State Aid Programs
California, through the Student Aid Commission, sponsors or administers many financial aid programs for higher education. These include the state-funded Cal Grants A, B and C for undergraduate students, Middle Class Scholarship, a State Work-Study program, a loan assumption program for teachers, a program to assist the dependents of law enforcement officers and firefighters who have been killed or disabled in the line of duty. Also included are a number of federally funded programs including education loans for students or parents of dependent students. Contact the campus financial aid office for more information about these programs.
To find more information on each grant, click below:
- Cal Grant Programs
- California Chafee Grant for Foster Youth
- California Military Department of GI Bill Award Program
- Financial Aid Programs for First Responders & Family
- Public Interest Attorney Loan Repayment (PIALR) Program
- Cal-HBCU Transfer Grant Program
- Golden State Teacher Grant (GSTG) Program
- California Dream Act Service Incentive Program
Cal Grants General Info
To qualify for a Cal Grant A, B or C, a student must be a California resident attending an eligible school or college in the state, must be making satisfactory academic progress as determined by the institution, must be in a program of study leading directly to an undergraduate degree or certificate, must not possess a baccalaureate degree prior to receiving a Cal Grant award, and must not owe a refund on any state or federal educational grant or have defaulted on a student loan. A student may accept only one Cal Grant — either A, B or C. Students must apply for a Cal Grant by the March 2 deadline.
There are six Cal Grant awards:
- Cal Grant A Entitlement and Competitive awards
- Cal Grant B Entitlement and Competitive awards
- California Community College Transfer Entitlement awards
- Cal Grant C
Except for Cal Grant T, which has a teaching service requirement, Cal Grants don’t need to be paid back.
Cal Grants A, B, and C are for students who are pursuing an undergraduate degree, or occupational or career training. Cal Grant T is only for students who plan to attend a teaching credential program. Funding for Cal Grant A and B awards is available for up to four years for students pursuing a bachelor’s degree, and may be extended an additional year for teaching credential or other mandatory five-year programs.
Cal Grant awards may be used only at qualifying colleges in California. You may accept only one Cal Grant at a time.
If you accelerate your college course work by attending summer sessions, your Cal Grant award may be increased proportionally for the year. However, the total amount you may receive in a four-year period will remain the same.
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.
To receive your Cal Grant benefits, you must be enrolled at least half time- at least six semester units or the equivalent.
Cal Grant A
Cal Grant A assists with tuition and fees for students at public and independent colleges, and some occupational and career colleges. Your course work must be for at least two academic years.
At the University of California and the California State University, the award covers up to full systemwide fees ($12,570 at UC campuses and $5,472 at CSU campuses) and up to $9,220 for tuition and fees at independent colleges.
There are two Cal Grant A awards: Entitlement and Competitive.
Cal Grant A Entitlement Award:
Every graduating high school senior who has at least a 3.0 grade point average, meets the Cal Grant financial aid and academic requirements, and applies on time will receive a Cal Grant A Entitlement award. The entitlement award covers full systemwide fees at UC and CSU campuses, and tuition and fee support at independent colleges.
Cal Grant A Competitive Award:
Other eligible students who have at least a 3.0 grade point average may apply for a Cal Grant A Competitive award. Selection is based on a composite score that takes into consideration your family’s income, parents’ educational level, grade point average, time out of high school, and whether or not you come from a single-parent household. The performance standards and resources available to your high school also may be taken into account.
Community College Reserve Grant:
If you receive a Cal Grant A but choose to attend a California community college first, you can reserve your award for up to three years until you transfer to a four-year college, if you continue to qualify. If your Cal Grant A is held in reserve, you can activate it any time. If you list a California community college before a four-year California college on your FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application, it will be assumed the community college is your first choice. If you receive a Cal Grant A, the award will be placed in reserve for your first year unless you transfer to a tuition-or fee-charging college and request to activate your award. When you do transfer, be sure to let your school know you have a CC Reserve grant.
Cal Grants B
Cal Grant B provides a living allowance and tuition and fee assistance for very low-income students. Awards for first-year students provide up to $1,648 for books and living expenses. When renewed, or applied for beyond the freshman year, the award also helps pay for tuition and fees. The top awards for tuition and fees are the same as those for Cal Grant A. For the Cal Grant B, your course work must be for at least one academic year.
There are two Cal Grant B awards: Entitlement and Competitive.
Cal Grant B Entitlement Award:
Every graduating high school senior who has at least a 2.0 average, meets the Cal Grant financial and eligibility requirements, and applies on time will receive a Cal Grant B Entitlement award.
Cal Grant B Competitive Award:
Other eligible students who have at least a 2.0 grade point average may apply for a Cal Grant B Competitive award. Selection is based on a composite score that takes into consideration your family¹s income, parents¹ educational level, grade point average, time out of high school, whether or not you come from a single-parent household, and your high school¹s performance standards and resources.
