Initiatives

FAQ’s on New Hampshire’s Affordable College Effort (ACE)

Q - Who is eligible for a grant through the Affordable College Effort?

A – To be eligible for an ACE Award, a student must have begun attending a USNH institution (University of New Hampshire, Plymouth State University, Keene State College, or Granite State College) full time within a year of graduating from high school.  If sophomores, juniors and seniors meet this specific criteria but did not meet the income criteria previously, they are now eligible to receive an ACE Award. 

Q – How is the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) determined?

A – The EFC is a measure of a family's ability to pay and is calculated from the information reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) , a form that must be completed when applying for all federal, state, and institutional need-based financial aid programs (except merit scholarships). The EFC is calculated according to a formula established by law. Family income (taxable and untaxed), assets, and benefits (for example, unemployment or Social Security) are all considered in determining an EFC. Also considered is family size and the number of family members who will attend a college or career school.

As an example, for the 2009-10 academic year, a student who comes from a family of four with an annual adjusted gross income of approximately of $41,000 would have an EFC of $975 and would qualify for an ACE Award.

Q – Where can individuals get FAFSA materials?

A - The paper FAFSA is available from high school guidance offices, or the form may be completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The FAFSA must be submitted within the schedule established by the respective institution, generally March 1st of each year. The form cannot be filed until January 1 of each year.

Q – How do individuals apply for an ACE award?

A – By filing the FAFSA, students will automatically be considered for an ACE Award. There is no additional application needed. If there are questions, contact the financial aid office at the appropriate USNH college or university.

Q - How can the ACE Awards be used?

A – ACE Awards are used to cover direct (or billed) costs, which include tuition and standard fees, as well as standard campus housing and meal plans. Those who are granted an ACE Award and are living on campus will not receive a check. Instead, their institution will apply the award to their direct costs that are included on their bills for the fall and spring semesters. Those recipients who are living off campus or at home will receive a check for the balance of funds awarded after direct costs have been covered.

Q – What is the maximum ACE Award?

A – Beginning in the fall of 2010, ACE awards will be up to $3,000.  Campus financial aid officers will work with ACE recipients to help put together a complete financial aid package that will utilize other grant opportunities and federal Work Study options, thereby lowering the amount that may need to be borrowed to cover any of the remaining direct costs (tuition, fees, and standard room and board).

Q – Will students who receive an ACE Award incur any debt?

A – The Affordable College Effort was designed to enable eligible students to incur minimal debt for attending college.  When the program was launched in 2006, ACE Awards, when combined with other awards and federal Work Study funds, enabled recipients to meet the direct costs of education without incurring debt, provided that they met all information submission deadlines.  Direct (or billed) costs include tuition and standard fees, as well as standard campus housing and meal plans. Students could choose to take out loans to cover indirect (or out-of-pocket) costs, such as books, transportation, clothing, or other expenses they incur.  Due to changes in how the Expected Family Income (EFC) is computed at the federal level, the number of students eligible for ACE Awards doubled in a single year.  As a result of this significant increase in eligible students and the cost to provide awards, USNH will begin providing up to   $3,000 ACE Award to eligible students beginning in the fall of 2010.  The ACE Award, combined with other grants, may require students to borrow funds for the difference between their total financial package and the direct costs to attend college. 

Q – If a student enrolls for the spring semester instead of fall, would they be eligible for funding?

A – If a student begins college in the spring semester as a freshman and graduated from high school within a year and meets all other criteria, they will be eligible for an ACE Award to cover their direct costs of attendance.  The value of the award will be no more than half of the maximum award that would have been made for the entire academic year. 

Q – What if the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is more than $1,000 and the student is eligible for a partial Federal Pell Grant? Will they also be eligible for a partial ACE Award?

A – Due to limited funding available, there will not be any partial ACE Awards granted for individuals who come from families with EFC’s more than $1,000.

Q – What is the deadline to apply for an ACE Award and when will students learn if the award has been granted?

A – By filing the FAFSA, students will automatically be considered for an ACE Award. The FAFSA must be completed by the spring deadline. Before making any ACE Awards, USNH institutions will be responsible for verifying family income for all students who apply for this funding. Since income verification depends on the date prospective students apply as well as other factors, students should contact each institution regarding specific award notification dates.

Q – What happens if a student who receives an ACE Award drops down to part time status during the academic year for which they are receiving the award?

A – All students are required to be full-time to be eligible.

Q – Where can individuals go to learn more about the Affordable College Effort?

A – Please contact the financial aid offices at USNH institutions. The contact information is as follows:

  • University of New Hampshire: 862-3600
  • Plymouth State University: 1-877-846-5755 or 535-2338
  • Keene State College: 358-2280
  • Granite State College: 1-888-228-3000

Q – Are NHTCP students eligible for an ACE Grant?

A – Yes, the ACE Grant is available to NHTCP students who meet the financial eligibility criteria after they have successfully completed the transfer to a USNH institution.