AICCUMentor - Financial Aid


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Step 5: What's Offered in California?

California students have access to a wide range of financial aid opportunities, most of which are mentioned below. For details on any of the programs or guidance on applying for them, we suggest you download the 2006-2007 Fund Your Future Student Financial Aid Workbook, or visit www.calgrants.org (Cal Grants) or the www.csac.ca.gov (California Student Aid Commission programs). In addition, most colleges have their own grant, scholarship, work-study and loan programs. Call your college's financial aid office or go to their Web site to learn more.

Cal Grants
Other California State Aid
Benefits for Special Groups
California Residency
More Online Resources

Cal Grants

Cal Grants are free money for college — they never need to be repaid. Every high school senior who meets the academic, financial and eligibility requirements, and applies on time, is guaranteed a Cal Grant award to attend a California college. In addition, students are selected, using special factors, for a limited number of Competitive grants each year. These grants are offered during the January 1 to March 2 application period (students attending a California Community College also have a "second chance" deadline of September 20). Cal Grant awards may be used only at qualifying colleges in California. You have three chances to apply:

As a high school senior
Within one year after graduating or receiving your GED
As a California Community College transfer student, as long as you meet requirements

Cal Grant A
Cal Grant A assists with tuition and fees at public and independent colleges, as well as some private career colleges. If you receive a Cal Grant A but choose to attend a California Community College first, your award will be reserved for up to three years until you transfer to a four-year college. There are two Cal Grant A awards: Entitlement and Competitive.

Cal Grant A Entitlement awards are for every graduating high school senior who has at least a 3.0 GPA, meets all the Cal Grant requirements and applies by March 2 (or by March 2 within a year of
graduating).

Cal Grant A Competitive awards are for other Cal Grant-eligible students who have at least a 3.0 GPA.

Cal Grant B
Cal Grant B provides a living allowance, and tuition and fee assistance, at public and independent colleges and some private career colleges. The award for most first-year students is $1,551 and may be used for living expenses, books, tuition and fees, and other college costs. When renewed or awarded beyond freshman year, the grant includes a tuition and fee award. There are two Cal Grant B awards: Entitlement and Competitive.

Cal Grant B Entitlement awards are for every graduating high school senior who has at least a 2.0 GPA, meets all the Cal Grant requirements and applies by March 2 (or by March 2 within a year of
graduating).

Cal Grant B Competitive awards are for other Cal Grant-eligible students who have at least a 2.0 GPA.

Cal Grants A and B are available for up to four years for bachelor's degree students and may be extended an additional year for teaching credential or other mandatory five-year programs. If you're eligible for both a Cal Grant A and B, weigh the advantages of each and talk to your college's financial aid administrator about which one to choose.

Cal Grant C awards assist with tuition and training costs at career or vocational programs.

Cal Grant A and B Transfer Entitlement Awards
If you plan to attend a California Community College after graduating from your California high school and before heading to a four-year college, and you don't receive a Cal Grant within a year of graduating from high school, this Cal Grant is for you. You're guaranteed an award if you have at least a 2.4 California Community College GPA, meet the admissions requirements for the qualifying four-year college, meet the Cal Grant requirements and are under age 24 as of December 31 of the award year.

You need to apply between January 1 and March 2 of the year you'll be transferring to a four-year college from your California Community College.

If you'll be taking advantage of this award, be sure to keep in contact with your community college's transfer center staff or financial aid office.

Cal Grant C
If you need money for an occupational or vocational program, Cal Grant C can help you. You may receive up to $576 for books, tools and equipment, and up to $2,592 for tuition and fees if you'll be attending a school other than a California Community College (Cal Grant-eligible students who attend a California Community College qualify for a fee waiver).

Funding is available for up to two years, and your vocational program must be at least four months
long.

If eligible for an award, you'll receive a Cal Grant Supplement form in April, which must be completed and returned by May 15. Even though there's no minimum GPA required, you're still encouraged to submit your GPA.

Basic Cal Grant Eligibility
To be eligible for a Cal Grant, you must:

submit the FAFSA and a verified Cal Grant GPA by the deadline
be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen
be a California resident
have a Social Security number
attend a qualifying California college
not have already earned a bachelor's or professional degree (except for Cal Grant A and B extended awards for a teaching credential program)
have financial need at your college
have family income and assets below the ceilings
maintain satisfactory academic progress
be in a program leading to an undergraduate degree or certificate
be enrolled at least half time
have registered with U.S. Selective Service, if required to do so
not owe a refund on any state or federal grant
not be in default on any student loan

How to Apply for a Cal Grant
You apply for Cal Grants A, B and C by completing and submitting the FAFSA as soon as possible starting January 1 and no later than the postmark deadline of March 2. You must also submit a verified GPA to the California Student Aid Commission by the deadline. (You can submit your verified GPA before you submit your FAFSA, beginning in November 1.)

