Cal Grant A Competitive Award

Awarded By:

California Student Aid Commission

Number of Awards & Eligibility: Up to 22,500 awards offered annually.

Description: This award is for U.S. undergraduate students who are residents of California and are planning to or currently attending an eligible college or university in the state of California. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and must meet certain family income and asset requirements as set by the state of California.

Application requirements for the Cal Grant A Competitive Award are:

• Verified Grade Point Average form
• FAFSA

Additional Information: The Cal Grant is a state grant program, administered by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC), which assist low and middle-income students with tuition/fee costs. There are two Cal Grant A awards: Entitlement and Competitive. There is also a Cal Grant A award for students transferring from a California Community College to a four-year college. Students who are not eligible for a Cal Grant A or B Entitlement award may compete for a Cal Grant A or B Competitive award. Cal Grant Competitive awards are the same as a Cal Grant Entitlement awards, except that they are not guaranteed. Students must demonstrate financial need and meet the income and asset ceilings established by the state Commission. Financial need is determined using the following formula: Cost of attendance minus Expected Family Contribution minus Veteran's benefits (if applicable). The student's calculated need amount must be equal to or greater than the established maximum award amount plus $1,500. For additional information about the income and asset ceilings, students should visit the CSAC website or contact his/her college financial aid office. Scholarship eligibility and actual Cal Grant award amount will be determined by the college or university. In addition to meeting the program requirements, student must also: have registered with the U.S. Selective Service, if required to do so; not owe a refund on any state or federal grant; not be in default on any student loan; and not have yet earned a bachelor's or professional degree.

Award Amount: Award amounts for the current academic year are for up to $5,472 at California State University campuses, $12,192 at University of California campuses, and $9,708 at independent or private colleges. Awards are renewable for up to the equivalent of four years of full-time grant payments  The total dollars awarded for this scholarship is $15,000.