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Grants

Federal Pell Grant

The purpose of the Federal Pell Grant Program is to provide eligible students with a "floor" of financial aid to help defray some of the costs of post-secondary education. Student eligibility is based on financial need determined on the basis of a formula, developed by the Department of Education and reviewed by Congress annually, which is applied uniformly to all applicants. Howard College participates in the Federal Pell Electronic Data Exchange (EDE) system. This allows the college to correct information on the Pell Grant Student Aid Report electronically for those students who list Howard College as their college choice.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

A limited number of Supplementary Grants are available to students with exceptional need each year. Student eligibility and amount of grant is determined by the income level of the student and his parents.

State Student Incentive Grant Program (SSIG)
& Texas Public Educational Grant (TPEG)

These grant funds are available from a combination of Federal, State, and College sources to assist deserving students who have additional financial need. These grant funds are limited and generally range from $200 to $600 per academic year.

TEXAS (Toward Excellence, Access, & Success) Grant Programs

The purpose of these programs is to provide a grant of money to enable well-prepared eligible students to attend public and private nonprofit institutions of higher education in Texas. The programs are administered through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Awards are made through the financial aid office; all students who have completed a financial aid file will be reviewed for eligibility. Returning or transfer Texas Grant recipients must complete a financial aid file to continue to receive the award. The Texas Grant program offers three opportunities for a student to qualify for the program. All three programs require that a student be a Texas resident, has financial need, has applied for any available financial aid or assistance, maintains satisfactory academic progress, and has not been convicted of a felony or crime involving a controlled substance.

For students graduating with a recommended or advanced high school diploma: To be eligible for the Texas Grant program, a student must have graduated from a public or accredited private high school in Texas, no earlier than Fall 1998 (note: must enter program within 16 months of graduation from high school), completed the recommended or advanced high school curriculum or its equivalent, and enrolls at least 3/4 time in an undergraduate degree or certificate program. Satisfactory academic progress for a student's first year on this program is determined by the school's satisfactory academic progress standards; in subsequent years, a student must have a minimum of a 2.5 cumulative grade point average and have completed 75 percent of the hours attempted in the prior academic year. A student who maintains eligibility will continue to receive the award up to 150 credit hours, six years, or upon completion of a bachelor's degree, whichever comes first.

  1. For students receiving an Associate's Degree in May 2001 or later: A student who receives an Associate's Degree in May 2001 or later and continues in college for a higher degree can qualify for the Texas Grant program. A student in this program must enroll at least 3/4 time in a higher level undergraduate degree program and must enroll within 12 months of completion of the associate degree. The academic standards are completion of at least 75 percent of the hours taken in the prior year, and a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5. A student who maintains eligibility will continue to receive the award up to 90 credit hours, four years, or upon completion of a bachelor's degree, whichever comes first.
  2. Texas Grant II Program: This program is for students that do not qualify under the Texas Grant program and are attending a public community college, technical college, or public Texas institution. A student must be enrolled at least half-time in the first 30 hours (or their equivalent) in an associate's degree or certificate program at a public two-year institution of higher education. The family's contribution (EFC) must be no more than $2,000. The academic standards are completion of at least 75 percent of the hours taken in the prior year and a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5. A student who maintains eligibility will continue to receive the award up to 75 credit hours, four years, or upon completion of an associate's degree, whichever comes first.

Ability To Benefit

Students who do not have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent must pass a Department of Education approved exam administered by the college.