Guam College Grants

Students who live in Guam and will be attending college are entitled to complete the Free Application for Federal Financial Student Aid (FAFSA). This form is required for any student in the United States that is planning to attend college and is seeking grants, scholarships, work study, or loans. The same criteria are applicable for students in Guam as they are for students in the U.S.

Students must complete the form with their financial information if they are independent students. If they are not considered independent, they must include financial information from their parents or guardians. You can get an application for the FAFSA by clicking on this link: www.fafsa.com

Guam is considered a territory of the United States; therefore the residents of Guam are entitled to many grants and scholarships provided by the U.S. Government. It varies from college to college as to whether federal student loans are available. The school must be registered in the Title V Student Loan Program for federal guaranteed student loans to be available for students. Registering for this is considered an option for the colleges and not all participate.

GRANTS

Pell Grant:

This grant is based upon financial need and can be as high as $5,550 per year. In order to receive the grant, students must complete the FAFSA application. The award is broken down into semesters or quarters and is available at the start of each session. A check is made out to the student and the school and the tuition is deducted from the check, with the student receiving the remainder to use for room and board or textbooks and supplies. The amount awarded is based upon the financial information provided on the FAFSA form.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG):

Students who are undergraduates and demonstrate exceptional need are awarded these grants to supplement the Pell Grant funds. The grant amounts are between $200 and $400 per year. Information for the award comes from the FAFSA decision and funds will be provided at the same times as the Pell Grant funds.

Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program:

Students who plan to teach will be awarded up to $4000 per year if they agree to teach elementary or secondary students in low income areas. The funds for this program come from the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007. Financial aid need is not required to benefit from this program. If you apply and receive funds, but do not fulfill your obligation to teach in the special areas, you must pay the grant back. Applications for this program may be made at either University of Guam or Northern Marianas College Financial Aid Office.

Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG):

The Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005 funds this grant program. Full time students in either a 2-year or 4-year institution who have not previously attended college are eligible for this grant. Students must also be eligible for a Pell Grant in order to be considered. First year students receive $750 and second year students will receive $1500. Students must have a 3.0 gpa at the end of their first year of college. Students must have had the following courses in high school to be considered:

• English (four years)
• Math (three years including Algebra and one higher level course)
• Science (three years including at least two of the following classes: biology, chemistry, and Physics)
• Foreign Language (one year)

The National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (SMART Grant):

This grant is available to third and fourth year undergraduate students. Students must be eligible for the Pell Grant and must be majoring in one of these areas: computer science, mathematics, life science, technology, engineering, physical science, or a foreign language that is considered critical. Students must have a 3.0 average on a 4.0 scale in their major program.

The grant is given in addition to the Pell Grant and will be for up to $4000 for the last two years of the chosen major program. The total amount of the Pell Grant and the SMART Grant cannot equal more than the cost of attending college. Consideration is made at the same time as the decision for the Pell Grant is made.

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant:

If a student had a parent or guardian who served in the military in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001, and died related to that service, they can receive this grant if they are unable to qualify for a Pell Grant. Students must be under age 24 and enrolled at least half time at the time of the parent or guardian death. The amount of the grant would be the same amount as a maximum Pell Grant for the year. You must complete the FAFSA and then speak to the Financial Aid office at your selected college.

Leveraging Educational Assistancve Partnership (LEAP) Grant:

This grant is funded by the Federal government to the individual states and territories to administer as they see fit. It is designed to help academic achievers. Students who receive the grant are selected by the schools financial aid officer. The amount of the grant is between $200 and $2000 and depends on what funds each school receives from the government and how the financial aid officer divides it. To qualify:

• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
• Register with Selective Service.
• Submit the FAFSA.
• Have a high school transcript with at 2.0 GPA, or score a minimum of 45 on the GED exam, or have at least 20 on the ACT test, or a GPA of 2.0 from the last term.
• Carry at least the minimum number of credits to be considered a full-time student.
• Show a need for financial aid.
• No criminal conviction for other than traffic violations.
• Educational loans cannot be in default.

This grant must be applied for directly through the financial aid office at the school that the applicant has chosen to attend.

Professional/Technical Award:

Guam government sponsors this award for off-island graduate or professional studies. Recipients are chosen by the Board of Regents based upon need, scholastic aptitude, and ability to succeed. Application is made thru the University of Guam Financial Aid Office. The University of Guam is the only four year accredited university in Guam and you must be near the end of your four year program in order to apply.

Applications are due in April of each year. Applications are found online at the U of G Financial Aid office or can be obtained in person at the Financial Aid Office which is located on the U. of Guam campus in the Field House building. Students must have already been accepted to a graduate program off-island and submit proof of acceptance, cost of tuition and living expenses at the location of the degree program.

