Grants

Grants are considered gift aid. Gift aid is the most valued source of financial aid because, unlike a loan, grant money does NOT have to be repaid as long as enrollment is maintained. Grants are awarded based on need. There are several types of grants available for students.

Grants

• Federal Pell Grant (PELL)
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
• Michigan Tuition Incentive Program-Phase I (MTIP2)
• Michigan Tuition Incentive Program-Phase II (MTIPB)
• Michigan Competitive Scholarship (MCS)
• Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver (MITW)
• Detroit Promise (DSF)

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is a federal program for undergraduate students who have not yet earned their first bachelor’s degree. The data provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) produces an Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is used in determining Pell Grant eligibility.

NOTE: The Title IV Consolidation Appropriation Act of 2012 limits the lifetime amount of the Federal Pell Grant Eligibility to six (6) years at full-time enrollment. Once a student has reached the Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU), he or she may qualify for other types of financial aid but will no longer be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant.

The amount of Federal Pell Grant funding a student is awarded and/or eventually entitled to receive is based not only on their EFC, but also on such factors as enrollment level and the number of semesters he or she attends during the award year. Students may not receive Federal Pell Grant funds from more than one school simultaneously (e.g., award period or semester). Students may receive a Federal Pell Grant even if they are attending less than half-time in some cases.

Financial aid is awarded based on anticipated full-time enrollment. A Federal Pell Grant is adjusted based on enrollment as of the Financial Aid Census Date. After the Financial Aid Census Date, regardless of courses added or dropped, Federal Pell Grant award amounts will not change. If a student enrolls less than full-time, their Pell Grant award will be adjusted (decreased) based on their actual enrollment.

Students with an EFC greater than $3,900 may not be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant at enrollment levels less than full-time. For specific questions regarding your EFC and Pell Eligibility, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.

Some of the other policies which pertain to the Federal Pell Grant include:

• A student must maintain enrollment and attendance during the semester in order to maintain eligibility for Federal Pell Grant funds. Dropping classes (or simply not attending class anymore) before the Financial Aid Census Date usually results in the student owing back the Federal Pell Grant funds associated with that class.
• If your Free Application for FAFSA is received by HFC after the close of a semester you have already attended, as part of the current award year, your retroactive reimbursement is calculated based on the number of credit hours successfully completed with an earned letter grade of an "A," a "B," a "C," a "D," or an "S." Additionally, if you have been selected for verification, all required documents must be on file and you must meet all other eligibility criteria to receive a retroactive award. The last possible day for your valid FAFSA information to be received at HFC for the award year is the last day of the Summer semester, or your last date of attendance for the award year (whichever is earlier).
• The amount of Federal Pell Grant funds a student may receive over his or her lifetime is limited to be the equivalent of six (6) years of Federal Pell Grant funding (based on full-time enrollment). The lifetime limit takes into account all Pell Grant funds received by the student from any college they attend(ed) where they received Federal Pell Grant funds. Once the lifetime limit has been reached, a student will no longer be eligible for Federal Pell Grant funds at any institution, regardless of their EFC or credits still needed to complete his or her program. Students will be notified via their Student Aid Report (SAR) as they get close to or reach the lifetime limit.
• The Federal Government can change (reduce) the funding for this program at any time.

Year-Round Pell Regulations allow students to be eligible for Pell Grant during Summer, even if most or all of their annual Pell eligibility was used during the Fall and Winter semesters. This means Pell Grant eligible students will be eligible for another full-time award for Summer, regardless of how much Pell was used during Fall and Winter. Please note: if a student received full-time Pell during Fall and Winter, they must enroll at least half-time (6 credit hours) during Summer in order to receive the additional Pell award.

All additional Pell Grant used will count towards the student's Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU). back to top

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) is available for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need as demonstrated by the lowest EFC. Priority consideration is given to students who receive the Federal Pell Grant. The grant provides up to a maximum of $800 per year. Qualifying students apply for this need-based aid by filing a FAFSA. Funding levels for this program are very limited. As a result, fewer than 10% of all students who are eligible for Federal Pell Grants will be awarded a SEOG. Interested students should apply early to ensure maximum award consideration. back to top

Michigan Tuition Incentive Program-Phase I

NOTE: This reflects the maximum award amount for the 2021-2022 academic year.

Basic Information - Michigan Tuition Incentive Program (TIP) (Phase I):

• Student must be enrolled in a certificate or associate degree program;
• Student must be enrolled at least half-time (6 credit hours);
• Student must be making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) (as defined by the Office of Financial Aid);
• Student may receive a maximum of 24 credit hours of TIP (Phase I) benefits per year;
• Student must be either a U.S. citizen, an eligible non-citizen, or an approved refugee;
• Student cannot be in default of a federal student loan(s);
• TIP benefits for Phase I cannot exceed 80 credit hours; and
• Once Phase II benefits have been initiated, a student cannot use any remaining Phase I benefits.

