Grants are monies for students who attend college or career school that students generally do not have to pay back.
Examples of grants: CAL Grants, Pell Grant, Chaffee Grant
CAL GRANTS are specifically for California students attending college/universities in California.
Cal Grant A
Will help pay for tuition and fees at four-year colleges award amounts vary by type of college. It has a GPA requirement. If you’re applying using your high school GPA, you must have at least a 3.0 GPA; if applying using your college GPA, you must have at least a 2.4 GPA
It requires that your course of study leads directly to an associate or bachelor’s degree, or qualifies you for transfer from a community college to a bachelor’s degree program
Cal Grant B
Provides a living allowance of up to $1,672, in addition to tuition and fee assistance after the first year, at a two- or four-year college
It pays most first-year students a living allowance only, which may be used to pay living expenses, books, supplies and transportation, as well as tuition and fees
When renewed or awarded beyond your first year, you’ll receive the living allowance as well as a tuition and fee award (up to $12,570 at a UC campus, up to $5,742 at a CSU campus and up to $9,084 at independent colleges for 2018-2019)
It requires at least a 2.0 GPA
Cal Grant C
Assists with the costs of a technical or career education
It 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)
It 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.
CAL Grant GPA's have been uploaded to CSAC for all seniors in the Sweetwater Union HS District during the first semester of senior year.
- CAL Grant GPA -- A high school GPA is calculated on a 4.00 scale computed to two decimal places, rounded to the nearest hundredth. The high school GPA must include all coursework for the sophomore year, the summer following the sophomore year, the junior year, and the summer following the junior year.
PELL Grants
The Pell Grant is the largest federal grant program offered to undergraduates and is designed to assist students from low-income households. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid, except under certain circumstances. To qualify for a Pell Grant, a student must demonstrate financial need through the Free Application for Federal Student Financial Aid (FAFSA®) form.
CHAFEE Grant
If you are or were in foster care for at least one day, between the ages of 16 and 18 as a dependent or ward of the court and have financial need, you may qualify for up to $5,000 a year for career and technical training or college. You don’t have to pay this money back. You may also be able to use your grant to help pay for child care, transportation and rent while you’re in school. You can use your Chafee Grant at any eligible California college or university or career or technical school, as well as schools in other states.
