Title 20EducationRelease 119-73

§1070b–1 Amount and duration of grants

Title 20 › Chapter CHAPTER 28— - HIGHER EDUCATION RESOURCES AND STUDENT ASSISTANCE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER IV— - STUDENT ASSISTANCE › Part Part A— - Grants to Students in Attendance at Institutions of Higher Education › Subpart subpart 3— - federal supplemental educational opportunity grants › § 1070b–1

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Schools must give eligible undergraduates a yearly supplemental grant from these funds. Each year the student gets whichever is smaller: the amount the school says the student needs (using rules in another part of the law) or $4,000. If the school’s need estimate is under $100, no payment is made; if the student attends less than a full year, the minimum is cut down the same way. For study abroad, schools must count extra reasonable costs and may raise the $4,000 limit by up to $400. Grants only cover the time needed to finish a student’s first bachelor’s degree. Students must meet the eligibility rules in section 1091, except as allowed in section 1070b–2(c). Schools may pay the grant in different amounts at different times during the year to match when costs happen.

Full Legal Text

Title 20, §1070b–1

Education — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)Except as provided in paragraph (3), from the funds received by it for such purpose under this subpart, an institution which awards a supplemental grant to a student for an academic year under this subpart shall, for each year, pay to that student an amount not to exceed the lesser of (A) the amount determined by the institution, in accordance with the provisions of part F of this subchapter, to be needed by that student to enable the student to pursue a course of study at the institution or in a program of study abroad that is approved for credit by the institution at which the student is enrolled, or (B) $4,000.
(2)If the amount determined under paragraph (1) with respect to a student for any academic year is less than $100, no payment shall be made to that student for that year. For a student enrolled for less than a full academic year, the minimum payment required shall be reduced proportionately.
(3)For students participating in study abroad programs, the institution shall consider all reasonable costs associated with such study abroad when determining student eligibility. The amount of grant to be awarded in such cases may exceed the maximum amount of $4,000 by as much as $400 if reasonable study abroad costs exceed the cost of attendance at the home institution.
(b)(1)The period during which a student may receive supplemental grants shall be the period required for the completion of the first undergraduate baccalaureate course of study being pursued by that student.
(2)A supplemental grant awarded under this subpart shall entitle the student (to whom it is awarded) to payments pursuant to such grant only if the student meets the requirements of section 1091 of this title, except as provided in section 1070b–2(c) of this title.
(c)Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit an institution from making payments of varying amounts from a supplemental grant to a student during an academic year to cover costs for a period which are not applicable to other periods of such academic year.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 1070b–1, Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 413B, as added Pub. L. 92–318, title I, § 131(b)(1), June 23, 1972, 86 Stat. 252; amended Pub. L. 96–374, title IV, § 403(c), Oct. 3, 1980, 94 Stat. 1405, related to amount and duration of supplemental educational opportunity grants, prior to the general revision of this part by Pub. L. 99–498.

Amendments

1992—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 102–325, § 403(c)(1), substituted “Except as provided in paragraph (3), from” for “From” in introductory provisions and inserted “or in a program of study abroad that is approved for credit by the institution at which the student is enrolled” after “course of study at the institution” in subpar. (A). Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 102–325, § 403(c)(2), added par. (3).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

20 U.S.C. § 1070b–1

Title 20Education

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73