In addition to our merit-based awards, HMC students benefit from a variety of awards designed to benefit students who demonstrate financial need. These awards are only available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents; international students should explore their options for merit-based scholarships and other awards for international students.

Need-based awards available to HMC students include:

Harvey Mudd Scholarship
Federal Grants
State Grants
Other Programs

Harvey Mudd Scholarship
This need-based scholarship is awarded to full-time students who demonstrate financial need and who have not already received a bachelor's degree. The scholarship is funded by gifts to the College from corporations, alumni and friends of HMC. HMC cannot guarantee HMC Scholarship funds to students who do not meet our published deadlines for financial aid applications and/or supporting documents.

Some Harvey Mudd Scholarship funds are named after alumni, friends, or groups and are awarded both on the basis of need and on the basis of specific qualifications as established by the scholarship's donor(s). All financial aid applicants are required to submit a Biographical Sketch each year which may be used to thank donors who give scholarship funds to HMC.


Federal Grants
When you fill out the Federal Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA), you are automatically considered for need-based grants offered by the federal government. If you are eligible, these awards will appear in your financial aid award letter. These grants do not need to be repaid. Federal grants include:

• The Federal Pell Grant. This program provides need-based federal grants to students based on their family contribution, as determined by the federal government. Recipients must not have already received a bachelor's degree. Grant amounts vary. During the 2009-2010 academic year, the annual award amounts have ranged from $969 to $5,350.
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG). The FSEOG is a need-based federal grant available to students with the most exceptional financial need who have not already received a bachelor's degree. Preference is given to Federal Pell Grant recipients who apply for financial aid by our published deadlines. Funds are limited and the annual maximum FSEOG award is $3,000.
• The Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) is a program that started in the 2006-2007 academic year.  Once determined eligible, a student can receive an ACG of $750 for the first academic year and $1,300 for the second academic year.  Unless the government renews the ACG program, it will expire after the 2010-2011 academic year. To be considered eligible for the ACG a student must:  

1. Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
2. Be a Federal Pell Grant recipient
3. Be enrolled full-time
4. Have completed a rigorous high school program of study as defined by the Department of Education
5. If a second year student, have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average

• The National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (National SMART) Grant is also a new program that started in the 2006-2007 academic year.  Once determined eligible, a student can receive $4,000 for the student's third and fourth year of study.  Unless the government renews the National SMART Grant program, it will expire after the 2010-2011 academic year. To be considered eligible for the SMART Grant a student must:

1. Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
2. Be a Federal Pell Grant recipient
3. Be enrolled full-time
4. Major in physical, life, or computer science; engineering; mathematics; technology; or a critical foreign language
5. Enrolled in at least one course within the eligible major
6. Have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average

State Grants

The state of California and other states offer grant aid to students who qualify, including:

Cal Grant Program
Administered through the California Student Aid Commission, the Cal Grant Program provides need-based grants to California residents attending California colleges and universities who are U.S. citizens or permanent U.S. residents. In recent years, the maximum Cal Grant for HMC students has been $9,708.

All California resident financial aid applicants are required to apply for the Cal Grant program; if you don’t receive the Cal Grant due to an incomplete, an inaccurate, or a late application, the Office of Financial Aid cannot guarantee the equivalent in HMC Scholarship.

To apply for a Cal Grant:

• Fill out and submit the Federal Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA)
• Fill out and submit the Cal Grant G.P.A. Verification Form 

The deadline for applying is March 2. If you do not receive a Cal Grant Entitlement Award during your freshman year, you may re-apply for a Competitive Cal Grant for your sophomore, junior, or senior year.

Cal Grant awards are announced and finalized in late spring. If at that time we learn that you are eligible for a Cal Grant award, and Cal Grant aid had not been included in your financial aid package, your HMC Scholarship will be reduced by the amount of your Cal Grant award.

Other California Student Aid Commission Awards
Applicants who are California residents should also consider applying for these awards sponsored by the California Student Aid Commission:

• Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents Scholarship Program (LEPD): grants for dependents and spouses of law enforcement officers and employees
• Child Development Grant Program: a grant designed to encourage students to enter the field of child care and development in a licensed children’s center
• California Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program: a federally funded program designed to promote student excellence and achievement through scholarships awarded solely on the basis of academic merit
• The Graduate Assumption Program of Loans for Education (APLE) is a competitive teacher initiative program designed to encourage outstanding students, district interns, and out-of-state teachers to become California teachers in subject areas where a critical teacher shortage has been identified or in designated schools meeting specific criteria specified by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Grants from Other States
The following states offer grants to resident students attending California colleges and universities: Alaska, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and the Territories of Guam and the Pacific Islands. For more information, please contact the state agency which delivers funds in your state. A list of addresses and phone numbers of state agencies can be obtained from the U.S. Department of Education.

Other Programs

• For Prospective First-Year Students
  New in 2008-2009, the HMC S-STEM Program is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation’s Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Program. It is a program of scholarships and academic support for students at Harvey Mudd College who have demonstrated financial need. It is intended especially for students who want to begin learning about career opportunities in STEM fields in their first and second years of study. To learn more about this scholarship and fill out the application, please download this PDF document and submit the completed PDF form by email.

Last Updated: October 2009