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Cal Grant

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What is Cal Grant?

Cal Grant is a grant from the state of California intended to help students with tuition, costs associated with college and living expenses. There are three types of Cal Grants: A,B and C.

Cal Grants A, B, and C are for undergraduate students who meet the financial, academic, and eligibility requirements, and apply on time. Awards may be used only at qualifying colleges in California and do not need to be paid back.

Intended Recipients

Cal Grant A

Is intended for students in a four-year program (our Bachelor degree students may be eligible).

  • If a Community College student is awarded, the award will be held in reserve up to two academic years until the student transfers
  • Former Foster Youth and Students with Dependents may still receive Cal grant A at a Community College
  • Students who are offered the Cal Grant A but decide to attend a California Community College first can hold onto the grant for up to two years until they transfer to a four-year college, as long as they still qualify financially. If your Cal Grant A is on hold, you can activate it whenever you want. If you list a community college before a four-year college on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA), it will be seen as your first choice. The Cal Grant A will be reserved for your first year unless you transfer to a college that charges tuition and ask to use it. When you transfer, make sure to inform your new school about your reserved grant. Students entering MiraCosta's Biomanufacturing Bachelor's Degree Program can use their Cal Grant A.

Cal Grant B

Is intended for Community College students and four-year university students.

  • If you plan on transferring, your Cal Grant B can be used at your four-year university to help pay for tuition and fees.

Cal Grant C

Is intended for students in an occupational or technical certificate program of at least 4 months in length.

Cal Grant Amounts

Cal Grant A

Community College (our Bachelor’s program)
Covers $84/unit

Cal Grant B

Enrollment Status Semester Amount Year Amount
Full time (12+ units) $828 $1,656
Three quarter time (9-11.5 units) $621 $1,242
Half time (6-8.5 units) $414 $824

Cal Grant C

Enrollment Status Semester Amount Year Amount
Full time (12+ units) $547 $1,094
Three quarter time (9-11.5 units) $410 $820
Half time (6-8.5 units) $414 $824

Cal Grant for Student with Dependents (SWD) & Former Foster Youth

Enrollment Status Cal Grant A Cal Grant B (year amount) Cal Grant C (year amount)
Full time (12+ units) $6,000 $6,000 $4,000
Three quarter time (9-11.5 units) $2,250 $2,250 $1,500
Half time (6-8.5 units) $1,500 $1,500 $1,000

Each of the Cal Grant amounts may be a higher if the student reported that they have dependents (Students with Dependents) or are Former Foster Youth on their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA). To qualify for the Student with Dependents (SWD) portion, the student must have dependent children that are under 18 years of age for whom they provide more than half of their financial support during the academic year. The Former Foster Youth recipients are determined by CSAC based on the Former Foster Youth question on FAFSA or CADAA and then verified through the Dept. of Social Services.

Cal Grant Requirements

You must be enrolled at least half-time to receive the Cal Grant awards. All students may apply for Cal Grants A, B, and C by filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA), and having their GPA submitted to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) no later than the deadline of March 2 for the upcoming school year. If you are in high school, you may complete your FAFSA/CADAA in your senior year.

Cal Grant A

  • Will help pay for tuition and fees at a four-year college
  • Must have a 3.0 GPA if transferring from High School OR a 2.4 GPA if transferring from a community college.
  • Must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 units.

Cal Grant B

  • Requires at least a 2.0 GPA.
  • Must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 units.

Cal Grant C

  • Assists with costs from a technical or career education.
  • Is available for students for up to two years.
  • Must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 units.
  • No GPA requirement

What is the state priority deadline?

The grants referenced on this page are available for California residents or AB540-eligible students. The grants are limited so they give priority to students who submit their applications by the state priority deadline, March 2 of each year. Students will have the best chance of receiving state grants if they submit their FAFSA or CADAA by the March 2 deadline. Community College Students have a second chance to receive state grants if they submit their FAFSA or CADAA by September 2nd. However, by this point, most state grants have been allocated to students who applied by March 2.

Deadlines

School Year All CA residents / AB 540 eligible students CA residents / Ab 540 eligible Community College Students Only
2024-2025 May 2, 2024 September 2, 2024
2025-2026 Anticipated: March 2, 2025 September 2, 2025

Can students apply after the deadline?