Students who qualify for this program are notified by the State of Michigan through a notification of eligibility letter. The State of Michigan will send reminder notifications to students their senior year of high school. Students must complete an application by logging into the MiSSG Student Portal or by calling 1-888-447-2687. The application must be completed by August 31 of the academic year in which the student graduates from high school, completes the General Educational Development (GED) certificate, and before their 20th birthday. Eligible students should notify the Office of Financial Aid by submitting the following:

• HFC TIP Eligibility Form;
• Official high school transcript/GED transcript (to the HFC Office of Admissions); and
• Proof of U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizenship, such as a U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, Certificate of Naturalization or Permanent Resident Card.

In order to be eligible for Michigan TIP funding, the student must graduate with a high school diploma, certificate of completion or GED prior to age 20. Home-schooled students are eligible as long as documentation provided to HFC satisfies admissions requirements. Students have up to four (4) years after graduation from high school or GED completion to initiate half-time enrollment at a participating college. Eligibility ends six (6) years from the date of the high school graduation or GED completion.

Phase I of TIP pays for tuition at the in-district rate, plus certain (not all) fees for the semester.

Example: An out-of-district student enrolls for 12 credit hours in the fall semester (residents of Dearborn and certain parts of Dearborn Heights are considered “in-district” for the purposes of assessing tuition charges. Students living elsewhere are assessed out-of-district tuition charges). Based on out-of-district tuition, this student is charged $184.50 per credit hour (not including required fees) for total tuition charges of $2,214 (12 credit hours x $184.50).

The in-district rate of tuition per credit hour is $105.75 (not including required fees). The TIP program will pay up to $1,519 per semester towards tuition and required fees (12 credit hours x $105.75 = $1,269, plus an additional $250 towards required fees). If tuition and required fees (based on the in-district rate) are greater than $1,519, either the student (or another source of funding) must pay any remaining balance. This is only an example. Tuition amounts for both in-district and out-of-district students are subject to change at any given time.

Students may receive TIP funds to pay for up to 80 credit hours at all schools attended under Phase I (Once a student has received Phase II TIP funding, they are no longer eligible to receive Phase I TIP funding at any school). TIP recipients must be enrolled at least half-time (e.g., six (6) credit hours) as of the 100% refund period to be eligible for TIP. TIP recipients must notify the Office of Financial Aid if they received TIP at another institution. Failure to do so may result in the student being billed for all TIP funds received at HFC.

Students must be making SAP as defined by the Office of Financial Aid or be on an approved Financial Aid Appeal to qualify for TIP funding.

Students are limited to receiving Phase I TIP payments for up to 24 credit hours per academic year. For more information about the TIP program, contact the State of Michigan at 1-888-447-2687. back to top

Michigan Tuition Incentive Program-Phase II

Basic Information - Michigan Tuition Incentive Program (Phase II):

• Students must be enrolled in a bachelor degree program;
• Students must have either 56 transferable hours (earned at HFC and/or transferred to HFC) OR have earned an associate degree or certificate;
• Students must be enrolled at least half-time (6 credit hours);
• Students must be making SAP (as defined by the Office of Financial Aid);
• Award is $500/semester up to a maximum of $2,000;
• Once Phase II benefits have been initiated, a student cannot use any remaining Phase I benefits;
• Phase II must be completed within 30 months of completion of Phase I requirements; and
• Students can receive Phase II benefits without having received Phase I benefits.

Students who qualify for this program are notified by the State of Michigan Department of Social Services through a letter of eligibility before they graduate from high school or receive a GED certificate. Eligible students should notify the Office of Financial Aid by submitting the following:

• HFC TIP Eligibility Form;
• Official high school transcript/GED transcript (to the HFC Office of Admissions); and
• Proof of U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizenship, such as a U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, Certificate of Naturalization or Permanent Resident Card.

In order to be eligible for Michigan TIP funding, the student must graduate with a high school diploma, certificate of completion or GED prior to age 20. Home-schooled students are eligible as long as documentation provided to HFC satisfies admissions requirements. Students have up to four (4) years after graduation from high school or GED completion to initiate half-time enrollment at a participating college. Eligibility ends six (6) years from the date of the high school graduation or GED completion.

TIP recipients must be enrolled at least half-time (e.g., 6 credit hours) as of the 100% refund period to be eligible for TIP. TIP recipients must notify the Office of Financial Aid if they received TIP at another institution. Failure to do so may result in the student being billed for all TIP funds received at HFC.

Students must be making SAP as defined by the Office of Financial Aid or be on an approved Financial Aid Appeal to qualify for TIP funding.

Students are limited to receiving Phase II TIP payments for up to $500/semester and maximum of $2,000.

For more information about the TIP program, contact the State of Michigan at 1-888-447-2687. back to top

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) is available for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need as demonstrated by the lowest EFC. Priority consideration is given to students who receive the Federal Pell Grant. The grant provides up to a maximum of $800 per year. Qualifying students apply for this need-based aid by filing a FAFSA. Funding levels for this program are very limited. As a result, fewer than 10% of all students who are eligible for Federal Pell Grants will be awarded a SEOG. Interested students should apply early to ensure maximum award consideration. back to top

Michigan Competitive Scholarship

NOTE: The award of $676/year reflects the maximum award amount for the 2015-16 academic year.

