What is the Cal Grant?

The California grant is a state-funded aid program administered by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC). It helps California residents pay for college.

Cal Grants are awarded based on a student’s financial need, academic achievement, and the institution or college of attendance. Eligible students can receive grants for up to four years.

Eligibility

The Cal Grant is the state-funded financial aid program for California residents. It is awarded to students attending universities of California, California State Universities and California Community Colleges, as well as qualifying independent and career colleges or technical schools in California.

The cal grant is a need-based program administered by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC). Funds are limited and awards are based on eligibility and academic performance.

To qualify for the cal grant, you must apply using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application by the deadline and meet all eligibility, financial, and minimum GPA requirements of either program. You must also meet the income and asset requirements as determined by CSAC each year.

You may receive one of three types of Cal Grants – Cal Grant A, B, or C. Each type of cal grant helps different kinds of students, and the amount you receive depends on your financial need and how many years you are in school.

Cal Grant A is available to low-income students who are enrolled in a two-year degree program at a California Community College. You can use this grant to pay for tuition / fees, books, and some living expenses.

The grant includes a systemwide registration fee and a subsistence stipend. You must be enrolled at least half-time, three-quarters of the time or full-time to receive the grant.

If you have any questions about cal grant eligibility, please contact the financial aid office. They can answer all of your questions about cal grant and assist you in completing your application.

When applying for a Cal Grant, students must submit verification of their high school grade point average (GPA) by the March 2nd application deadline. The Financial Aid Office has WebGrants for Students which you can log into to check your cal grant eligibility.

To be eligible for the cal grant, you must have a social security number and be a California resident. You must file a FAFSA each year and maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA to remain eligible for the grant.

Amounts

The Cal Grant program offers a range of awards for students who have demonstrated financial need, meet eligibility requirements and have an excellent academic record. The amount of a Cal Grant depends on the student’s income and family assets. The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) determines the amount of a student’s award.

First-time applicants must submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act application before March 2nd, preceding the academic year they will enroll. They must also complete and submit a GPA verification form.

Cal Grant A and B cover a portion of tuition at University of California, California State University, and Community College campuses; independent colleges in California; and some private occupational career schools. These funds can be used to pay for a variety of costs such as books, housing, transportation and more.

UC and CSU campus students who have dependent children under 18 years of age, for whom they provide more than half of their financial support during the academic year, may be eligible for an increased award of up to $6,000 per year. These increased amounts are effective beginning in the 2019-2020 academic year.

In order to receive a Cal Grant, a student must be admitted to a UC, CSU or CCC campus and must be enrolled in courses full-time. The award is divided and paid for each term that the student is enrolled.

Once a student has completed their certification of eligibility, their Cal Grant award will be displayed in the CLU WebGrants4Students system. The school will need 5-7 business days to process the award.

If a student’s award is denied due to an error, they can file an appeal with CSAC. They will need to have a valid reason for the denial and all documentation supporting their appeal.

The CSAC will consider the student’s appeal and may overturn the denial if they can show that the decision was made in error. The student must meet all eligibility requirements for the grant and show that they have made significant efforts to correct any errors that were found.

Requirements

The cal grant is a need-based scholarship that helps California students pay for college. It’s available at all colleges and universities in the state and can be used for undergraduate or graduate coursework.

The grant is an entitlement program, meaning it’s provided to every high school graduate who has a 3.0 GPA and applies for it on time. There are also competitive awards available to students who meet specific eligibility requirements.

To be eligible for the cal grant, you must meet the financial and other eligibility requirements. You must have a valid FAFSA or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) and a GPA verified by your high school or former college.

You must apply between October 1 and March 2 of your senior year. Those who do not have a high school GPA to submit must substitute their SAT, ACT or GED scores.

CSAC recently introduced a new program called the Dream Act Service Incentive Grant (DSIG). This grant offers additional non-tuition aid to undocumented students receiving a Cal Grant B award who complete a community service requirement.

This grant is for transfer students who are transferring directly from a California community college to a four-year university that offers a bachelor degree in the academic year they apply for it. They must have a minimum GPA of 2.4 on all their transferable community college coursework.

If you are a California resident and plan to complete your degree at Chico State, you are required to file a FAFSA or CADAA with a GPA verified by your high school and the California Student Aid Commission by March 2. This grant is available to all transfer students and does not have a maximum age limit.

In addition to the DSIG, CSAC recently added two Cal Grant B competitive awards for undocumented students. These grants are limited to the first academic year, provide a living allowance and tuition and fee assistance and may be renewed.

To apply for a cal grant, you must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or the California Dream Act Application between October 1 and March 2 of your senior years. Applicants who do not have a high school GPA or did not attend a college can substitute their SAT, ACT or GED results.

Renewal

Cal Grants are need-based financial aid programs designed to help low and middle income students pay for college. They are awarded to California residents based on financial need and academic achievement.

In order to renew your Cal Grant, you must re-apply for financial aid, demonstrate financial need, maintain good academic progress and be enrolled in at least six units (full-time) in a degree program. You must also re-file the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application annually and submit a GPA verification form to the California Student Aid Commission by March 2.

A Cal Grant is renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study unless you are enrolled in a mandatory five-year bachelor’s program or an approved teacher credential program. However, if you do not enroll in a degree program or teacher credential program, your award will end in the year that you graduate.

As a Cal Grant recipient, you may receive an additional Access Award that is intended to be used for living expenses, transportation, supplies and books. Azusa Pacific University policy is to transfer this Access Award to your student account and apply it to any outstanding balance. If you do not wish to have your Access Award transferred to your student account, please submit a request to Student Financial Solutions through the Student Support Portal.

You can monitor your Cal Grant award information and your eligibility through WebGrants for Students. This secure website is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Cal Grant B provides a living allowance for very low-income students who attend a community college in California. It also covers tuition / fees at CSU and UC campuses, private colleges and some vocational schools in California.

More than half of new awards go to students who are beginning their first year at a California community college. When students are juniors and seniors, a Cal Grant B can also cover all or part of tuition / fees at a CSU or UC campus and up to $9708 at a private four-year college.

If you have a Cal Grant B, your award may be pro-rated based on the number of units in which you are enrolled at the end of the add/drop revision deadline for that quarter. You will not receive your Cal Grant at the start of each semester, but will be paid out approximately 10 days after the add/drop revision deadline for that quarter.