Arizona Student Grants for College
Fund Your Education with Free Grant Money
Applying for and receiving state- and federally-funded grants can be a complicated process. However, there is a significant amount of financial help available directly through the state universities.
Arizona state officials confirm that 70% of their student body are eligible to receive some type of grant.
These universities have a variety of need-based and merit-based grants for new and returning college students, transfer students, graduate students and minority students.
How to Apply in Arizona
When applying directly through the state university, students are advised to first visit the college and consult with the Heads of the departments they intend to major in to find out exactly what grants are available. They can then follow up by going to the financial aid office for all necessary forms and detailed instructions.
Whether federal or state, most grant programs require students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) so no matter which grant(s) students intend to apply for, they’re advised to complete this form as the first part of the process. Also, it should be noted that many of these grants are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The following is a list of the state-funded grants available to Arizona students.
Postsecondary Education Grant (PEG)
The Postsecondary Education Grant (PEG) is not based on financial need and it offers financial support as an encouragement to inspire students to attend a private four-year institution in Arizona to obtain a bachelor’s degree. The maximum amount paid is $2,000 per year for up to four years and it must be used for tuition, books and fees.
Priority students, or students who have received PEG grants in the previous year, will be considered first. Then the grants are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis to all other applicants. If the student fulfills all requirements, this grant will be declared a forgivable loan. If the student doesn’t obtain a bachelor’s degree within five years, however, this grant will be converted to loan status and will have to be repaid.
Minimum Eligibility Qualifications
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or an eligible non-citizen.
- Must be an Arizona resident for at least the 12 months prior to the completion of the application
- OR a member of the military service of the United States stationed in Arizona
- OR the spouse or dependent of a member of the military service of the United States stationed in Arizona.
- Students must be in the upper 50% of their high school class or have a 2.5 GPA or its equivalent, OR if 22 years of age or older, students must be able to meet their college’s readiness requirements.
- Students must enroll at least as half-time students at a nationally or regionally accredited private postsecondary educational institution in Arizona that offers a bachelor’s program.
- Must maintain satisfactory academic achievement according to institution standards.
Requirement Details
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be completed and submitted to the U.S. Department of Education each academic year.
Students must complete and submit a promissory note each year during this process (a legal agreement between the student and the lender to pay back funds if all conditions are not met within the given period of time).
Arizona Private Postsecondary Education Student Financial Assistance Program (PFAP)
The Arizona Private Postsecondary Education Student Financial Assistance Program (PFAP) offers grants that are given based upon need. These grants provide financial support as an encouragement to inspire students who graduate from community colleges to attend a private four-year postsecondary institution in Arizona to obtain a bachelor’s degree.
The maximum amount paid is $1,500 - $2,000 per year for up to two years and these funds must be used explicitly for tuition, books and fees. The fact that this is a need-based grant means that it would be considered a forgivable loan if the student successfully fulfills the conditions of the grant. On the other hand, this grant will have to be repaid if the student doesn’t obtain a bachelor’s degree within three years.
Minimum Qualifications
- Must be resident of Arizona for at least the previous 12 months prior to the completion of the application.
- Must be either a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen.
- Must be a graduate of an Arizona public community college with an associate's degree, or from a community college under the jurisdiction of an Indian tribe in Arizona with an associate's degree.
- Must attend a private institution that grants bachelor’s degrees in Arizona.
- Must be enrolled full time.
- It must be proven that financial need is evident upon reviewing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Must maintain satisfactory academic achievement according to the standards of the institution.
Requirement Details
If students meet the minimum qualifications for both the PFAP and PEG grant programs, they cannot accept funds from both grants at the same time. Under Arizona statutes, students should utilize funding from the PFAP grant program before accepting PEG grant funds.
- Students must complete and submit a promissory note each year.
- Students must be enrolled full time for an entire 12-month period or twelve consecutive months; if the 12-month period is broken at any time, the student will be forced to begin repayment of the loan.
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or an eligible non-citizen.
- Must be an Arizona resident for at least the 12 months prior to the completion of application.
- Must be seeking an Associate or Bachelor degree.
- Students must enroll at least as a half-time student at a nationally or regionally accredited private postsecondary institution in Arizona.
- Must maintain satisfactory academic achievement as determined by the institution.
- Significant financial need must be recognized upon review of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Must be resident of Arizona.
- Must be either a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen.
- Students must enroll at least as half-time students at a nationally or regionally accredited postsecondary institution in Arizona.
- After reviewing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), it must be concluded that student is financially in need of this assistance.
- Must maintain satisfactory academic achievement according to institution standards.
- Must be a resident of Arizona for at least 12 months prior to the completion of the application.
- Must be either a U.S. Citizen or an eligible non-citizen.