California Community College Transfer Entitlement Awards
High school students who graduate after June 30, 2000, and go to a California community college may receive a Cal Grant A or B award to attend a four-year college. You’re guaranteed an award if you have at least a 2.4 grade point average at the community college; meet the admissions requirements for the qualifying four-year college; meet the Cal Grant eligibility and financial requirements; apply by March 2nd of the award year; and are under 24 years old as of December 31st of the award year. These awards are offered to California community college students who weren’t awarded a Cal Grant within a year of graduating from high school, but who meet certain requirements at the time they transfer to a four-year college. Be sure to talk to your school’s transfer center staff or financial aid office if you have questions.
Cal Grants C
Cal Grant C awards assist students in occupational or vocational programs with tuition and training costs. The $547 award is for books, tools, and equipment. If you’re planning to attend a school other than a California community college, you also may receive up to $2,462 in tuition assistance. Funding is available for up to two years, depending on the length of the program. Use up to $1,094 at any California Community College
To qualify, you must enroll in a vocational program at a community or independent college, or vocational school, that is at least four months long.
If eligible for the award, you’ll receive a Cal Grant C Supplement application in mid-May, which must be completed and returned by June 15. Supplements are scored based on your work experience, educational history, and vocational aptitude.
Golden State Teacher Grant
The Golden State Teacher Grant Program (GSTG) awards up to $20,000 for students who are currently enrolled in an approved teacher preparation program. Students commit to teach in a “high-need” field at a “priority school” in California for four years and have five years, upon completion of the recipient’s preparation program, to meet that obligation.
Middle Class Scholarship
The Middle Class Scholarship (MCS) is a program that provides undergraduate students with family incomes up to $201,000 and a maximum annual household asset amount of $201,000, a scholarship to attend University of California (UC) or California State University (CSU) campuses. Students whose families qualify are eligible for up to a 40% tuition/fee discount and students whose families earn up to $201,000 per year are eligible for no less than 10% tuition/fee discount.
State Work-Study Program
The State Work-Study program at a limited number of schools offers eligible college and university students the opportunity to earn money to help defray educational expenses.
Schools will help find jobs which relate to the student’s course of study, career goals, or the exploration of careers. Students will be paid at rates comparable to those paid for positions within the employing organization. Jobs may be with public institutions or nonprofit or profit-making enterprises.
Public schools may employ students as librarians, teacher aides, and tutors. Private and proprietary postsecondary institutions cannot hire students in this program.
The California Dream Act Service Incentive Grant Program
The California Dream Act Service Incentive Grant Program (DSIG) encourages California Dream Act Application (CADAA) students with a Cal Grant B award to perform community or volunteer service. The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) will award up to $3,000 per academic year (up to $1,500 per semester or up to $1,000 per quarter) to 2,500 eligible students. The grant will be available to the student for up to 8 semesters or up to 12 quarters while they have an active Cal Grant B award. Students must also meet Satisfactory Academic Progress and complete any necessary verification for their Cal Grant B award.
Eligible students must apply annually, attend a qualifying institution, have sufficient unmet financial need, and complete community or volunteer service hours in that academic year. Students shall perform at least 150 hours per semester or 100 hours per quarter of community or volunteer service. Students can volunteer with any of the organization(s) on the List of Service Organizations or with any organization not on the list if it meets the criteria for a qualifying service organization. Organizations not on the List of Service Organizations, can complete and submit the Service Organization Registration form found on the DSIG Forms webpage.
The Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents Grant Program
The Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents Grant Program (LEPD) provides a need-based educational grant to dependents and spouses of employees who lost their lives in the line of duty or were totally disabled as a result of an accident or injury caused by external violence or physical force incurred in the performance of duty in the following professions:
- Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
- Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Division of Juvenile Justice
- Firefighters
- Law Enforcement
- Tribal Firefighters
Students may be eligible for up to the full LEPD award amount in accordance with their institution awarding and Cal Grant eligibility guidelines. Students may be eligible to receive this grant for a maximum of four years.
Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents Scholarships
This program provides educational grants to needy dependents and spouses of California peace officers (Highway Patrol, marshals, sheriffs, police officers); and employees of the Department of Corrections or youth Authority; and permanent and fulltime firefighters employed by counties, cities districts, and other political subdivisions of the same who have been killed or totally disabled in the line of duty. The death or disability must have been the result of an accident or injury caused by external violence or physical fence incurred in the performance of duty.
Grants range from $100 to $9,708 a year for up to four years.
To apply you must fill out a FAFSA and let your financial aid administrator know you are eligible for LEPD grant. For application materials, write directly to the Student Aid Commission, P.O. Box 510624, Sacramento, CA 94245-0624.
CHAFEE Grant for Foster Youth
The Chafee Grant program is available to any applicant who is or was in foster care between the ages of 16-18. Applicants may qualify for $5,000 a year for career and technical training.