Grants

• Cal Grant
• Pell Grant
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
• Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)
• National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant

Grants are awarded on the basis of financial need and do not have to be repaid. Federal and State governments are the sources of grant funds. Grants are awarded to students who demonstrate the greatest financial need and have completed their financial aid application by the published deadlines, except for the Pell Grant, which is available through the academic year.

Cal Grant

Cal Grants are awarded on the basis of financial need and do not have to be repaid. Cal Grants are provided by the state and are awarded to students who demonstrate the greatest financial need and have completed their financial aid application by the published deadlines. There are three main types of Cal Grants as follows:

Cal Grant A awards can be used for tuition and fees. To get this Cal Grant, you need to be working toward a two-year or four-year degree.

Cal Grant B awards provide low-income students with a living allowance and assistance with tuition and fees. Most first-year students receive an allowance of up to $1,551 for books and living expenses. After the freshman year, Cal Grant B also helps pay tuition and fees in the same amount as a Cal Grant A. For a Cal Grant B, your coursework must be for at least one academic year.

Cal Grant C awards help pay for tuition and training costs at occupational or career colleges. To qualify, you must enroll in a vocational program that is at least four months long. Funding is available for up to two years, depending on the length of your program.

Who May Apply

• California residents
• All full-time and half-time undergraduate students in a degree program

How To Apply

• File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Send GPA verification to CSAC

How Awards Are Determined

• Cal Grant is based on financial eligibility and GPA

2008-09 Estimated Award Amounts

• Cal Grant A & B tuition and fees: $3,236/ Qrt.
• Cal Grant B stipend: $517/ Qrt. (Cal Grant B pays stipend only in the first year. Subsequent years include fees.)
• Cal Grant C tuition and fees: $864/ Qrt.
• Cal Grant C books and supplies : $192/ Qrt.

Priority Filing Deadline

• FAFSA and GPA Verification form must be filed by March 2nd

Pell Grant

Pell Grants are awarded on the basis of financial need and do not have to be repaid. They are provided by the federal government and are awarded to students who demonstrate the greatest financial need and have completed their financial aid application.

Who May Apply

• All full-time and half-time undergraduate students in a degree program
• U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens
• Students without a Bachelor's degree

How To Apply

• File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

How Awards Are Determined

• Based on financial eligibility

2008-09 Estimated Award Amount

• $400 minimum
• $4,731 maximum

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants are awarded on the basis of financial need and do not have to be repaid. They are provided by the federal government and are awarded to students who demonstrate the greatest financial need and have completed their financial aid application by the published deadlines.

Who May Apply

• All full-time and half-time undergraduate students in a degree program
• U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens

How To Apply

• File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

How Awards Are Determined

• Based on financial eligibility

Award Amounts

• Annual amounts depend on financial need and other aid received

Priority Filing Deadline

• Your file must be complete by the published priority deadlines

Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)

This is a new federal grant provided to students who meet the following eligibility criteria:

• U.S. citizens
• Recipient of a Federal Pell Grant
• Completed a rigorous high school curriculum
• In their first or second year of post-secondary school
• Enrolled full-time (12 units)
• Have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average

National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant

The SMART grant is provided to students who meet the following eligibility criteria:

• U.S. citizens
• Recipient of a Federal Pell Grant
• In their third or fourth year of undergraduate study pursuing a degree in math, science, technology or certain foreign languages and be enrolled in at least one course per quarter for that major
• Enrolled full-time (12 units)
• Have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average for each quarter.

The grant is up to $4,000 and students may receive a maximum of two years.