The Michigan Competitive Scholarship (MCS) is a program funded by the State of Michigan and is based on both financial need and merit. Students may use Competitive Scholarship funds at degree-granting Michigan public and independent post-secondary institutions. Awards are restricted to the cost of tuition and some (not all) fees. Students must take the ACT Assessment prior to entering college and achieve a qualifying test score.

The qualifying ACT Assessment score for the MCS is a cumulative score. This is the total of the four individual ACT Assessment scores, not the composite (average) score reported by ACT. The qualifying score is set each year by the Michigan Higher Education Assistance Authority (MHEAA). Students who have graduated from high school and enter college prior to the date they would normally be expected to graduate from high school may be eligible to compete for the MCS if they take the ACT Assessment test prior to their 18th birthday.

To meet the eligibility criteria for the MCS, a student must:

• Provide his or her Social Security Number (SSN) to Student Scholarships and Grants (SSG) by phone (888-447-2687) by the fall of their senior year of high school;
• Achieve qualifying score on ACT prior to entering college;
• Possess a high school diploma or GED certificate or meet the institution’s Ability to Benefit standards;
• Demonstrate financial need;
• Enroll at least half time at an approved Michigan community college, public university or independent, degree-granting college or university (cannot be an institution whose primary purpose is to prepare students for ordination or appointment as a member of the clergy of a church, denomination or religious sect);
• Be a Michigan resident since July 1 of the previous calendar year;
• Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or approved refugee;
• Not be incarcerated;
• For renewal, maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 2.0;
• For renewal, meet institution’s SAP policy; and
• Not be in default on a federal student loan.

Students must file a FAFSA. Priority in determining awards will be given to students who apply by March 1 of each year. FAFSA information is automatically released to the state agency if the student’s state of legal residence is Michigan. The student must file a renewal FAFSA every year to be considered for the MCS.

MCS assistance is limited to:

• Completion of a baccalaureate degree;
• Receipt of 10 semesters of full-time assistance. Students may receive awards as a 1/2-time or a 3/4-time student. Payments are pro-rated for students enrolled less than full-time; and
• Ten (10) years have passed since high school graduation or completion of the GED. The maximum award amount is determined each year and approved by the MHEAA. back to top

Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver

Eligibility for this program is established by the State of Michigan Department of Civil Rights. Applications are available to students in the Office of Financial Aid at HFC. Students must complete the Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver (MITW) Application and attach a copy of their Michigan driver’s license or state-issued Michigan Identification Card, and a photocopy of their Tribal ID to the application. Applications are mailed to the student’s Tribal Enrollment Department (TED) for certification and signature. The TED may submit the form and accompanying documents on the student’s behalf to the Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) for verification.

The MITW pays for tuition only (not fees). The student is responsible for paying the amount of fees due after the grant is applied to semester charges. Students receiving funds through this program are not required to make SAP in order to continue to receive funds in future terms. For more information about this program, contact the Michigan Department of Civil Rights at (517) 241-7748.

Eligibility criteria for the MITW are as follows:

• You must be enrolled at one of Michigan’s public colleges or universities;
• You must have ¼ or more Native American blood quantum as certified by your TED;
• You must be an enrolled member of a U.S. federally-recognized Tribe as certified by your TED; and
• You must be a legal resident of the State of Michigan for not less than 12 consecutive months.

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Detroit Promise

Detroit Promise is a scholarship awarded to eligible high school seniors that graduate from a high school in the city of Detroit. Eligible students must have attended any high school in the city of Detroit for at least two years as well as graduated from a Detroit high school. Eligible students must also be a Detroit resident (see chart below). For specific information regarding the Detroit Promise, students may visit the Detroit Promise website or contact Detroit Promise staff at 313-596-0324 or info@detroitpromise.com.

Detroit Promise will cover any tuition charges that remain after Pell and TIP have paid.
Example #1: Tuition charges are $1,000 and Pell Grant award is $1,200. Since the Pell Grant award is enough to cover tuition charges, no DSF award is needed.

Example #2: Tuition Charges are $2,300 and Pell Grant award is $500 and TIP award is $1,000. The amount of tuition not covered by Pell Grant and TIP is $800 ($2,300 - $500 - $1,000). The amount of DSF that will be awarded is $800.

General Information

• Students must register as a Detroit Promise student in order to qualify for the scholarship;
• Eligible students must have a complete financial aid file before they can be awarded DSF;
• Students must be regularly attending their classes in order to be eligible for any DSF funding. DSF will not cover tuition charges for any class where the student is flagged as Never Attending;
• HFC will pay DSF funds onto a student's account at the end of each semester; and
• Students wishing to use DSF funds during Spring/Summer must contact Detroit Promise to obtain special approval.
• Detroit residency requirements are as follows:

**Students receiving GED must be issued GED from a Detroit-based entity and can be no older than age 19 by September 1 of their freshman year of college.

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