# Cal Grant Program

Cal Grant is California's largest college financial aid program, awarding up to $16,000 per year to California residents attending in-state colleges. Over 100,000 new awards granted annually — every eligible applicant is guaranteed an award.

## Key facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Organization | California Student Aid Commission |
| Category | other |
| Cost | Free |
| Deadline | 2027-03-02 (verified 2026-07-05) |
| Eligibility | Grade 12 |
| Format | In person |
| Location | CA |
| Apply | https://www.csac.ca.gov/cal-grant |

## About this program

## About the Cal Grant Program

Cal Grant is California's primary state-funded financial aid program, providing grants to California students attending in-state colleges and universities. Unlike many scholarships, Cal Grant awards are entitlements — every student who meets the eligibility requirements is guaranteed to receive funding.

### Award Details

- **Cal Grant A**: Up to $16,000/year (4-year universities)
- **Cal Grant B**: Up to $1,648 access award + tuition/fees (first year, then higher)
- **Cal Grant C**: Up to $2,462/year for vocational/technical programs
- **Application Deadline**: March 2 annually (National priority deadline)
- **Application**: Via FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application

### Eligibility Requirements

- California resident for at least 1 year
- Applying to or attending an eligible California college, university, or vocational school
- U.S. citizen, eligible non-citizen, or CA AB 540 student (undocumented)
- Meet income and asset ceilings (varies by award type)
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress
- For Cal Grant A: Minimum 3.0 GPA (2.0 for students with financial need below a threshold)
- For Cal Grant B: Minimum 2.0 GPA

### How to Apply

1. Complete the FAFSA (fafsa.gov) or CA Dream Act Application (dream.csac.ca.gov) by March 2
2. Submit a verified GPA to CSAC (most high schools submit directly to CSAC)
3. No separate scholarship application needed

The Cal Grant is automatically considered when students complete financial aid forms by the deadline.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does Cal Grant Program cost?

Cal Grant Program is completely free — there is no participation fee. Costs like travel or optional materials may still apply; check the official site for details.

### What is the application deadline for Cal Grant Program?

The application deadline is March 2, 2027 (deadline last verified July 5, 2026). Always confirm on the program's official site, as dates can shift between cycles.

### Who is eligible for Cal Grant Program?

Cal Grant Program is open to high school seniors. Some programs have additional requirements (GPA, coursework, essays, or recommendations) — the full criteria are on the official site.

### Is Cal Grant Program online or in person?

Cal Grant Program is an in-person program based in CA.

### How do I apply to Cal Grant Program?

Apply directly through California Student Aid Commission's official website. ExtracurricularHub links to the official application — we list and verify programs but don't process applications.

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Last updated: 2026-07-05.
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