Applying for the CAL Grant

When you want to get a college degree but cannot do so because of limited budget, you may want to utilize the option of asking for a grant.

Luckily, a number of financial aid programs are available today to help you finance your educational pursuits and one great option is to apply for Cal Grants.

A Cal Grant is one of the very best ways of pursuing your college education; it helps you get cash and allows you to keep your full attention on your studies.

The best thing about a CAL grant is that you don’t have to repay this money if you have met the requirements to get the grant in the first place. In all, you have to meet certain financial, academic, and eligibility requirements and submit your forms within the Cal Grant deadline.

Eligibility Criteria:

If you are interested in making use of this particular option, you should first start by obtaining information about the eligibility criteria.

You can qualify for this grant if you’re a California resident who is graduating high school as a senior or you just received your GED or you are a recent graduate, however some financial and academic requirements are also in place for you to meet.

To be eligible, you must:

• You need to submit your application within the deadline; it also includes the submission of your Cal Grant GPA (verified) as well as the FAFSA.
• Ensure that you are a permanent United States citizen, or at least fall in the category of eligible non-citizen.
• Live in California at the time of graduating from high school.
• Have a valid Social Security Number.
• Not own a professional or bachelor’s degree.
• Be able to prove that you are from low-income group and your family income is below the pre-established ceiling.

These are some of the major requirements, but you should bear in mind that you also need to meet several other academic, financial and Cal Grant eligibility requirements.

So, don’t forget to do some research in this regard, as this will help you proceed.

How to Apply for your Cal Grant:

When applying for the CAL grant, you may choose one out of four ways.

• You can apply for it within a year of completing your graduation. What it means is that you don’t have let go of the opportunity for a Cal Grant even if you need to go to work before going to college.
• You may also apply for it as a community college transfer student; however you should be less than 28 years old at the time of applying.
• You can also apply if you are a high school senior.
• If you have received your GED less than a year ago, you can still apply for this grant as well.

Once decided if you are eligible to apply based on the above criteria, the next thing is to follow the proper procedures to submit your Cal Grant application.

It starts with the submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid; but that needs to be within the deadline, between Jan 1 and Sep 2.

Then you have to submit your verified Cal Grant GPA. Your application will be reviewed and checked for all above mentioned eligibility criteria.

As a convenience, you can fill out the forms using the internet to save you the time it takes to fill out paper applications. If you meet them all, it is likely you will be approved and the money will be with within reach.

Picking the Right Cal Grant:

With a number of options available, it is important for you to determine the right Cal Grant for you. Here are a few different options for you to consider.

• Cal Grant A: You can use these entitlement awards to cover your tuition fees at private as well as public colleges; it can be used for some private career colleges as well. When attending a private college, you may expect to get $9,708 to cover your tuition and other fees, but you should be going for a 2-year or 4-year degree program.
• Cal Grant B: These entitlement awards help low-income students get a living allowance and some level of assistance with their college tuition fees. First year students can expect to receive an allowance of around $1,551. To be considered eligible for this award, you need to be studying for at least one academic year.
• Cal Grant C: These particular awards are to help you pay for tuition as well as training costs at career technical schools. You need to enroll yourself into a vocational program to qualify for this award; make sure you go for a 4-month program.

In addition to these basic types of grants, you can also find some other competitive awards according to your circumstances and academic record.

It’s Your Future: Go For It!

The fact of the matter is that Cal Grants will help you pay for your college education and you can get $12,192 a year, or even more.

Just be sure that you follow all instructions and check different requirements along with eligibility criteria to qualify for one of these entitlement awards.

The more you research, the higher the chances of you finding a right financial aid grant. A college education is your ticket to a better life, with higher earning potential and more stable employment options.

With a little hard work and the help of Cal grant, you could one day be walking across the stage to accept your diploma, and best of all, you won’t have thousands of dollars in student loans to pay back if you obtain a Cal grant!