Janice Lozano
The Cal Grant is a California-specific financial aid allocation that does not need to be repaid. It is administered by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) and is available to students pursuing an undergraduate degree or vocational or career training. To be eligible for a Cal Grant, applicants must be U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens or meet AB540 eligibility criteria. They must also submit a high school GPA, FASFA or CADAA, and a GPA Verification Form by the deadline. So, can international students apply for the Cal Grant?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Applicant's Citizenship Status | U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen or meet AB540 eligibility criteria |
| Applicant's Residency Status | California resident |
| Applicant's Academic Status | Current high school senior or recent high school graduate |
| Applicant's Academic Progress | Satisfactory Academic Progress standards as established by the school |
| Applicant's Financial Status | Middle or low-income |
| Applicant's Gender | Male applicants aged 18-25 must register with the Selective Service System (SSS) |
| Applicant's Prior Degree | No prior bachelor's degree |
| Applicant's Age | Under 26 years of age (for Cal Grant B Foster Youth award) |
| Applicant's Family Circumstances | Loss of employment or illness |
| Applicant's Submission | FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application, GPA Verification Form, Cal Grant GPA by the deadline |
| Applicant's Enrollment Status | Enrolled at a California Community College (CCC) |
| Applicant's Institution | Qualifying institution |
| Applicant's Volunteer Service Hours | Minimum of 100 hours per quarter of community or volunteer service |
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What You'll Learn
Who is eligible for a Cal Grant?
The Cal Grant is a California-specific financial aid allocation that does not need to be paid back. There are three types of Cal Grants: A, B, and C. Your eligibility is determined by your FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application responses, your verified Cal Grant GPA, the type of California colleges you list on your application, and whether you're a recent high school graduate.
Cal Grants are for students pursuing an undergraduate degree or vocational or career training. Applicants must be enrolled at a University of California, California State University, California Community College, or a qualifying independent or career college or technical school in California.
To be eligible for a Cal Grant, applicants must meet the financial criteria and submit the FAFSA or Dream Act application and their verified Cal Grant GPA by the April 2nd deadline. Students must also maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress standards as established by the school. Failure to do so will result in ineligibility for Cal Grant payment.
The Cal Grant Community College Entitlement Award is for students attending a California Community College. Applicants must submit a FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application, a verified Cal Grant GPA, and be enrolled at a California Community College. The Cal Grant High School Entitlement Award is for current high school seniors and recent high school graduates. Applicants must submit a high school GPA, FAFSA, or CADAA to the California Student Aid Commission by April 2nd.
The Cal Grant B Foster Youth award allows current and former foster youth to be eligible for increased Cal Grant eligibility. Foster youth have until their 26th birthday to apply. The Cal Grant C program provides financial support to students pursuing an occupational or technical program. Students must apply for FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application and meet certain income, asset, and other financial aid standards to attend college.
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What are the requirements?
To be eligible for a Cal Grant, applicants must meet the following requirements:
Citizenship and residency
To be eligible for a Cal Grant, applicants must be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen or meet AB540 eligibility criteria. California residents who apply for financial aid are expected to apply for a Cal Grant.
Academic requirements
Applicants must submit a high school GPA, FAFSA or CADAA to the California Student Aid Commission by April 2nd. The minimum GPA requirement is 2.4. Students must also maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress standards as established by the school.
Financial requirements
The Cal Grant program is designed to make college affordable for middle and low-income Californians. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and meet family income and asset ceilings. The minimum financial need for a Cal Grant A is $14,070 (2021-2022 cohort), $14,604 (2022-2023 cohort), $15,252 (2023-2024 cohort), $15,936 (2024-2025 cohort) and $16,434 (2025-2026 cohort).
Type of degree
Cal Grants are for students who are pursuing an undergraduate degree or vocational or career training.
Type of educational institution
Students must be enrolled at a University of California, California State University, California Community College, or qualifying independent and career colleges or technical schools in California.
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What is the deadline for applications?
The deadline for submitting a Cal Grant application is April 2. Applicants must submit a high school GPA, FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), or CADAA (California Dream Act Application) to the California Student Aid Commission by this date.
The Cal Grant is a California-specific financial aid allocation that does not need to be paid back. Grants are for students attending Universities of California, California State Universities, California Community Colleges, or qualifying independent and career colleges or technical schools in California. There are three types of Cal Grants: A, B, and C. Your eligibility will be determined by your FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application responses, your verified Cal Grant GPA, the type of California colleges you list on your application, and whether you're a recent high school graduate.
The deadline for CA community college students to apply is September 2. It is important to note that some colleges have earlier deadlines, so applicants are advised to check the requirements for each college they are interested in.
Additionally, the Cal Grant B Foster Youth award allows current and former foster youth to be eligible for increased Cal Grant eligibility. Foster youth have until their 26th birthday to apply.
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How to apply for a Cal Grant
To apply for a Cal Grant, you must be a student pursuing an undergraduate degree or vocational or career training. Cal Grants are California-specific financial aid allocations that do not need to be paid back.
There are three types of Cal Grants: A, B, and C. To apply, you must submit a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or CA Dream Act Application, depending on your citizenship status. The CA Dream Act Application is for non-citizens applying for High School Entitlement Cal Grant A and B awards, Community College Transfer Entitlement A and B awards, and Cal Grant C. The Dream Application is also used for institutional Dream Act financial aid and California Community Colleges Board of Governors Fee Waiver (BOG fee waiver).
The deadline to submit your FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application and your verified Cal Grant GPA is April 2nd. You must also submit a GPA Verification form directly to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) by March 3. You can access the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form from the CSAC website.
It is important to note that you must re-apply for the Cal Grant each year by submitting your Financial Aid Application, demonstrating financial need, and meeting family income and asset ceilings.
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What is the GPA requirement?
The GPA requirement for the Cal Grant depends on whether you are applying using your high school GPA or college GPA. If you are applying using your high school GPA, you must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA. If you are applying with your college GPA, you must have at least a 2.4 GPA.
The Cal Grant C does not require a GPA, but applicants are encouraged to submit their GPA as it can increase their chances of receiving an award.
The Cal Grant is a California-specific financial aid allocation that does not need to be paid back. There are three types of Cal Grants: A, B, and C. Your eligibility for a Cal Grant is based on your FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application responses, your verified Cal Grant GPA, the type of California colleges you list on your application, and whether you are a recent high school graduate.
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Frequently asked questions
Only U.S. citizens, eligible noncitizens, or those who meet AB540 eligibility criteria can apply for the Cal Grant.
Applicants must submit a high school GPA, FASFA or CADAA to the California Student Aid Commission by April 2. Students must also be enrolled at a California Community College.
There are three types of Cal Grants: A, B, and C. Cal Grant A's minimum financial need is $16,434 for the 2025-2026 cohort. Cal Grant B provides awards to current and former foster youth. Cal Grant C is for students pursuing an occupational or technical program.
