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Cal Grant A Cal Grant B Cal Grant T
For Undergraduates Cal Grant A
New Recipient Cal Grant Manual
Renewal Recipient Reference Manual
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.
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.
Community College Reserve Grant
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.
California Community CollegeTransfer 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 A 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.
If you have just applied for/or received notification that you have been awarded a New Cal Grant, refer to the New Cal Grant Recipients Manual listed below.
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 CollegeTransfer 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
If you have just applied for/or received notification that you have been awarded a New Cal Grant, refer to the New Cal Grant Recipients Manual listed below for additional information.
For Future Teachers K-12
Due to severe state budget contraints, the Governor & state legislature have not funded the program for 2003-04. However, they have increased the number of new participants in the Commission's Assumption Program of Loans for Education (APLE). All 2003-04 applicants have been notified of this proposal. Enclosed in the notification letter was an information sheet outlining APLE.
Cal Grant T awards cover one year of tuition and fees at a teaching credential program approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. You must commit to teach at a California public low-performing K-12 school for one year for each $2,000 received. If you don’t complete the teaching service requirement, you must repay the portion of the award for which you didn’t complete your service.
Applicants must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Cal Grant T GPA Verification Form by June 1st. Please obtain these applications at your financial aid office or contact this Grant Services Unit at the address below:
California Student Aid Commission
Grant Services Unit
P. O. Box 419028
Rancho Cordova, CA 95741-9028
Phone: 1-888-224-7268