financIal aid - state Grant

State Grants

The State of California, through the California Student Aid Commission, sponsors several grant programs for undergradu­ate students. These include the Cal Grant Program, the Extended Opportunity Program and Services, and the Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents Scholarship Program.

To qualify for any of the state-funded grants, a student must be a California resident and be attending (or plan to attend) an eligible school or college in California.

Cal Grants

There are three types of Cal Grants as described below: Cal Grant A, Cal Grant B, and Cal Grant C. A student can receive only one type of Cal Grant in an award year.

The deadline to apply for any Cal Grant is March 2, 2002. Students applying for a Cal Grant must also file a GPA Verification Form with the California Student Aid Commission by March 2,2002. College Financial Aid Offices have compete information and forms.

With the expansion of the Cal Grant Program, there are now seven types of Cal Grant awards: Cal Grant A and B Entitlement, Cal Grant A and B Competitive, and Cal Grant C. Starting with the 2001-2002 graduating class, every high school senior who meets the academic requirements (3.0 GPA for Cal Grant A; 2.0 GPA for Cal Grant B), falls within established income and asset ceilings, and applies on time will receive a Cal Grant A or B Entitlement award. Every community college student who meets the admissions requirements for California State University, is under 24 years old, meets other program requirements, and applies on time will receive a California Community College Transfer Entitlement award.

In addition, eligible students have an opportunity to compete for 22,500 Cal Grant A and B Competitive awards. Of the awards set aside for competitive Cal Grants A and B, half are for community college students who apply by a second deadline of September 2. All Cal Grants A, B, and C are for students who are pursuing an undergraduate degree or occupational and career training and do not have to be paid back. Students may accept only one Cal Grant at a time and should apply during their senior year in high school. To receive Cal Grant benefits, they must be attending school at least half time.

Cal Grants A and B can be extended for an additional year for those in teacher credential and other mandatory five-year programs.

All Cal Grants A, B, and C are for students who are pursuing an undergraduate degree or occupational and career training and do not have to be paid back. Students may accept only one Cal Grant at a time and should apply during their senior year in high school. To receive Cal Grant benefits, they must be attending school at least half time.

Cal Grants A and B can be extended for an additional year for those in teacher credential and other mandatory five-year programs. Cal Grants A and B can be extended for an additional year for those in teacher credential and other mandatory five-year programs.

Cal Grant T is only for students planning to attend a teaching credential program. There is now a teaching service require­ment. Students who don't complete their service requirements must repay the funds received.

Cal Grant

Cal Grant A helps low- and middle-income students with tuition and fees at public and private colleges, and some private occupational and career schools. Your course length must be two academic years or more.

There are two Cal Grant A awards: Entitlement and Competitive. For the Cal Grant A, school senior who has at least a 3.0 GPA, meets the family income and asset requirements, and applies by March 2, 2002, will receive an award. Other eligible students may compete for a Cal Grant A Competitive award which is based on academic achievement and financial need for the 2001-2002 school year.

If you receive a Cal Grant A but choose to attend a California community college first, you can reserve your award for up to two years until you transfer to a four-year college, if you continue to qualify. If your Cal Grant A is held in reserve, you can activate it at any time. If you list a California community college on your FAFSA, it will be assumed that the community college is your first choice. If you receive a Cal Grant A, it will automatically-ly be placed in reserve for your first year.

You may apply your Cal Grant A award to an international program if the program is officially registered at a California campus. Your student budget will not be increased automatically by the Commission to reflect the additional expenses that may result from attending a school overseas, but your college's financial aid administrator may use his or her professional judgment to adjust your budget accordingly. If you attend a teacher credential program, your Cal Grant A maybe extended an additional year.


Cal Grant B

Cal Grant B provides a living allowance (and sometimes tuition and fee assistance) for very low-income, first-time freshmen. Awards for the first-year students usually are limited to assisting with living expenses, books, supplies, and transportation. When renewed, your award may also cover all or part of your tuition and fees, in addition to a living allowance. Your course length must be at least one academic year.

There are two Cal Grant B awards: Entitlement and Competitive. Every graduating high school senior who has at least a 2.0 GPA, meets the family income and asset requirement, and applies by March 2, 2002, will receive a Cal Grant B entitlement award. The competitive grants are for students who meet the academic, family income, and disadvantaged back ground requirements.
For 2001-2002, the maximum living allowance is $1,551.

You may apply your Cal Grant B to an international program that is regularly accredited and recognized by your home campus. The Commission won't increase your student budget automatically to reflect any expenses, but your financial aid administrator may use his or her judgment to adjust your budget accordingly.
If you attend a teacher credential program, your Cal Grant B may be extended an additional year.

Cal Grant C

Cal Grant C assists students in occupational or career training programs with tuition and training costs. The $576 Cal Grant C award is for books, tools, and equipment. If you're attending a school other than a California community college, you may also receive up to $2,592 in tuition assistance. To qualify, you must be enrolled in a vocational program at least four months long.

Extended Opportunity Program and Services (EOP&S)

This is a state funded program designed primarily for the recruitment and retention of students affected by language, social and economic disadvantages.
To be eligible, the family income for a dependent student must not exceed $25,575 for a family of four, plus or minus $4,350 for each additional dependent. All students must demonstrate exceptional educational need and be enrolled in a minimum of 12 units unless waived by the EOP&S Director.
EOP&S programs can provide services such as grants, book services and/or work study. Interested students should check with the campus EOP&S office for additional information. EOP&S grants may be used to replace the loan or Work Study portion of a financial aid package.

Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents Scholarship

This grant program provides educational benefits to the dependents of California police and other law enforcement officers (Chief of Police, Police Officers, Sheriffs, Marshal, Deputy Marshal etc.) who have been killed or totally disabled in the line of duty.

For more information and application materials write directly to the Student Aid Commission, 1515 S Street, Suite 500, P.O. Box 510624, Sacramento, California 94245 - Attention: LEPD Program.