Grants

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The FAFSA is the first step in applying for financial aid. It is used to apply for federal student aid such as grants, loans and work-study. In addition, most states and schools use information from the FAFSA to award non-federal aid, like school scholarships and grants. Students should never pay someone to help them complete the FAFSA. You can complete the form online at www.fafsa.gov.

If you would like help completing the FAFSA, please contact the Student Assistance Foundation campus outreach manager in your area, call the College Access Hotline at (877) COLG4ME (265-4463), or check out a College Goal Montana event in your community.

To learn more about financial aid and how it can help you pay for postsecondary education, make an appointment with the financial aid office at your school.

Make an appointment to visit with the FA office at your school. They can help you understand your options for paying for college.

Federal Grants

• Federal Pell Grant — This is the largest grant program for postsecondary education. The amount you are eligible to receive is based on your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), enrollment status, and the cost of attending school. Pell Grants are usually only awarded to undergraduate students. The maximum Pell award for the 2011-12 Academic Year is $5,550, and the maximum EFC is $5,273.
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) — Colleges award these grants to students with exceptional financial need. FSEOG awards range from $100 to $4,000 per year.
• Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants (TEACH Grant) — These grants are for students who are education majors who plan to teach in a high-need field at a low-income school. The postsecondary school the student is attending must be participating in the program. Failure to complete the requirements of the agreement to serve will result in the grant being transferred to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan. Interest will retroactively accrue from the first disbursement date of the original grant money. [more ]

State Grants

• Montana Higher Education Grant (MHEG) — These grants are awarded to students with exceptional financial need as determined by the FAFSA. This program is funded by the state of Montana and is matched with federal funds. Early filing of the FAFSA is encouraged as funding is limited.
• Montana Tuition Assistance Program/Baker Grant (MTAP) — These grants are available for Montana residents that have not already received a bachelor’s degree who have earnings greater than 500 times the federal minimum wage and an expected family contribution that is less than the maximum federal Pell Grant plus $2,500. Funds are limited, so be sure to submit your FAFSA early.

Institutional Grants

• Institutional Grants — Nearly all colleges have grants that are privately funded and available to their students. The financial aid office, and sometimes, the school’s foundation, are the best sources of information for these grants. Often, the financial aid office will have one application that students can complete for consideration for all of their institutional grants.

Acce$$ Grants

Acce$$ Grants — These grants are distributed to students in need of help paying for their education through the financial aid offices at Montana postsecondary schools. Award amounts vary by individual need and are determined by the financial aid office. Talk to the financial aid officer at your school about whether you qualify.

2011/12 AY Acce$$ Grants	2011/12 Grants Amount	Total Since 2000 (2011/12)
Blackfeet Community College	$15,031	$93,803
Carroll College	$37,579	$294,950
Chief Dull Knife College	$7,516	$43,276
Dawson Community College	$11,274	$93,677
Flathead Valley Community College	$60,126	$411,272
Fort Belknap College	$6,263	$37,550
Fort Peck Community College	$11,274	$74,420
Little Big Horn College	$9,520	$63,759
Miles Community College	$13,779	$113,038
Montana Tech of the U of M & College of Technology	$65,764	$491,233
MSU Billings & College of Technology	$145,306	$1,045,527
Montana State University	$289,378	$2,327,085
MSU Northern	$37,579	$295,701
MSU Great Falls College of Technology	$35,900	$253,215
Rocky Mountain College	$25,053	$193,425
Salish Kootenai College	$25,053	$182,581
Stone Child College	$6,263	$51,114
University of Great Falls	$20,042	$167,945
The University of Montana & College of Technology	$373,411	$2,829,236
UM Helena College of Technology	$23,825	$178,661
The University of Montana Western	$30,064	$236,395
TOTAL	$1,250,000	$9,477,863