Federal Grants and State Aid Programs
The following grants and scholarships are supported by funds from the federal and state governments. The Financial Aid Office administers these funds and determines award amounts according to the rules of the programs. Eligibility may vary from year to year based on changes to federal and state allocations, policies, and a family’s demonstrated ability to pay as determined by the FAFSA. To find out more information about Federal student aid, visit https://studentaid.gov/h/understand-aid.
Federal Pell Grant
The FederalPell grant is a need-based grant awarded to undergraduate students who have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree. Students are automatically considered when they file the FAFSA. For the 2022-23 year, the maximum Federal Pell grant is $6,895, and eligibility is determined using the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the FAFSA.
SEOG
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a federal grant available to undergraduate students demonstrating exceptional financial need. Exceptional financial need is defined as those students with the lowest expected family contribution who will also receive a Pell Grant in that year. Eligibility is determined by the Financial Aid Office based upon analysis of the FAFSA. The average FSEOG award at Keene State is $500.
NH State Grant Programs
NH Governor’s Scholarship
To be eligible for the New Hampshire Governor’s Scholarship, a student must:
- Be eligible for a Federal PELL Grant
- Be a New Hampshire resident who has graduated from a NH high school
- Be a first-time college student
- Meet the requirements around legal offenses. Details can be found in the House bill for the scholarship located here. Look at item (c) under “Scholarship Recipient Eligibility” for details.
Students with the NH Scholars designation their senior year in high school will be eligible for $2,000 annually, others will be eligible for $1,000 for up to four years. Awards are limited and not guaranteed to all eligible students. The NH Governor’s scholarship renew criteria requires a 2.5 GPA for New Hampshire Scholars. All others must maintain a 2.0. If the student loses the award for any reason, it will not be reinstated. The NH Governor’s Scholarship cannot be transferred to another school if an eligible student chooses to transfer.
NH UNIQUE Programs
These programs provide access and choice for deserving high need New Hampshire residents enrolling in a NH institution.
UNIQUE Endowment
With an annual award of $1,400, students must be a NH resident, be eligible for a Federal Pell grant, enrolled full time, and working on their 1st bachelor’s degree.
UNIQUE Annual
The annual award is $1,300, students must be a NH resident, have a zero EFC, and be working on their 1st bachelor’s degree.
Vermont State Grant
Our neighbors in Vermont may use their VT Incentive grant while attending KSC. VT students must be enrolled full time and meet all the established criteria for the VT Incentive grant. Please visit <www.VSAC.org> for more information.
Other State Programs
New England Regional Student Program – Keene State College participates in the New England Board of Higher Education’s Regional Student Program. Each New England state university offers a number of undergraduate curricula which are open to students from the other New England states. Students enrolled under this program pay a reduced out-of-state tuition rate. Further information about eligible programs is available at https://nebhe.org/our-programs/students-parents/
- Incoming students should speak with their admissions counselor to determine eligibility
- Returning students should contact the admissions office directly to determine eligibility
New Hampshire Charitable Fund – New Hampshire residents pursuing undergraduate or graduate study at approved institutions of postsecondary education are eligible to apply for grants and interest-free and low-interest loans from this fund. Information and applications are available from the New Hampshire Charitable Fund Student Aid Program online or by calling 603-225-6641.
Vocational Rehabilitation Programs – Every state operates a vocational rehabilitation program to assist people with a variety of disabilities to return to productive activity. In certain cases, a vocational rehabilitation agency will assist disabled students to meet their college expenses. Students should contact their local agency.
