Cal Grant

Provides grant funds to help pay tuition and fees at qualifying institutions offering degree programs of at least two years in length. 

• Does not pay at a California Community College (CCC). The awards are held in CCC Reserve status and are renewed for up to two consecutive years while attending a CCC. 

• Your Cal Grant funds may become available to you when you transfer to a Cal Grant eligible 4- year college if you meet all the renewal requirements at the time of transfer.  

Provides grant funds to help pay for your tuition, student fees and other educational costs in a for- credit instructional program of not less than one academic year in length. 

• Pays up to $1,656 per academic year for access costs such as living expenses, transportation, supplies and books. 

• Pays tuition and fees for students attending a Cal Grant eligible 4-year college, beginning in their second year. 

• Pays access costs of up to $1,656 at a CCC until you transfer to a tuition/fee-charging school and become eligible for both tuition/fees and access costs. 

Assists with the costs of a technical or career education.

• Provides up to $1,094 for books, tools and equipment—and up to $2,462 more for tuition and fees if you’ll be attending a school other than a California Community College (community colleges don’t charge tuition and your fees will be waived as a Cal Grant recipient) 

• Is available for up to two years

If you qualify, you’ll receive an email or letter notification to complete the online Cal Grant C Supplement in Web Grants for Students by the deadline. Even though a GPA is not required to apply for a Cal Grant C, you’re still encouraged to submit yours because it can only help your chances of receiving an award.

• Be a California Resident or AB 540 eligible

• Be a U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen or AB 540 eligible

• Males must meet Selective Service requirements

• Attend a Cal Grant eligible school

• Not have earned a bachelor’s degree

• Not be in grant repayment or in default on a student loan

• Not be incarcerated

• Enroll at least half-time to receive payment

• Maintain satisfactory academic progress to receive payment

Filing for the March 2, Cal Grant Award Deadline

To be considered for a Cal Grant award, you must have completed both of these application requirements by March 2:

1. Submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a California Dream Act Application (CADAA). — Available October 1. 

2. Ensured that a certified Grade Point Average (GPA) was submitted to the California Student Aid Commission (Commission).

Paper Cal Grant GPA verification forms are accepted through March 2 (Postmark Deadline).California law require that all public and charter high schools electronically upload GPAs for current enrolled seniors that do not opt-out.

The Commission will not process any GPAs that may have been submitted in prior years. In order for a student to be considered for a Cal Grant award, a new GPA must be received by the Commission by the stated deadline. Transcripts are not accepted. GPAs are only accepted by high schools that are fully accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges or other regionally accrediting agency, or have a University of California (UC) approved course list.

WebGrants for Students

Are you wondering if your Cal Grant GPA has been received by the Commission? 

After you have filed a FAFSA or California Dream Act Application, you can go on-line and check the status of your Cal Grant application by logging on to WebGrants for Students and creating an account.