Students can complete their FAFSA or CADAA through the last day of the school year, June 31 each year, or before the last day they are attending for the school year. Students may not receive the Cal Grant awards if applied after the priority deadline but may still be eligible for other types of financial aid.

What are the other state grants?

Students must qualify for a Cal Grant in order to be eligible for the the following state grants (this does not include CCPG or Promise). If a student qualifies for a Cal Grant B or C at a community college, then they may qualify for the following state grants.

Student Success Completion Grant

The Student Success Completion Grant is a grant that is intended to help students who enroll in 12 units or more complete their educational goals as quickly as possible. Please see enrollment requirements and amounts below:

Enrollment Semester Award Amount Year Award Amount
12-14.5 units $1,298 $2,596
15+ units $4,000 $8,000
Former Foster Youth $5,250 (any enrollment over 12 units) $10,500 (any enrollment over 12 units)

Dream Act Service Incentive Grant

The California Dream Act Service Incentive Grant Program (DSIG) allows California Dream Act Application (CADAA) applicants who are eligible for Cal Grant A,B, or C to receive grants for performing community or volunteer service! Students must perform 150 service hours anytime between July 1 through June 30 of the academic year. Students must volunteer at an approved Service Organization.

Amounts

Students can receive up to $4,500 per academic year (up to $2,250 per semester). The grant will be available to students for up to 8 semesters or up to 12 quarters while they have an active Cal Grant A or B award.

Students must apply to participate in the Dream Act Service Incentive Grant (DSIG) program. Students can reach out to the Financial Aif Office to start the application process. For more information, visit MiraCosta’s Resources for Undocumented Students.

Middle Class Scholarships

This award is only for students that are in MiraCosta’s Biomanufacturing Bachelor’s degree program. If you have questions about this program, contact the Financial Aid Office.

How do students qualify?

  • Apply by the state priority deadline
    • Meet the GPA requirement by the deadline.
    • Cal Grant A
      • HS: 3.0
      • College: 2.4
    • Cal Grant B
      • 2.0
  • Qualify based on income and assets.
  • Exhaustive list of eligibility requirements here

For more information, see here: https://www.csac.ca.gov/middle-class-scholarship

Cal-HBCU Transfer Grant Program

The Cal-HBCU Transfer Grant (Cal-HBCU) Program awards up to $5,000 to participating students who transfer from California Community Colleges to eligible, partnered four-year Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

In order to be eligible for this program students must:

  • Be a California community college student who has earned an Associate’s Degree for Transfer (ADT).
  • Demonstrate unmet need by completing the FAFSA or CADAA.
  • Intend to return to California after graduating with the partnered HBCU.
  • Be enrolled in or plan to enroll at an eligible HBCU. List of eligible HBCUs.

For more information, see here: https://www.csac.ca.gov/cal-hbcu-transfer-grant-program

How and when will students know if they were awarded a Cal Grant?

The Financial Aid Office anticipates adding Cal Grant awards to students awards in Surf and on their offer letter (sent via email) around late May/early June each year and then again after the September 2 deadline.

Students can view their preliminary Cal Grant awards even before MCC posts their awards by logging into their WebGrants for Students account.

GPA Verification

All students are required to have their GPA submitted to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) by the state priority deadline.

Most students will automatically have their GPAs verified by your high school or college. You can check if your GPA has been verified on your Webgrants for Students account.

If you fall into one of the first two categories below, MiraCosta College will submit your verified GPA electronically to the California Student Aid Commission. You do not need fill out the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form.

  • MiraCosta College Only GPA
    Completed 24.0 units or more degree-applicable units at MiraCosta College.
  • MiraCosta College Only Re-established GPA
    Completed between 16.0 and 23.5 degree-applicable units at MiraCosta College.
  • High School Only GPA
    Completed fewer than 24.0 degree-applicable college units. Obtain a GPA Verification form and submit the form to your high school for verification. You may also qualify to have your GPA sent electronically under category 2. Verify with your high school that your GPA has been submitted.

Other College Course Work GPA

If you need to include other college coursework to meet the minimum 24.0 degree-applicable units (or a re-established GPA, if you have completed between 16.0 and 23.5 degree-applicable units at a California Community College), complete the MiraCosta College Cal Grant Verification and the Cal Grant GPA Verification form. Submit both forms to the Admissions and Records Office. Processing time is five (5) working days.

Cal Grant Forms