- Must graduate from a public high school or charter school in Arizona six months to one year earlier than normally expected.
- Must achieve passing grades on all required parts of the Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS).
- Must enroll at least as a half-time student in a regionally or nationally accredited postsecondary institution or vocational program in Arizona with terms that last at least 8 months.
- Must maintain satisfactory academic achievement according to institution standards.
- Aid to Foster Children: Foster children who are no longer eligible to remain under foster care can receive financial assistance from the state if they are attending or planning to attend an Arizona postsecondary institution.
- The Arizona Friends of Foster Children’s Foundation (AFFCF): Provides funding for education for current and former foster children.
- ACPE: Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education (ACPE) maintains this website that is entirely devoted to providing information on student financial assistance. Please note that many of the available grants have to be approved by the ACPE.
- Arizona Department of Education: all current forms relevant for applying for state-funded grants can be found at this website. These forms can either be downloaded for manual completion or filled out and submitted online.
- Arizona State Resources: another website offering a wealth of useful information on state-funded grants.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be completed and submitted to the U.S. Department of Education each academic year.
Special Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (SLEAP)
The Special Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (SLEAP) program is a need-based awards program given to sophomore, junior or senior college students who prove significant financial need.
The students’ area of study must be a major in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM program), or any education program producing students who’s intended occupation is considered to be critical to the support and benefit of the state. Students must attend a regionally or nationally accredited institution in Arizona. The maximum award is $2,000 and since these funds are limited, they are given on a first-come, first-serve basis.
These funds can be used on any educational expense but these expenses must be documented in the Cost of Attendance (COA) report that has to be completed by the student and submitted to the institution.
Minimum Qualifications
Requirement Details
Students must apply each year for this grant as it is not automatically renewed.
Students must complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the U.S. Department of Education each academic year.
The Arizona College Access Aid Program (ACAAP)
This grant was just recently established through the Governor’s office as part of the College Access Challenge Grant. It’s a need-based grant designed for students in need of financial assistance who are planning to enroll or are already enrolled in a two- or four-year college.
Students must be seeking Associate or Bachelor degrees. Like many grants, funds are limited so they are dispensed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Students are free to apply for this grant along with the SLEAP grant but due to fund limitations, they will only be allowed to accept one of these awards. This grant doesn’t renew automatically so students must reapply each year. Maximum funding is for $2000 and if the student is unsuccessful in obtaining a degree, this award must be repaid.
Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP)
The Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) grant is part of a federal program which combines the state educational institutions with the federal and state governments to form a partnership for the purpose of providing need-based grants to eligible students enabling them to attend postsecondary institutions in Arizona.
The partnership is sealed by the federal government contributing funds matching the amounts assigned by the state government, and the participating institutions also match the state-funded amount. The maximum award given is $2,500.
Minimum Qualifications
Requirement Details
Participating institutions award the LEAP Grant to undergraduate or graduate stude
nts of Arizona who are attending an eligible Arizona postsecondary education institution that also participates in the program.The maximum amount given is $2,500 for the academic year and this grant doesn’t have to be repaid.
Early Graduation Scholarship Grant (EGSG)
The Early Graduation Scholarship Grant (EGSG) program is not based on need and it’s designed to motivate high school students to graduate early and immediately attend a regionally or nationally accredited postsecondary institution or vocational program in Arizona.
All students who graduate six months to one year early from a public high school or charter school and immediately enroll full time in an eligible postsecondary institution in Arizona can apply for this grant. Students who graduate six months earlier are eligible to receive up to $1,500 and students who graduate one year earlier can receive up to $2,000.
These funds will be disbursed over two years to authorized recipients and the funds must be used for tuition, fees and book expenses, and these expenses must be documented by students in the Cost of Attendance (COA) report.
Minimum Qualifications:
Requirement Details
This grant is available for use in over 90 institutions in Arizona such as the three public universities, community colleges, private postsecondary institutions and vocational schools, as long as the terms of the programs are in session for at least 8 months.
This grant can be combined with most other merit scholarship awards. The Financial Aid office should be able to assist with additional details of this combination.
Other Types of State Education Aid
Besides grants and scholarships, Arizona also provides the following types of state funding for college education:
In addition to the college financial aid offices, there are several sites that can be of assistance for gathering further information on state-funded grants and programs in Arizona:
Documented research has proven that college graduates on a whole earn approximately $1 million more in their lifetime than students who don’t obtain degrees. Also, college graduates contribute greatly to their communities using the skills and knowledge they acquire as a result of attending college.
Although this can be a time consuming process requiring serious focus and attention to detail, it’s worth the effort to fully research all available state grants in the pursuit of continuing education. Seeking higher education is beneficial not only for the students, but the advantages experienced by family and society are immeasurable.
