California is known widely for having a variety of everything. When it comes to state scholarships and grants they seem to continue the trend. There is basically something for everyone which is great because Financial Aid is a must no matter where you plan to attend college. Not too many individuals can fork out the outrageous tuition fees and cost of text books without help from someone or some organization. So what does California have to offer those native to their state? They offer a program which is open to all California students; it’s called the Cal Grant.
So what exactly is the Cal Grant? The Cal Grant is a tuition program that actually offers different levels or options to students. That’s a change, a program that grants money, but with options that fit the needs of the student. What’s ever more amazing is that if you meet the requirements for a Cal Grant, the money is guaranteed. The concept is unique, but one that seems to work just fine for California. They differentiate their grants on an A, B, and C system.
Cal Grant A offers tuition grants to students attending local California schools, universities, and even grants money to those attending private universities within the state. The catch to Cal Grant A is that in order to be eligible an individual needs to be enrolled in a four year degree program. Cal Grant B is awarded in increments to those students that are facing financial hardship. This program pays for partial costs and after a successful semester these students will become eligible for Cal Grant A. Cal Grant C is for those individuals seeking a vocational degree or academic accomplishment from a community college. There are even Cal Grants available for those who don’t necessarily qualify within the first three areas. Another catch is that to qualify for the Cal Grant the attended colleges need to be within the state of California.
As with any scholarship or grant program there are certain requirements in order to be eligible for any benefits through the Cal Grants. As with many other grants that don’t require repayment you need to complete a FASFA in order to apply for this opportunity. What sets this Grant apart from any others is that you can apply within a year after you graduate to still be eligible. This means that those who wish to take a year off for whatever reason won’t lose their chance at a Cal Grant. They recognize that not everyone hops on the college band wagon right after high school; many wish to explore the world or take some time to gather themselves before the next step in their life.
