Educational Grants in Oklahoma

Living in Oklahoma is a great place to be because there are many colleges and universities with a wide variety of grants and other financial aid to match.  Among the Federal Grant programs and school grants in Oklahoma available to students are: the Federal Pell Grant; the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG); the Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG); and the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant. The Oklahoma State Grants include: the Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant (OTAG), and the Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant (OTEG).

The award amount of a Pell Grant is as much as $4,050 per year in Oklahoma. To apply for a Pell Grant in Oklahoma, you need to fill out the FAFSA. Federal Pell Grants are need-based, and they often provide a foundation to which other financial aid may be added. Pell grants do not need to be repaid, and they are disbursed by your college in Oklahoma. To be eligible for a Pell Grant, you must be seeking your first bachelor’s degree or professional degree (such as medicine or dentistry, etc.). You may be eligible to receive a Pell Grant when seeking a post BA teacher certification.To apply for the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) in Oklahoma, you also need to fill out the FAFSA.

The Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) is available to freshman and sophomore students who are also receiving Federal Pell Grants in Oklahoma. Freshman can get up to $750 per year with the ACG grant, and sophomore can get up to $1,300 per year with the ACG grant. Sophomore students must have a 3.0 GPA from their freshman year in college to obtain the ACG grant.

Junior and Senior students in Oklahoma who are also receiving a Pell Grant can receive the National SMART Grant in the amount of a maximum of $4,000 per year in addition to the student’s Pell Grant. To get the National Smart Grant in Oklahoma, you must have a GPA of 3.0 or above. Additionally, you need to major in one of these fields of study: math, science, technology, engineering, or a critical foreign language (Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Russian, etc.).

The Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant Program (OTAG) is for undergraduate students who show financial need. You apply for this grant by filling out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The maximum annual award for the OTAG grant is the lesser of 75 percent of enrollment costs or $1,000 for students attending public colleges, universities or career technology centers, and $1,300 for students attending eligible private colleges or universities in Oklahoma.

You may be eligible to receive $2,000 per academic year in grant money in Oklahoma from the Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant (OTEG). This is a need-based grant program, and you can apply by filling out the FAFSA. For more information about this grant, you can call: Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant Program: (877) 662-6231.In summary, with all the Federal and State grants available in Oklahoma; your college costs will practically be covered. So this is good news for students in Oklahoma

Grants in Oklahoma for 2012

The state of Oklahoma offers plenty of opportunities for students to gain an education.  For those students who are short on money for their education there are a couple of grant opportunities in 2012 worth investigating further. Here we look at those:

Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant (OTAG): This is a state need-based grant that is open to both full-time as well as part-time students who wish to earn their undergraduate degree. The maximum amount of money awarded for every academic year is $1300. Eligibility for the OTAG is limited to those students who have a 1700 Expected Family Contribution (EFC) or lower. Please note that undocumented immigrants who are able to meet certain requirements may be considered for this grant. You must fill out a FAFSA form to apply for this grant. That is only the form you will need to fill out to apply for this state funded grant opportunity.

Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant (OTEG):  Just like the Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant this state grant is need-based. The maximum amount of money made available to students is $2000 per academic year. This grant is only open to full-time students (not part-time students) and for those working towards their first Bachelor’s degree.  Applicants must have a family income of $50,000 annually or less. Students must fill out a FAFSA form to apply. There are no other applications needed.

Please note- due to limiting funding, students are encouraged to apply early for both the OTAG as well as the OTEG. It is often a case of first come, first served. .

Osage Higher Education Grant

The Osage Higher Education Grant is a newer grant in Oklahoma state that is available to those who can prove that they are of Osage Indian descent. The applicant must also be able to show that they require financial help from this grant. Applicant must be American Indian/ Alaska Native. Those who are eligible to apply for this grant must be enrolled either on a full-time or part-time basis at a two year or four year college, university or technical school. When applying the individual must submit a completed application form, school transcripts and a financial need analysis. The applicant must also submit a copy of CDIB, proof of Osage Indian descent and verification of enrollment.

Oklahoma Higher Education Grant

If some of the other grants in the state are not right for you then this one might be. The Oklahoma Higher Education Grant is suitable for those students who have a financial need and can demonstrate such. Applicants must meet the minimum admission requirements at the school they wish to attend. Applicants must also make satisfactory academic progress in terms of the policy of the college or university for its financial aid recipients.