High school seniors must apply for the Cal Grant A or B Entitlement award between January 1 and March 2 of their senior year or by March 2 of the year after high school graduation.

If you plan to attend a California Community College in the fall, you should still try to meet the March 2 deadline, even though you have a second deadline of September 2. That's because there are only a limited number of Competitive Cal Grant awards available in the fall.

For the Cal Grant A and B Transfer Entitlement award for California Community College students, you must file the FAFSA and a verified community college GPA between January 1 and March 2 of the year in which you plan to transfer to a four-year college.

Note: If you miss the March 2 deadline for a Cal Grant, you still can apply for a federal Pell Grant and federal student loans. Some college-based aid and private scholarships and loans also may be available.

Verified GPA Required for a Cal Grant
For Cal Grants A, B and C, you must submit the FAFSA and a verified GPA by the application deadline. It's your responsibility to find out if your school will submit your verified GPA for you electronically or whether you must submit your GPA using the paper GPA Verification Form. If you'll be submitting your GPA, your school must certify it first, so don't wait until the last minute.

California Aid Report
The California Student Aid Commission will send you a letter with information on your eligibility for a Cal Grant if you filed both the FAFSA and a verified GPA by the deadline, and if you listed at least one qualifying California school on your FAFSA and are a California resident.

Other California State Aid

The California Student Aid Commission offers a number of financial aid opportunities in addition to Cal Grants. For more information and application forms, visit www.csac.ca.gov. Following is an overview of Commission programs.

California Chafee Grant
If you are or were in foster care, you may qualify for up to $5,000 a year in free money for vocational training or college on top of any other federal or state aid you may receive. To learn more and for an application go to www.chafee.csac.ca.gov.

In addition, some colleges offer tuition waivers and scholarships for foster youth. To learn more, talk to your local independent living coordinator, high school counselor or your college's financial aid administrator, go to www.fosteryouthhelp.ca.gov or call California's Foster Care Ombudsman toll free at 877.846.1602.

Child Development Grants
Child Development Grants of $1,000 or $2,000 a year are available for students who plan to work at a licensed children's center and are pursuing a child development permit at the teacher, site supervisor or program director level at a California college. If you receive one of these grants, you must teach full time in a licensed California children's center for one year for each year of grant assistance.

Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents Grants
Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents, or LEPD, grants are for dependents and spouses of California peace officers (highway patrol, marshals, sheriffs, police officers), certain California Department of Corrections and California Youth Authority employees, and firefighters with public entities who were killed or totally disabled in the line of duty. If you receive a Cal Grant, your LEPD grant will match your award.

Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarships
Graduating high school seniors who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and show promise of continued achievement in college may be eligible for a Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship. Recent awards were $1,500 a year. These merit-based scholarships are renewable for up to four years of accredited postsecondary study at any college in the United States. Selection is based on grades and SAT or ACT score. Applications are available starting February 1. See your high school counselor to learn more.

State Nursing Assumption Program of Loans for Education
This new program assumes up to $25,000 (up to $5,000 a year for up to five years) for those who agree to teach nursing at a California college.

Benefits for Special Groups

Veterans and Their Dependents
Children and dependents of service-connected disabled veterans or service-related deceased veterans are exempt from paying systemwide registration fees at University of California, California State University or California Community College campuses. To learn more, contact your county's veterans services office (on the Web at www.cacvso.org), your college's veterans affairs office or the California Department of Veterans Affairs at 800.952.5626 or on the Web at www.cdva.ca.gov.

In addition, dependents of deceased or disabled veterans who are eligible for benefits under the California Veterans Dependents Educational Assistance Program, and dependents of deceased or disabled California National Guard members who are certified by the adjutant general's office, qualify for the California Community College Board of Governor's Enrollment Fee Waiver. For details, contact your college's financial aid office.

Surviving Dependents of Law Enforcement or Fire Prevention Personnel
Children of California city, county or state law enforcement or fire prevention personnel who were killed or died as a result of active duty are eligible for registration fee waivers (also known as Alan Patee Scholarships) at a University of California or California State University campus.

