Cal Grants are Free Money! |
Cal Grants are
Free Money! You can
receive up to $9,700 for college or up to $3,000 for career or technical training
each year from the state of California.
Your Cal Grant follows you to whichever California school you
choose. A Cal Grant can be used at
any University of California, California State University or California
Community College, most independent colleges, and many career and technical
schools in California. You can
even use it to transfer from a community college to a four-year college or
university. And you don’t have to pay it back. The Cal
Grant Guarantee Don’t
miss out! You’re
guaranteed to receive a Cal Grant award if you: o Are a high school senior; o Meet
all the requirements; o Have
financial need*; o Apply
by March 2; and o Graduate
from a California high school *financial need is determined by whether your
family falls under established income and asset ceilings. When
can you apply? o In your senior year o Within
one year after graduating from high school or receiving your GED o As
a California Community College transfer student, if you meet the requirements Are You
Eligible? To qualify
for a Cal Grant, you must: o Submit the FAFSA and your verified
Cal Grant GPA by the deadline o Be
a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen (your parents don’t need to be) o Be
a California resident o Meet
any minimum GPA requirements o Have
a Social Security number o Attend
a qualifying California college o Not
have a bachelor’s or professional degree (except for the Cal Grant extended
awards for a teaching credential program) o Have
financial need based on your college costs and your EFC o Have
family income and assets below the established maximum levels o Be
in a program leading to an undergraduate degree or certificate o Be
enrolled at least half time o Have
registered with U.S. Selective Service (males age 18-25) o Not
owe a refund on a state or federal grant, or be in default on a student loan For
Your Information o There are three kinds of Cal
Grants—A, B and C—but you don’t have to figure out which one to
apply for. Your FAFSA responses,
your Cal Grant GPA, the type of California colleges you list on your FAFSA and
whether you’re a recent high school graduate will help determine your
eligibility. o Cal
Grant award amounts are based on full-time attendance, so if you attend less
than full time, your award may be reduced. To receive your Cal Grant, you must be enrolled at least half time—at least six semester units or the
equivalent. However, an exception
may be made in your final term of your four-year program if you only need a few
units to graduate. * Taken from Fund Your Future Workbook:
California 2009-10. By
the California Student Aid Commission & EdFund. |