Grants
Several grant programs help students who qualify. Grants don't have to be repaid, but grants that exceed the cost of tuition, fees, books, course materials and supplies are subject to U.S. income taxation. Grant funds used for housing and food are considered taxable income.
Federal Pell Grant
Description
The Federal Pell Grant is the largest federal student aid gift assistance program available to undergraduates.
Eligibility
To determine eligibility, a student must apply for this grant by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). There is no priority deadline for the Pell Grant, but students should apply by April 1 to allow ample processing time before Fall registration.
Based on the information submitted on the FAFSA, the school receives an Institutional Student Information Report (ISIR) from the Department of Education. Simultaneously, the student receives a FAFSA Submission Summary. This report provides the Student Aid Index (SAI) number that is used to determine Pell Grant eligibility.
Other factors that affect the amount of the grant are enrollment status (full-time or part-time) and the cost of attendance. Review Course Program of Study (CPoS) information for details on course enrollment requirements to receive the Pell Grant.
Grant Amount
The grant amount depends on your SAI and a budget passed by Congress annually.
View the maximum Federal Pell Grant award for this academic year.
Requirements
To receive the Pell Grant, a student must:
- Apply by submitting the FAFSA to the federal processor.
- Be enrolled in an undergraduate course program of study.
- The grant is not available to students who have previously received a bachelor's degree from any institution.
- Be a U.S. citizen; be in the United States for other than a temporary purpose with the intention to become a permanent resident; or be a citizen of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands or the Republic of Palau.
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
Description
This program is available to full-time first-time undergraduates who have exceptional financial need.
Eligibility
Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress to receive FSEOG assistance.
Grant Amount
Varies according to funding, but is typically $1,000.
Requirements
- Be a full-time undergraduate student seeking their first baccalaureate degree.
- Complete the FAFSA. Forms received by the federal processor by March 1 for incoming first-year students and April 1 for continuing students will receive priority consideration.
- These funds are automatically awarded if the student is eligible based on their FAFSA information and available funding. However, if selected for verification, that process must be completed before a student can receive their grants.
- Submit any required follow-up documents promptly.
- FSEOG funds typically are depleted by midsummer.
South Carolina Need-Based Grant
Description
This program awards funds to South Carolina residents demonstrating financial need.
Eligibility
The South Carolina Need-Based Grant can be received for no more than eight semesters.
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General Requirements
- Must be a legal resident of South Carolina.
- Must be a full-time undergraduate student seeking your first baccalaureate degree.
- Must complete the FAFSA and must meet financial aid need requirements. Priority is given to FAFSAs received by March 1 for incoming first-year students and April 1 for continuing undergraduate students.
- Must not have been judged delinquent nor have been convicted or pled guilty or nolo contender to any felony in any state.
- Must not have been convicted of any alcohol- or drug-related misdemeanor in any state within 12 months prior to the period of the award.
- Must not be in default or owe a refund or repayment on any federal or state financial aid.
- Must be making satisfactory academic progress.
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First-year and Transfer Student Requirements
- Must meet all general eligibility requirements.
- Must enroll in 12 hours for the Fall and Spring semesters.
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Continuing Student Requirements
- Must meet all general eligibility requirements.
- Must enroll in 12 hours for the Fall and Spring semesters.
- If you received the South Carolina Need-Based Grant in the previous year, you must have earned at least 12 hours during the semester(s) of the award.
- Must have a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA.
Grant Amount
The maximum South Carolina Need-Based Grant at Clemson is $3,000 per year based on financial need as defined by Title IV regulations.
Requirements
To receive the South Carolina Need-Based Grant at Clemson, students must:
- Complete the FAFSA. Forms received by the federal processor by March 1 for incoming first-year students and April 1 for continuing students will receive priority consideration.
Disbursement
The South Carolina Need-Based Grant is credited to your student account to satisfy any charges. Excess aid is refunded to the student. The South Carolina Need-Based Grant is available during the Fall and Spring semesters, and in some cases during the Summer.
