Getting College Aid from Your Local State Government
California Scholarship and Grant Selections
Those Californians are always taking individuality into consideration, even when it comes to their state-funded scholarships and grants. The Cal Grants program is designed around a suite of enticing grant options that pretty much provide something for everyone. The program is open to all California students and money is available for all who qualify.
Not only does the Cal Grant program award appropriate levels of tuition funds, but the program is flexible enough to allow students more individual choices in deciding when it's right to actually do the college thing. For example, Cal Grants are available a year out from high school graduation, leaving plenty of space for roaming and soul-searching before buckling down into a college program. And students who do not have the traditional high school diploma can qualify for Cal Grants simply by sending records of ACT or SAT scores to the California Student Aid Commission. Are you well past high school graduation? You may still qualify for a Cal Grant.
- Cal Grant A offers valuable tuition grants for students attending programs at either California State University system schools or University of California schools. Students choosing to attend private colleges may qualify for awards up to $8000. Eligible candidates must be enrolled in a four-year degree program.
- Cal Grant B is disbursed incrementally and is designed for economically disadvantaged students. The initial grant covers some tuition and nominal fees such as books and other college expenses. After the first year, successful recipients are eligible to receive similar tuition funds to the Cal Grant A program.
- Cal Grant C is designed to assist those students actively pursuing a vocational or community college degree or certificate program. A minimum $575 covers books and other expenses and qualified candidates may receive another $2500 for tuition.
- Cal Grant A Competitive Awards are disbursed on a need basis and to students with a maintained GPA of 3.0 or higher. Students qualifying for this grant option must be enrolled in a 2 or 4-year program.
- Cal Grant B Competitive Awards are administered to only the most economically disadvantaged students. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required and enrollment in at least a 1-year program.
Read more about the Cal Grant program from the California Student Aid Commission website.
University of California - Berkeley Scholarships
The University of California at Berkeley is one of the most renowned state universities in the country. Their scholarships offer hundreds of students valuable monetary assistance each academic year.
The California Alumni Association Scholarships are one of the most widely disbursed programs among undergraduate students. The program is awarded in two areas:
- Leadership Awards are solely merit-based and offered to freshman and transfer students who show immediate aptitude for leadership. Awards may be up to $2500 per academic year.
- Achievement Awards are given to the most financially needy students with most preference given to those from very disadvantaged backgrounds. The more challenges a student has had to overcome, the more well positioned they are to receive this award. Up to $5700 awarded each academic year.
Cal Bears Scholarship is both merit and need-based and thousands of students qualify annually for even a minimal award.
Cal Opportunity Scholarship is designed to offer the most disadvantaged students a chance to make it into one of the country's best schools. Applicants must be from one of the "partner high schools" which are located in these school districts: San Francisco, West Contra Costa, Oakland Unified, and Ravenswood. There an application process, as well as a faculty interview.
Regent's and Chancellor's Scholarships are merit-based and doled out to a few hundred deserving undergraduates each academic year.
California State University - Los Angeles
Cal State Scholarships are awarded through each College or on-campus department. These include the College of Arts and Letters, Charter College of Education and the College of Natural and Social Sciences. Awards generally range between $100 and $5000 and are typically merit-based.
