Free School Grants for Students in CA (2024)

Fund Your Education with Free Grant Money

To supplement federal financial aid opportunities, individual states put forth their own brands of student assistance. Programs vary across The Union, but most states have mechanisms in place to get college cash into the hands of students who need it most. Go-to aid resources, at the federal and state level, include coveted higher education grants that pay tuition bills, but never require repayment.

State programs are influenced by funding and educational traditions, so some are more extensive than others. Your best sourcesfor up-to-date information aboutinitiatives in your state are:Guidance counselors, financial aid officials, and government agencies. The State of California takes an active role in higher education, providing generous grants for a majority of the students who matriculate within the state.

Californiaadministers several programs that provide college grants. Cal Grants are funded by the state of California and administered by the California Student Aid Commission(CSAC) in three distinct sub-categories. There are also several CSAC grants available for specialized student groups.

Overview of California “Cal Grant” College Grants

Recent graduates or graduating high school seniors are eligible to apply forCal Grants, provided they meet all eligibility criteria, including financial and academic standards. In addition, all the proper application materialsmust be submitted by the deadline.

The deadline for applications is September 2nd for the fall term, but it is recommended that students apply by March 2nd to maximize their chances of being selected for grants. The number of Cal Grants awarded annually is limited by funding, so timely application puts you in the best position to land aid.Cal Grant disbursal iscontingent upon the final approval of the State Budget Act. Depending on the specific Cal Grant received, students can earn over $10,000 a year for college expenses.

Cal Grant applicants mustattend qualifying colleges, universities or career colleges within the Sate of California. Some grants pay only tuition, while others allowfor room and board, andcourse materials like books and supplies. Applying for a Cal Grant is relatively easy. Taking home California grant money starts with the federal FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), whichmust be submitted between January 1st and September 1st. A verified Cal Grant GPA must also be produced.

FAFSA data is used to determine each student’s level of financial need, which in turn governs Cal Grant amounts received by each qualified applicant. The FAFSA can be filedonline,in English or as a spanish-language version.

Who can Apply for a Cal Grant

There are several requirements for Cal Grant eligibility. In addition to submittinga FAFSA and verified Cal Grant GPA by the deadline, students must meet the following requirements:

Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
Be a resident of California at the time of high school graduation
Have a social security number
Attend a qualifying California college, university, career or technical school
Not have a bachelor’s or professional degree with the exception of Cal Grant A and B extended awards for teaching credential programs
Have financial need based on college costs
Have family income and assets below established ceilings
Meet any minimum GPA requirements
Be in a program leading to an undergraduate degree or certificate
Be enrolled at least half time
Have registered with the U.S. Selective Service
Not owe a refund on a state or federal grant, or be in default on a student loan
Applicants have one year after graduating high school to apply for a Cal Grant.

Cal Grants provide financial assistance for students continuing into higher education roles. Cal Grant recipients are seeking these academic credentials:

Cal Grants A, B, and C

California’s student assistance grant program distributes aid using amulti-tier approach that lends funding to students at a variety of institutions of higher education:

Cal Grant AAwards are reserved for students attending public and private colleges. California State University students qualify for as much as$5900 annually. Private colleges are granted up to $9200 each, for tuition and fees for every eligible student. University of California students qualify for up to $12,500 each year. Qualified candidates are enrolled in two-yearand four-year degree programs. The program also initiates about 11,000 ‘Competitive’ Cal Grants each year, which arereserved for those whose resourcesexceed financial parameters, but meet other Cal Grant A program requisites.

Cal Grant B contributes funding for books and otherexpenses associated with higher education. Economically challenged students each qualify for supplemental grants that cover books and expenses – sometimes exceeding $1300 annually. Participants who maintain eligibility standards continue to receive Cal Grant B money in similar amounts annually.

Cal Grant C is designed to fortify financial aid for students pursuing vocationaland community college degreesand diplomas.. A minimum$575 is granted to each qualified applicant, to cover books, tools, equipment and other college costs. Private students qualify for up to $2500 toward tuition at technical/vocational schools.

Cal Grant A Competitive Awards are reserved for student applicants maintaining GPA standards of 3.0 or higher. To qualify, Competitive Award candidates must be enrolled in Associate’s and Bachelor’s programs. Cal Grant B Competitive Awards are distributed to the most economically needy students. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required to apply, as well as participation in an academic program that is at least one-year long.

Community College

California Community College Transfer Entitlement Grant eases the transition for transfer students who aremoving from 2-year programs to accredited 4-year university programs. Eligibility is governed by these minimum standards:

Cal Grant eligibility requirements
California resident at time of high-school graduation
Community college GPA of at least 2.4
Graduate from high-school some time after June 30, 2000
NoCal Grants receivedwithin one year of high-school graduation
Be under age 28 at the time of application

GED Applicants

High school diplomas are sufficient for Cal Grant application, but there are also options available for students with other credentials. In order to contend for aid, GED holders are required to submit their GED scores directly to the California Student Aid Commission. Applicants who graduated from schools that do not provide grades, do not havecourse lists approved by the University of California, or are not accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, must provide ACT or SAT scores to qulify for aid. Home-schooledand charter school applicants must submit GED, ACT or SAT scores.

