or owe repayment of Pell
In addition, eligible students must also:
- Be in their first or second academic year of a two- or four-year degree program
- First year students must have completed high school on or after Jan. 1, 2006
- Second year students must have completed high school on or after Jan. 1, 2005
- Must have completed a rigorous high school program of study as designated by their State. For Illinois, a rigorous high school program is defined as completing with passing grades:
- 4 years of English
- 3 years of Math (including Algebra I and a higher level course such as Algebra II, Geometry, or Data Analysis and Statistics)
- 3 years of Science (including at least two courses from biology, chemistry or physics)
- 3 years of social studies
- 1 year of foreign language
or
Completing a minimum of 2 Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses in high school and a minimum passing score on the exams for those classes. Student must score 3 or higher on AP exams and 4 or higher on IB exams.
Students should start the application process by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. It is recommended that students complete College of DuPage’s Admission Form prior to filing their FAFSA.
If you filed the FAFSA online the Office of Student Financial Aid should receive your results within 7 to 10 days. If you mailed in the FAFSA, it may take three weeks for the Office of Student Financial Aid to receive your results.
After our office receives your results electronically, an e-mail will be sent to your COD e-mail address to request additional information based on your results, which may include, but is not limited to: College of DuPage Data Confirmation Sheet and copies of tax and W-2 Information. Our office will send out three requests for additional information, after which you will no longer receive notices for missing information. It is your responsibility to check your COD e-mail account regularly!
Your financial aid specialist may take 6 to 8 weeks to process your file after all required documents are submitted. Processing time depends upon the application length and/or corrections. It is strongly suggested that students apply at least 10 weeks before the start of the semester.
Notification of your award:
You will receive notification that your financial aid award has been
determined via your COD e-mail address. Your complete Financial Aid
Award Letter will be accessible in your myACCESS. Please refer to Understanding Your Financial Aid brochure
for important information on withdrawing from classes and deadline
dates for enrollment. Students who have excessive drops or do not
complete 67 percent of their classes will risk losing their financial
aid.
Withdrawals:
According to the Federal Refund Policy, if you withdraw from all your classes prior to completing 60 percent of the term, you could owe a refund of grant and/or loan funds to College of DuPage and to the federal government. The amount owed will be based upon your grant and/or loan eligibility.
Federal Financial Aid is paid based upon attendance in classes. If you receive a failing grade or withdrawal from class for failure to attend, you may owe a portion or all of your grant and/or loan funds to College of DuPage and the federal government. The date of your last participation in an academically-related course activity determines the period utilized for determining your final award.
As always, please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid prior to dropping classes.