Nursing Training Program:

This award is provided by the government of Guam and is to be used for nurses training programs in Guam. It is designed to prepare nursing students for work in Guam at positions in the public health system of Guam in a variety of positions. Students must work in Guam for equivalent of the amount of time that it took to earn the degree. Priority of awarding the funds for the training will go to students who indicate they wish to remain on Guam for their professional career after training is completed.

The program is only available at the University of Guam and is administered by the Financial Aid Office. Applications are due by April of each year. The Board of Regents makes decisions on who will be awarded the funding to complete the nurse training program. Students receiving the award will have all tuition paid for full time studies each academic year and summer session. Book costs up to $250 will be paid for each semester and $100 during the summer session. Students also receive a monthly allowance of between $200 and $400.

College Access Challenge Grant:

This grant is given to encourage partnerships between federal, state and local governments through matching grants. It is given to low-income students to encourage college attendance. $1500 is awarded per semester to students who indicate they will work in a low income area after they graduate. Please check with the Financial Aid Office at the University of Guam or the Community College of Guam for particular details and the application process.

Scholarships

Herminia Dierking Scholarship:

This scholarship is given by the Association of Government Accountants (AGA) Guam Chapter. Ms Dierking was a very successful former legislator, educator, humanitarian, past regional president of AGA Guam chapter and regional vice president of AGA Pacific Rim. Four awards of $1500 will be awarded each year to undergraduate students at the University of Guam who are majoring in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance and Economics, or Public Administration. Applications can be found at: uog.edu under Financial Aid, or at www.aga.guam.net

Palau Women’s Club Scholarship:

The committee from the Palau Women’s Club will select and award one or two scholarships each year, depending upon funding. Eligible students must be enrolled full time at the U of Guam as either an undergraduate student or graduate student and maintain a 2.5 GPA. The applicant must be a resident of Guam.

The amount of the scholarship will equal either the cost of tuition and fees required of the student, or the amount of income earned by the fund. Applications can be found on the Financial Aid website of the University of Guam and submitted to the same office to be given to the committee for review. The committee will have sole discretion on who receives the scholarship. www.uog.edu Found under Financial Aid.

Soroptimist International of the Marianas (SIM) Scholarship:

This scholarship is for students attending the University of Guam for the purpose of encouraging high school students to pursue a college education. $1000 is given to one student each year. Recipients must be a resident of Guam, have a 3.0 GPA, and show financial need. A FAFSA application form must be submitted.

The Financial Aid office, Dean of Student Affairs, and the UOG Controller will make referrals to the SIM organization who will make the final selection. Students will also be required to write an essay entitled: My Role in the Future of Guam. Students may contact Joyce Fukikawa-Diamadi, SIM Chairperson at idiamadi@dewittquam.com or phone 648-1808, or contact the Financial Aid Office at the University of Guam.

Business Woman of the Year Scholarship:

The group awards scholarships to deserving fulltime students who are pursuing a professional degree at either the Community College of Guam or the University of Guam, or Northern Marianas College. Awards are based upon financial need, merit, eligibility and a written essay.

Students must be pursuing a business degree of some type and agree to work in Guam or the Marianas for the number of years equal to how long they received the scholarship. A link to the application is found on the front page of the financial aid office at University of Guam, or in the financial aid office at the Community College of Guam, or any First Hawaiian Bank branch. The amount given in the scholarship varies from year to year depending upon funding.

John F. Quan Memorial Scholarship for Ocean Resource Science and Research:

Students applying for this scholarship must be majoring in ocean resources science and a ten year resident of Guam. The scholarship is available to either undergraduate or graduate studies who can prove financial need. Students must also have a3.0 GPA. The scholarship will pay the full tuition and fees. The total amount awarded to any one student will not exceed $12,500 for a year. You must agree to work on Guam for one year for each year you received a scholarship.
The application materials are found at www.uog.edu.

Charlie Corn Scholarship:

This scholarship is given by the Society of American Military Engineers Guam Post. It is for the purpose of assisting the development of engineering and architectural studies in Guam and Micronesia. Students receiving the award must agree to working on Guam or Micronesia after receiving their degree. www.uog.edu

Bank of Guam College Scholarship Program:

College bound high school students may apply for one of four $5000 scholarships or ten $1,000 scholarships. Each high school will have copies of the application, or you can contact Jackie.Marati@bankofguam.com or call 472-5358.

The financial aid offices at University of Guam and the Community College of Guam reminds students to come to the offices frequently to check for availability of grants and scholarships and states that often times there are small scholarships available for students that are not widely known about.

People who served in the armed forces are eligible for the GI Bill and other tuition assistance and must contact the financial aid offices or the Veterans Administration to begin paperwork to receive the tuition assistance.

College Grant Information By State