Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships

Cal Grants Page

Cal Grant A

Cal Grant A assists with tuition and fees at public and independent colleges, and some occupational and career colleges. At the University of California and the California State University, the award covers up to full system-wide fees. Your coursework must be for at least two academic years.

There are two Cal Grant A awards: Entitlement and Competitive. There is also a Cal Grant A award for students transferring from a California Community College to a four-year college.

Cal Grant A Entitlement Award

Every graduating high school senior who has at least a 3.0 GPA, meets the financial and academic requirements and applies on time will receive a Cal Grant A Entitlement award.

If you receive a Cal Grant A but attend a California Community College first, your award will be reserved for up to three years until you transfer to a four-year college, if you continue to qualify. If you list a California Community College before a four-year California college on your FAFSA, it will be assumed the community college is your first choice. If you receive a Cal Grant A, it will be placed in reserve for your first year unless you transfer to a tuition or fee-charging college and activate your award. When you transfer, be sure to let your school know you have a reserve grant.

Cal Grant A Competitive Award

Other eligible students who have at least a 3.0 GPA 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, GPA, time out of high school and other factors, such as whether you come from a single-parent household or are a former foster youth.

California Community CollegeTransfer Entitlement Cal Grant

High school students who graduated July 1, 2000 or after from a California high school, and go to a California Community College may receive a Cal Grant A award to attend a four-year college. You’re guaranteed an award if you transfer from a California junior college with a 2.4 community college GPAor higher, meet the admissions requirements for the qualifying four-year college, meet the Cal Grant eligibility and financial requirements, apply by March 2 of the award year and are under age 28 as of December 31 of the award year. Students who received a Cal Grant within a year of graduating from high school aren’t eligible. To learn more, contact your school’s transfer center or financial aid office.

Cal Grant B

Cal Grant B provides a living allowance and tuition and fee assistance for low-income students. Awards for most first-year students are limited to an allowance for books and living expenses. When renewed or awarded beyond the freshman year, the award also helps pay for tuition and fees. The awards for tuition and fees are the same as those for Cal Grant A. For Cal Grant B, your coursework must be for at least one academic year.

There are two types of Cal Grant B awards: Entitlement and Competitive. There is also a Cal Grant B award for students transferring from a California Community College to a four-year college.

Cal Grant B Entitlement Award

Every graduating high school senior who has at least a 2.0 GPA, meets the 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 GPA may apply for a Cal Grant B Competitive award. Selection is based on a composite score that takes into consideration your family’s income, parents’ educational level, GPA, time out of high school and other factors, such as whether you come from a single-parent household or are a former foster youth.

California Community College Transfer Entitlement Cal Grant

High school students who graduated July 1, 2000 or after, and go to a California Community College may receive a Cal Grant B award to attend a four-year college. You’re guaranteed an award if you have at least a 2.4 community college GPA, meet the admissions requirements for the qualifying four-year college, meet the Cal Grant eligibility and financial requirements, apply by March 2 of the award year and are under age 24 as of December 31 of the award year. Students who received a Cal Grant within a year of graduating from high school aren’t eligible. To learn more, contact your school’s transfer center or financial aid office.

Cal Grant TCP

For Future Teachers K-12

This grant affords one year of renewal Cal Grant for students seeking a teaching credential after completion of their bachelors degree. This grant must be requested within 15 months of the last payment of Cal grant received

This grant is requested by submission of a G44 form to:

California Student Aid Commission
   Grant Services Unit
   P. O. Box 419028
   Rancho Cordova, CA 95741-9028
   Phone: 1-888-224-7268

Dream Act of 2011

The California Dream Act is new legislation that is presently being implemented. Not all aspects of the grant are fully in place at this time. To get the latest updates and to stay up to date on the progress please go to http://www.csac.ca.gov/dream_act.asp. Once there bookmark the page and return frequently for the most current information.

We will be updating this page also as information becomes available.