• What Does California Offer?

    1. CAL GRANT A:  Cal Grant A assists 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 Entitlement award, every graduating high school senior who has at least a 3.0 GPA, meets the family income and asset requirements, and applies by March 2 receive an award.  Other eligible students may compete for a Cal Grant A Competitive award that is based on academic achievement and financial need. New awards can range from $3,500 at UC and $1,500 at CSU campuses and up to $10,000 at independent and proprietary schools.
    2. CAL GRANT B:  Cal Grant B provides a living allowance and tuition and fee assistance for very low-income, first time freshmen.  Awards for 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.  For the Cal Grant B Entitlement award every graduating high school senior who has at least a 2.0 GPA, meets the family income and asset requirements, and applies by March 2nd will receive an award.  Selection is based on family's income, parent's education level, grade point average, time out of high school, whether or not you come from a single-parent household, and your high school's performance standards and resources.  Other eligible students may compete for a Cal Grant B Competitive award that is based on academic achievement and financial need.     
    3. CAL GRANT C:  Cal Grant C assists students in occupational or career training programs with tuition and training costs.  The Cal Grant C award (approximately $500) is for books, tools, and equipment.  If you are attending a school other than a California community college you may also receive up to $2,500 in tuition assistance.  To qualify you must be enrolled in a vocational program which is at least four months long.
    4. CAL GRANT T:  Cal Grant T awards cover one year of tuition and fees for a program of professional teacher preparation.  Recipients must teach one year at a low-performing school for each $2,000 in grant money received, for up to four years.  To qualify you must plan to attend a program of professional teacher preparation at a school approved by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.  If you don't provide the teaching service, you must repay the award.  Awards can range from $1,500 at CSU campuses, $3,500 at UC's , and $10,000 at independent colleges.
    5. CHILD DEVELOPMENT TEACHER GRANTS:  Child Development Teacher Grants are for students attending a California public or private two or four-year post secondary institution who plan to teach or supervise at a licensed children's center.  Up to 100 new grants, renewable for an additional year, are awarded each year.  Participants enrolled at a two-year college may receive an annual $1,000 grant for up to two years; those enrolled at a four-year college may receive an annual $2,000 grant for up to two years.
    6. GOVERNOR'S MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS:  The Governor's Merit Scholarships are based on academic achievement, regardless of financial need.  If you are a public high school student in the 9th, 10th, and 11th grade and receive a high score on the STAR exam you can earn a $1,000 college scholarship.  The awards are for students scoring in the top 5% of test-takers statewide in their grade level and in the top 10% of their grade level at their school on the math and reading portions.  You can earn only one $1,000 award each year, up to $3,000 for the three years.  Under the Governor's Distinguished Math and Science Scholars Program, you can also earn a $2,500 college scholarship if you receive high-test scores on Advanced Placement math or science exams and the state achievement test.  For more information see your high school counselor.