To apply for a Cal Grant, students must fill out and submit two forms: a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and a Cal Grant GPA verification form. The deadline is March 2. Other financial and academic eligibility requirements may apply.
Students and families can visit www.calgrants.org or call my office to learn more about the Cal Grant program.
Paying for college can be difficult, but California has always been a leader in providing eligible students with an affordable college education. The Cal Grant and the Middle Class Scholarship are two great state programs to help California families afford college:
Cal Grant, a need-based state financial aid program, has been a big part of making college affordable for many California families. Qualified students can receive up to $12,192 in funding to attend almost any college in California – awards vary depending on economic need, grades and the college you attend. During the 2015-16 school year, the California Student Aid Commission offered nearly billion dollars in Cal Grants and other financial aid to approximately 320,000 eligible students.
The Middle Class Scholarship Act is a newer program for students who do not qualify for Cal Grants but are still priced out of college. It offers sliding-scale discounts of up to 40 percent for families who earn $150,000 or less and don't qualify for Cal Grants, which support lower-income students. Students must have at least a “C” average. Students apply just as they would for a federal loan or a Cal Grant, by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 2. They must also have a C average. Don't delay! The deadline to apply is March 2.
Additional Resources
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS:
- California Community Colleges
1102 Q Street Sacramento, CA 95811
www.cccco.edu
- University of California System
1111 Franklin Street
Oakland, CA 94607
www.ucop.edu
- Association of Independent California Colleges
1100 11th Street
Suite 10
Sacramento, CA 95814
www.aiccu.edu
- California State University System
401 Golden Shore
Long Beach, CA 90802
www.calstate.edu
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION:
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
(800) 4-FED-AID (433-3243)
www.fafsa.gov
- California Student Aid Commission
(888) CA GRANT (224-7268)
www.calgrants.org
- EdFund
(877) 2 EDFUND (233-3863)
www.edfund.org
- College Connection Scholarships
(302) 765-3880
www.collegescholarships.com
- FastWeb: Internet Scholarship Service
www.fastweb.com
- California College Explorer
www.californiacolleges.edu
- Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid
www.finaid.org