Information About Grants

What is a Pell Grant?

A Federal Pell Grant is a form of federal financial aid that does not have to be repaid. Pell Grants are awarded usually only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or a professional degree. Students that are eligible for a Pell Grant can also receive other forms of federal student aid. The FAFSA, which is one of the requirements needed to become eligible for a Pell Grant, is also the application necessary for federal student loans.

Am I eligible for the Pell grant?

• You must be an eligible student whose Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is less than or equal to the figure set by the Federal Government for the academic year. See eligibility information for more about EFC.
• Your EFC is determined from the information that you provide on your FAFSA.
• You must meet all of the eligibility criteria required for receipt of federal aid including SAP.
• You must be enrolled in an undergraduate program leading to an associate or first bachelor's degree.

NOTE: The amount of time in which a student can receive Pell grant has been reduced from 18 semesters to 12 semesters. This change in duration is not limited to students who received their first Federal Pell Grant on or after the 2008-2009 award year, as the HEA previously provided when the duration of eligibility was 18 semester. The federal government will calculate the equivalency by adding together each of the annual percentages of a student's scheduled award that was actually disbursed to the student.

 

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What is the FSEOG Grant?

FSEOG is an undergraduate award to students with exceptional financial need. Federal Pell Grant recipients receive priority for these awards. The FSEOG awards can range from $100 to $4,000 a year but each school can establish its own guidelines within these ranges. 

Am I eligible for the FSEOG Grant?

• You must be Pell grant eligible based on the FAFSA.
• You must meet all of the eligibility criteria required for receipt of federal aid including SAP.
• You must be enrolled in an undergraduate program leading to an associate or first bachelor's degree. Funds are very limited.

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What is the Louisiana Go Grant?

The purpose of this program is to provide a need-based component to the state's financial aid plan to support nontraditional and low to moderate-income students who need additional aid to afford the cost of attending college.

Am I eligible for the Go Grant?

• Be a Louisiana Resident;*
• File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA);
• Receive a federal Pell grant;
• Have remaining financial need after deducting the student's Estimated Family Contribution (EFC)and Federal/State/Institutional grant or scholarship aid ("gift aid") from the student's Cost of Attendance (COA): Due to limited funding, awards are not guaranteed to all eligible students.
• Be a student enrolled in an eligible Louisiana institution on a half-time basis (minimum 6 hours at semester school or 4 hours at a quarter school).

Award Amounts **

Award amounts to eligible students are based on the institution's allocation and their packaging policy.  Awards may vary with each academic year.  Awards will not be paid for summer sessions,quarters, or terms.

 

Renewal Requirements

• Must file a FAFSA or the Renewal FAFSA at least annually;
• Continue to receive a Federal Pell Grant;
• Have remaining financial need after deducting Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) and all federal/state/institutional grant or scholarship aid ("gift aid") from student's Cost of Attendance (COA).
• The Award can be renewed for subsequent years to a maximum lifetime award that correlates to that of the Federal Pell Grant.

 

*Residency: Louisiana resident as of the day the FAFSA is filed and Louisiana is the student's true and fixed domicile as reported on the FAFSA. If student's state of residence on the FAFSA is not reported as LA, but a dependent student claims that a non-custodial parent is a Louisiana resident, or that parents are Louisiana residents living out of state, LOSFA will determine residency based on the completion, by the parents, of a residency affidavit

**Students should check with the financial aid office at the school they plan to attend regarding policy on award calculation and distribution.

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What is Institutional Need Based Grant?

• Students must be a degree seeking, undergraduate students.
• Allocated funds will be split between Undergraduates by classification.
• Students must meet minimum standards of the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
• Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 hours per term.
• Students must be a Louisiana resident.
• Priority is given to students who have a FAFSA on file by February 15th. 
• Students must be Pell Grant eligible.
• Students must demonstrate financial need based upon the COA-EFC calculation.
• Award amounts range from 500-1000. 

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2022-2023 LOSFA Geaux Teach Grant Policy and Procedures

 

I. Policy statement

Act 463 of the 2022 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature established the Geaux Teach Program, which provides scholarships to students who are enrolled in teacher preparation programs at the state’s postsecondary institutions that are approved by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE). Funding is also available to students attending certified alternative teacher preparation programs approved by BESE. Awards will begin with the 2022-2023 academic year. Financial aid offices should work with their college’s School of Education to identify eligible applicants.

