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Federal Programs

Federal Pell Grant

The Pell Grant Program is an entitlement program for first degree undergraduates: awards are noncompetitive and any student who meets the eligibility criteria will receive funds. Application is made by filing a Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) via the Internet at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Lehman College's Federal Title IV code is 007022.

After the FAFSA has been processed, a Student Aid Report (SAR), which produces an Expected Family Contribution (EFC), is electronically submitted to the Financial Aid Office. The amount of the applicant's award is based on the Expected Family Contribution, enrollment status, and the cost of education. Recipients must be enrolled as a first-degree matriculated undergraduate student. Students selected for verification must provide the Financial Aid Office with certain documents to verify the accuracy of the information reported.

Pell Grant awards are paid to eligible students for a maximum of 150 percent of the 128 credits required for the student's first bachelor's degree as long as satisfactory program progress and pursuit is maintained. For more information, visit www.lehman.edu/financial-aid.

Academic Competitive Grant

An eligible student may receive an Academic Competitiveness Grant of up to $750 for the first academic year of study and up to $1,300 for the second academic year of study. To be eligible for each academic year, the student must:

  1. be a U.S. citizen;

  2. be a Federal Pell Grant recipient;

  3. be enrolled full-time in a degree program;

  4. be enrolled in the first or second year of his/her program of study at a two-year or four-year degree-granting institution (such as CUNY);

  5. have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study (after January 1, 2006 if a first-year student, and after January 1, 2005 if a second-year student);

  6. if a first-year student, not have been previously enrolled in an undergraduate program; and

  7. if a second-year student, have at least a cumulative 3.0 Grade Point Average on a 4.0 scale for the first academic year.

In New York State, a Regents Diploma with Honors or Advance Designation serves as evidence of a rigorous secondary school program. A student may also qualify through completion of a prescribed set of courses taken, or two AdvanceD Placement (AP) courses with a minimum score of three (3) on the AP exams or two International Baccalaureate (IB) courses with a score of four (4) on the I.B. exams.

The prescribed set of courses must include four years of English, three years of Math (including Algebra I and higher-level courses, such as Algebra II, Geometry, or Data Analysis and Statistics), three years of science (including at least two courses from biology, physics, or chemistry), three years of social studies, and one year of a foreign language.

Most potential recipients will be notified by the U.S. Department of Education and will be given a website link that will help them determine whether they have completed a "qualifying rigorous secondary school program." A student's college will then be notified and will verify eligibility. Students who are not notified by the Department of Education and think they may be eligible, should contact the Financial Aid Office to determine eligibility.

National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grants

The U.S. Department of Education has created a new grant program for third- and fourth-year students who are majoring in math, engineering, or science. An eligible student may receive a national SMART grant of up to $4,000 for each of the third and fourth academic years of study. To be eligible for each academic year, a student must:

  1. be a U.S. citizen;

  2. be a Federal Pell Grant recipient;

  3. be enrolled full-time in a degree program;

  4. be enrolled in a four-year degree-granting institution;

  5. major in physical, life, or computer science, engineering, mathematics, technology, or a critical foreign language (defined as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Hebrew and Semetic, and Russian); and

  6. have at least a cumulative 3.0 Grade Point Average on a 4.0 scale in the coursework required for the student's major.

Under the SMART Program, CUNY will identify Pell-eligible Federal student aid recipients who are majoring in physical, life, or computer science, engineering, mathematics, technology, or a critical foreign language. A Student's college will be able to provide information on which of its academic programs are designated by the Department of Education as eligible for SMART grants.

For the National SMART program, the amount of the grant, in combination with the Federal Pell Grant, other resources, and estimated financial assistance, may not exceed the student's financial need (cost of attendance, minus EFC, equals financial need). A student may not receive more than one SMART Grant award in each academic year for which the student is eligible.

All annual award amounts for an academic year may be reduced if sufficient funds are not available for all eligible students nationally in an award year.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)

Grants are available to first-degree undergraduate students with exceptional need, enrolled for courses totaling at least 6 credits/equated credits per term. Application is made by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or via the Internet at www.fafsa.ed.gov. For more information, visit www.lehman.edu/financial-aid/programs.php#seog.

Federal Direct Student Loan

To be eligible for a Federal Direct Student Loan, a student must be:

  1. a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen;

  2. enrolled or admitted as a matriculated student; and

  3. determined to be eligible for the loan after completion of the FAFSA, which results in the calculation of the "Expected Family Contribution."

Students must also be registered for at least 6 credits/equated credits per semester. Freshmen may borrow up to $2,625 per academic year; sophomores, up to $3,500 per academic year; juniors and seniors, up to $5,500 per academic year. There is a maximum cap of $23,000 for an undergraduate education. Students may borrow at a relatively low variable interest rate, set each June. Repayment is not expected while he/she remains enrolled continuously at least half-time (6 credits/equated credits), and for six months after he/she ceases to be at least a half-time student.

For information regarding the unsubsidized Federal loan, which requires the borrower to pay interest while in school, consult a counselor in the Financial Aid Office. The FAFSA Student Aid Report must be on file with the Financial Aid Office before a Federal Direct Student Loan can be processed. For more information, visit www.lehman.edu/financial-aid.

Federal Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)

Parents may borrow up to $4,000 annually for each dependent student at a variable interest rate with a 10 percent cap. Repayment begins 60 days after disbursement of the loan.

Federal Perkins Loan Program

Application is made by filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Loans are available to matriculated students with exceptional need and who register for at least 6 credits/equated credits. Amounts that may be borrowed are $3,000 for each year of undergraduate study. Students' total undergraduate debt may not exceed $15,000. Repayment is at 5 percent interest and begins nine months after graduation or leaving school, and it may extend over a period of ten years. There are also certain cancelation provisions. For more information, visit www.lehman.edu/financial-aid/programs.php#perkins.

Federal Work/Study Program

Application is made by filing a FAFSA. The applicant must be matriculated and enrolled in courses totaling at least 6 credits/equated credits per term. Students may work up to 20 hours per week. Jobs are available on and off campus. NOTE: Students may not earn more than their Federal Work/Study award. For more information, visit www.lehman.edu/financial-aid/programs.php#work.

U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs Aid to Native Americans

Application forms may be obtained from: U.S. Department of the Interior; Bureau of Indian Affairs; New York Liaison Office; Federal Building, Room 523; 100 South Clinton Street; Syracuse, NY 13260. To be eligible, the applicant must:

  1. be at least one-fourth American Indian, Eskimo, or Aleut;

  2. be an enrolled member of a tribe, band, or group recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs;

  3. be enrolled or accepted for enrollment at Lehman College; and

  4. have financial need.

Veterans Administration (VA) Educational Benefits

Application forms are available at all Veterans Administration (VA) offices, active duty stations, and American embassies. Completed forms are submitted to the nearest VA office. In New York City, the VA is located at 252 Seventh Avenue (at 24th Street), New York, NY 10001. Eligibility requirements, entitlements, time limits, and programs of education vary. Veterans with questions may inquire in the Office of Veterans and Military Affairs (Shuster Hall, Room 201 A/B).