Cal Grants
To qualify for a Cal Grant, you must:
- not be in default on any student loan
- be a U.S. citizen, eligible non-citizen, or permanent resident
- be a California resident attending an eligible school or college in the state
- be making satisfactory academic progress (full-time)
- be in a program leading to an undergraduate degree
- not have a bachelor's degree before receiving a Cal Grant
- not owe a refund on any state or federal grant or have defaulted student loans
- have met U.S. Selective Service requirements
- have a valid Social Security Number
Please note the state deadline of March 2. Selection is based on financial need and the grades received in the sophomore and junior years of high school only. A minimum high school GPA of 3.0 is usually required for eligibility. Financial need is defined by the income ceilings listed below.
For more information on applying for Cal Grants, please visit CalGrants.org.
2008-2009 Income and Asset Information
| Maximum Income | Cal Grant A | Cal Grant B |
|---|---|---|
| Dependent students and independent students with dependents other than a spouse: | ||
| Family size: 2 | $68,700 | $32,100 |
| Family size: 3 | $70,300 | $36,100 |
| Family size: 4 | $76,400 | $40,200 |
| Family size: 5 | $81,900 | $44,900 |
| Family size: 6+ | $88,300 | $48,500 |
| Independent students: | ||
| Single, no dependents | $28,000 | $28,000 |
| Married, no other dependents | $32,100 | $32,100 |
| Maximum Assets | Cal Grant A | Cal Grant B |
|---|---|---|
| Dependent students | $59,100 | $59,100 |
| Independent students | $28,100 | $28,100 |
** More information from the California Student Aid Commission **
Applying for a Cal Grant
To apply for a Cal Grant, an applicant must complete a FAFSA and a GPA Verification Form by March 2. The FAFSA is also used to apply for nearly all other forms of financial aid at CLU, including the Pell Grant and Federal student loans. Cal Grant applicants must meet the March 2 filing deadline. Due to the high volume of Cal Grant applicants, consideration is not given to persons who do not meet the filing deadline or who submit incomplete applications. Please note: Some schools may submit GPA verifications electronically.
The FAFSA and the GPA Verification Form must be submitted by March 2. The GPA Verification Form is available at any California high school counseling office or by calling (916) 526-7590. Please note that the Federal FAFSA and the State GPA Verification Form are to be mailed to different addresses.
CLU recommends that applicants photocopy all records submitted by mail. It is further advisable that applicants obtain a US Postal Service Certificate of Mailing when mailing both the FAFSA and GPA Verification form.
Follow-up on the applications after submission is very important. If an applicant does not receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) within four weeks after submitting the FAFSA, they can call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at (800) 433-3243.
After sending the GPA Verification Form, an applicant may call the California Student Aid Commission at (916) 526-7590 to verify their GPA Verification was received. The actual selection of Cal Grant recipients is held in April.