Dropping Below Full-Time or Withdrawing
If you are receiving the South Carolina Need-Based Grant or any other financial aid, dropping below full-time status or withdrawing completely might affect your eligibility to receive aid. Under some circumstances, withdrawing from the University might require you to repay part or all of any financial aid received.
Before taking this action, you should contact the Office of Student Financial Aid (G-01 Sikes Hall) to determine the effect on your financial obligations.
Federal TEACH Grant
Description
The TEACH Grant is available to students who plan to begin a career in teaching, are enrolled in a Clemson-approved major, are on track to meet the requirements for entering the professional level of their education curriculum and meet the minimum GPA, Praxis Core testing and application requirements.
Recipients must agree to serve as a full-time teacher in a low-income school, as a highly qualified teacher, and in a high-need field for at least four years within eight calendar years of leaving the program for which they received the TEACH Grant.
Recipients that fail to complete the four years of qualified teaching service within eight years of completing the course of study for which the TEACH Grant was received or otherwise fail to meet any other requirement of the grant will have their TEACH Grant converted into a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan. Accrued and capitalized interest is effective from the date of the original grant disbursement. Once a TEACH Grant converts to a loan, it is not reversible.
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Eligibility
Students must be degree-seeking and in a major Clemson has approved as TEACH Grant eligible.
Clemson has approved the following majors as TEACH Grant eligible based on the federal list provided by the Department of Education and the National List applicable to the state of South Carolina:
Federal TEACH Grant - Eligible Undergraduate Majors Undergraduate Majors Concentration Middle Level Language Arts and Social Studies Combination of Language Arts and Social Studies curriculum Middle Level Math and Science Combination of Math and Science curriculum Secondary Agricultural Education Agricultural Education: Teaching Emphasis Area, BS Secondary Math Mathematics Teaching; Secondary Education (with an emphasis in Mathematics) Secondary Science Science Teaching Secondary English Secondary Education (with an emphasis in English) Secondary Social Studies Secondary Education (with an emphasis in Social Studies) Modern Language Education French, Spanish Special Education N/A Elementary Education N/A Federal TEACH Grant - Eligible Graduate Degree Programs Graduate Degree Programs Emphasis Area Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Any of the following:
- Elementary Education
- Middle Grades: Math, Science, Social Studies or English
- Modern Language Education (French, Spanish)
- Secondary: Math, Science, Social Studies or English
- Special Education
Master of Education (MED) Literacy, ESOL, Special Education -
Grant Amount
- Up to $4,000 per academic year.
- Total limit for undergraduate students cannot exceed $16,000.
- Total limit for graduate students cannot exceed $8,000.
If a student is eligible to receive the TEACH Grant, the student will be awarded an estimated amount that assumes full-time enrollment and is adjusted based on the current year sequester (required federal reductions).
Example: For any TEACH Grant first disbursed on or after October 1, 2020, the maximum award of $4,000 is reduced by 5.7 percent ($228), resulting in a maximum award of $3,772. If a student enrolls less than full time, the amount of the annual TEACH Grant that he or she receives will be adjusted accordingly.
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General Requirements
To receive a TEACH Grant, students must:
- Submit a FAFSA each academic year.
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen.
- Be enrolled as a degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate student in an eligible Clemson major with a GPA of 3.25 or above.
- Undergraduates must: be under an official contract with Teaching Fellows or Call Me Mister; Or have earned 30 applicable credit hours and satisfied the first year of the teaching curriculum. Undergraduates must also have passed or exempted all Praxis Core requirements and be on track for entering the professional level of the curriculum.
- Be taking coursework necessary to complete teacher certification in a high-need field.
- Annually, students must sign a new TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve and complete a new TEACH Grant Counseling.
- Each academic year, for consideration of TEACH Grant, submit the required application materials to Student Financial Aid. Submit the completed forms at least 30 days before the end of the term of enrollment for which the TEACH Grant funding is being requested.
- Complete TEACH Grant Exit Counseling in your final term (30-60 days) before graduation and review requirements for maintaining grant status after graduation.
Nonresident Grants
Some states offer their residents grants that can be used at out-of-state institutions. Clemson University provides contact information for other states’ higher education assistance authorities so that nonresidents can pursue assistance from their home states if appropriate.