 

II. Purpose of Policy 

The Geaux Teach scholarship program was established to provide scholarships to students who are enrolled in teacher preparation programs or alternate certification programs approved by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) at postsecondary education institutions within the state.

 

III. Applicability 

Initial eligibility requirements                                                                                                                      

• To be eligible for the Geaux Teach Program scholarship, a student must:                                              
•  Be a US citizen and if required, registered with the Selective Service; and
• Be a Louisiana resident for at least two full years prior to July 1 immediately preceding the academic year in which the student will be enrolled in a qualified program of study; and • Be enrolled full time in an approved teacher preparation program at an approved institution or be enrolled in an approved, alternative certified teacher education program through the census date; and
• Have at least a 2.5 cumulative college GPA.
• Be enrolled through the 14th class day.
• Have a remaining, outstanding balance at the time of awarding. For students on a payment plan, an award can be placed on the account in lieu of the remaining payment plan amount (outstanding balance).
• A student cannot receive a refund for the Geaux Teach Grant.

 

Continuing eligibility requirements

 To maintain eligibility to receive a Geaux Teach Program scholarship, a student must:

• Be a US citizen and if required, registered with the Selective Service; and
• Be a Louisiana resident for at least two full years prior to July 1 immediately preceding the academic year in which the student will be enrolled in a qualified program of study; and • Be enrolled full time in an approved teacher preparation program at an approved institution or be enrolled in an approved, alternative certified teacher education program through the census date; and
• Maintain a minimum cumulative college GPA of at least 2.50.
• Have a remaining, outstanding balance at the time of awarding. For students on a payment plan, an award can be placed on the account in lieu of the payment plan amount (outstanding balance) or out of pocket expense.
• A student cannot receive a refund for the Geaux Teach Grant.
• Have received the award for not more than four academic years.

 

IV. Packaging Policy

 

Packaging Policy:

Eligible institutions/providers must establish and use a policy on Geaux Teach Program packaging that provides:

• A procedure for compliance with program rules
• Record retention
• Basis used to establish any award amount that is less than the maximum award amount allowed Payment Requests: A payment request file format will be provided that will include the following elements:
• Student’s name
• Social Security number
• College code/provider name
• Term
• Date
• Hours attempted
• Award amount requested for each student
• CIP code for the program of study
• Increment key at the end of each semester, term or quarter, the institution/provider shall report the following student data to LOSFA:
• Semester hours attempted and semester hours earned
• Semester quality points earned
• Resignation from the institution/provider or withdrawal from all courses
• Completion of a program of study Institution/Provider Certification: No institution/provider shall submit a payment request for Geaux Teach funds which would result in a student receiving an annual total of more than the authorized amount of $5,000.00.
• The award can be used for the summer if the student has remaining funds available (under the maximum $5,000.00 annual award amount).

Packaging Policy:

• Award amounts:
• May not exceed the amount of the tuition, fees, and books which are evidenced on the recipient’s fee bill. No institution/provider shall submit a payment request for Geaux Teach funds which would result in a student receiving an annual total of more than the authorized amount of $5,000.00. Award amounts should be reduced to prevent over awards.

Eligibility and Packaging Procedures

• Students should be directed to the college/school of education to apply for the program using the required LOSFA application form in the following link.
• https://mylosfa.la.gov/wp-content/uploads/Geaux-Teach-Application.pdf
• The college/school of education will submit the list of selected recipients to the financial aid office after determining they meet the eligibility criteria in the eligibility section of this policy.
• The financial aid office will determine the award amount based upon the student’s financial aid eligibility for the program.
• Alternate certification programs will use the same application form.
• After the financial aid office determines the award amount based on the student’s financial aid eligibility for the program, the financial aid office will submit a payment request to LOSFA on the Award System.
• Alternate certification providers will submit a direct payment request to LOSFA on the award system.
• Award amounts:
• The maximum annual award is $5,000. The award amount shall be applied only to tuition, fees, textbooks, and instructional materials required for enrollment. Geaux Teach Program scholarships shall be awarded after all state and institutional financial aid are applied. Summer term awards are allowed.
• Beginning in the 2023-2024 academic year, ULM will include free federal aid in the calculation for determination. This is to spread the funding amount to more recipients, prevent over awarding and unnecessary refunds.