California Chafee Grant for Foster Youth

In addition toCal Grants A, B and C, there are some grants available for specific groups of California college students. One such grant is the California Chafee Grant for Foster Youth. The Chafee Grant is funded by the state, with assistance from the Federal Government. The amount awarded is determined based on each applican’s enrollment status and college of attendance.

The minimum amount granted is $5,000 per academic year,and final awards cannot exceed the total cost of college attendance. In some cases, funds are applied to rent, transportation and child care expenses, while attending school. Qualied applicants are former or current foster youth, under the age of 22 years, as of July 1 of the award year.

Child Development Grant Program

The Child Development Grant Program is designed to encourage students to entercareers in the field of child care and development, and to workinlicensed children’s centers. Requirements for eligibility include financial need verified by the submission of a FAFSA, U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizenship, California residency, and registration with theFederal Selective Service.

In addition to meeting basic eligibility standards,Child Development Grant candidates must fulfill the following requirements:

Enrollment at least half-time in approved coursework leading to a Child Development Permit as a program director, site supervisor, teacher or master teacher; and maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by the school of attendance.
Sign a Service Commitment Agreement which states they will provide one year of full-time service at a licensed children’s center in California for each year they receive the grant.
Be nominated by a qualifying post-secondary school or employing agency.

The employing agency must hold an approved waiver of staffing qualifications on behalf of the applicant. Applicants are awarded up to $1,000 annually for two-year programs and up to $2,000 for four-year programs.

Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents Grant Program

The Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents Grant Program (LEPD) provides educational grants tospouses and dependents of several classifications of law enforcement professionals who have been killed or have become totally disabled as a result of an accident or injury caused by external factors incurred in the performance of their duties. These groups include:

California peace officers
Department of Corrections and California Youth Authority employees
Permanent/full-time firefighters employed by public entities.

To qualify under the definition of peace officer, the primary duty must be enforcement of the law in the following categories:

Sheriffs
Police marshals
Constables
Port wardens or officers of the LA Harbor Department
Inspectors or investigators of the District attorneys
Designated Department of Justice personnel
The Highway Patrol (CHP)
State police
National guard
University of California police
State university and college police
Designated personnel of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Designated personnel of the Department of Fish and Game
Designated personnel of the Department of Parks and Recreation
Designated personnel of the Department of Forestry
Designated personnel of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Applications for the LEPD Grants are accepted throughout the academic year and match the amount of a Cal Grant award.

Each grant is valued between $100-$11,259 per academic year, for up to four years. An application for the LEPD Grant can be obtained by contacting the Specialized Programs Branch of the California Student Aid Commission at (888)224-7268, option 3, or by request in writing. Completed application packages must be submitted to the California Student Aid Commission at PO Box 419029, Rancho Cordova, CA 95741-9029.

A complete package includes:

A copy of applicant’s current Student Aid Report (SAR) which is generated after filing a FAFSA
Birth certificate – if applicant is a dependent

Death certificate of the parent or spouse and the coroner’s report if appropriate, police report and any other documentation that shows evidence that the death or total disability was the result of:

external violence or physical force incurred in the line of a peace or law enforcement officer’s duty
direct action of an inmate against an officer or employee of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
accident or injury incurred in the performance of a firefighter’s duty.
findings of the Worker’s Compensation Appeals Board or other evidence that the death or total disability was compensable according to the Labor Code
proof of enrollment at a qualified California post-secondary institution for the applicable academic year.

California National Guard Education Assistance Award Program (CNG EAAP)

The California National Guard Education Assistance Award Program (CNG EAAP) is designed to provide assistance forservice members who remain active in the National Guard, Naval Militia or the State Military Reserve. Grants enable educational incentives to improve competencies, skills, and abilities.

Selected participantsreceive:

up to the amount of the Cal Grant A award when attending the University of California or California State University
up to the Cal Grant B award amount for attending a community college
up to the University of California Cal Grant A amount for attending a private institution
up to the Cal Grant A award, plus $500 for books and supplies, for graduate studies.

Participants are awarded either CNG EEAP Grants or Cal Grants in any academic year, but notboth. Eligible applicants for the CNG EEAP:

Must be an active member of, andserved two years in the California National Guard, Naval Militia, or State Military Reserve
Must agree to remain an active membership status throughout the participation period of the grant
Must agree to use the award to obtain a degree, diploma or certificate that is not currently held
Has been accepted or is registered or enrolled in a qualifying school
Must agree to maintain enrollment in at least three academic units per semester, or the equivalent, at a qualifying school
Must agree to maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA annually in a qualifying school
Must be a resident of California for at least one year immediately preceding the date of determination.

The Office of the Adjutant General certifies each applicant’s status as a member of the National Guard, Naval Militia or State Military Reserve, but the applicant is responsible for all other documentation. The Office of the Adjutant General reviews all applicants, ranks the eligible applicantsaccording toestablishedcriteria, and announces selected applicants by notification.

Finding Applications

Applications are available online or by request to the Office of the Adjutant General. Most grants require applicants to fill out the FAFSA. This can be completed online or downloaded, printed and mailed. Applications for Cal Grants and other specialized California grants are available from the California Student Aid Commission.

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