Students With Disabilities
Students with disabilities who meet the academic qualifications for college should apply for admission and, if needed, financial aid. Qualified students cannot be excluded from college solely because of a disability. All public colleges, and many independent ones, provide services to students with special needs. These services may include counseling, tutoring, readers, interpreters, note takers, special parking zones or the loan of special equipment.

Your cost of attendance should include all expenses necessary to accommodate your disability. Be sure to work with your financial aid administrator when applying for admission so that he or she understands your particular circumstances.

In addition, you may be eligible for vocational-rehabilitation services from the California Department of Rehabilitation if your disability constitutes or results in a substantial impediment to employment and if you require and can benefit from services to prepare for, secure, retain or regain employment. Before the department can help pay for your college costs, you must first apply for federal and state grant assistance. Your benefits will be coordinated with your college's financial aid package.

For more information, contact your college's disabled students office, the national or local organizations serving your particular disability or the local office of the California Department of Rehabilitation (or on the Web at www.dor.ca.gov and select "Direct Services to People with Disabilities").

Athletes
If you're a student athlete considering a National Collegiate Athletic Association college, contact the NCAA for information on college recruiting rules, as well as grade point average, testing and registration requirements. To learn more, log on to www2.ncaa.org, call 317.917.6222 or write to NCAA, P.O. Box 6222, Indianapolis, IN 46206-6222.

There's also a free brochure, The Guide for College-Bound Student Athletes, available at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net or by calling 800.638.3731.

Even if you're looking for a sports scholarship, you should still file a FAFSA.

Native Americans
Students who are members or close descendants of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or nation may be eligible for grants from the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Indian Education Programs. Many tribes and the BIA require a needs analysis from your college's financial aid office to document eligibility, so be sure to file your FAFSA early. To learn more, contact the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Indian Education Programs, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825, call 916.978.6058 or go to www.oiep.bia.edu.

Families With Dependent Children
If you're both a student and a parent, you may be eligible for cash aid and help with childcare, transportation and job or training expenses through the CalWORKs program. Contact your county social services office for more information if your child's other parent is deceased or absent from the home; if you or your spouse is physically or mentally disabled, or unemployed; or if you or your spouse is working less than 100 hours a month. To learn more, go to www.dss.cahwnet.gov and click on "Find Services, Information or Forms."

California Residency

Cal Grants and other state financial aid programs are for California residents only.

If you're under age 18 and unmarried as of the Cal Grant application deadline, you're considered to be a California resident if one of your parents is a legal California resident as of the Cal Grant application deadline or if you've lived for two years with a responsible non-parent adult and that adult has been a legal California resident for a least one year immediately before the Cal Grant deadline.

If your parents are living out of the country, you're considered to be a California resident if you're under age 18 and unmarried and have been living under the direct care and control of a California resident for at least two years before the Cal Grant deadline, or if your parents have maintained their California residency during their absence from the state.

All married students, regardless of their age, and all unmarried students age 18 or older, must establish their own residency. If you'll turn 18 on or before the Cal Grant deadline, you must have lived in California for at least one year immediately before this date to be considered a California resident. You also must be in the United States legally and be able to establish U.S. residency based on your status with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

More Online Resources

If you think you'll need financial help, apply for it. For more information, contact your high school counselor or college financial aid administrator or go to:

www.calgrants.org
The Cal Grant Web site, sponsored by the California Student Aid Commission, where you'll find information on all the Cal Grant awards in one convenient place.

www.csac.ca.gov
The California Student Aid Commission, for details on all the California state aid programs and how to apply for them. Or call toll free 888.CA.GRANT (888.224.7268).

www.edfund.org
EDFUND, for information on low-interest federal loans, college and financial planning, strategies for managing loans and more. Or call toll free 877.2EDFUND (877.233.3863).

www.studentaid.ed.gov
The Federal Student Aid Information Center, for more on Pell Grants, other federal grants and loans, and applying for federal and state aid. Or call toll free 800.4FED.AID (800.433.3243).

www.fafsa.ed.gov
The online FAFSA, the easiest and fastest way to apply for state and federal aid. Here you'll find FAFSA on the Web, along with step-by-step instructions.

Fund Your Future Workbook, 2006-2007 (PDF) An online version of the California Student Aid Commission/EDFUND's detailed information on grants, scholarships loans and other financial aid for college. Available for download and printing.

All financial aid content ©2008 EDFUND, all rights reserved. Fund Your Future and EDWISE are registered trademarks of EDFUND.

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