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Financial Aid Programs - California Student Aid Commission

Financial Aid Programs - California Student Aid Commission

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California students meeting income and GPA requirements; specific programs for foster youth, middle class families, military members, and aspiring teachers
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California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) runs the state's main college aid programs: Cal Grant A/B/C (up to $12,570/yr at UC), Middle Class Scholarship (income up to $250K), Chafee Grant for foster youth ($5,000/yr), and Golden State Teacher Grant (up to $20,000). File FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application by March 2, 2026 for 2026-27.
Value
Cal Grant A: up to $12,570/yr (UC), $9,708 (private nonprofit), $5,742 (CSU). Cal Grant B: tuition + $1,656 access award. Chafee Grant: $5,000/yr for foster youth. Middle Class Scholarship: family income up to $250,000. Golden State Teacher Grant: up to $20,000 with 4-year teaching commitment. Extra $6,000/yr if you have dependent children.
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https://www.csac.ca.gov/financial-aid-programs
Last verified 2026-05-17. Official source: csac.ca.gov/financial-aid-programs
The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) runs the state's main financial aid programs for college. Most are grants — you don't pay them back. To get any of them, you almost always start by filing the FAFSA (or the CA Dream Act Application if you're undocumented or AB 540 eligible).

The deadline that matters most: March 2, 2026

For the 2026-27 school year, you need to submit:
  1. The FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application, and
  1. A school-certified GPA (your high school or college sends this)
…by March 2, 2026 (postmark date) to qualify for most Cal Grants. If you're going to a California community college, you have a second chance: September 2, 2026 [Source: csac.ca.gov/post/important-dates-and-deadlines (accessed 2026-05-17)].

Cal Grant — the main program

Cal Grants are free money for tuition at California colleges. There are three types:

Cal Grant A — for tuition and fees

For students with a strong academic record (minimum 3.0 GPA) at a four-year college.
2026-27 maximum awards by school type:
  • UC campus: up to $12,570/year
  • CSU campus: up to $5,742/year
  • Private nonprofit (AICCU): up to $9,708/year
  • Private for-profit: up to $4,000/year

Cal Grant B — tuition plus a living stipend

For students from lower-income families (minimum 2.0 GPA). First year is a $1,656 access award (for books, transportation, food). Years 2-4 add tuition at the same rates as Cal Grant A, plus the $1,656 stipend.

Cal Grant C — for career and technical programs

For students in vocational programs at community colleges, trade schools, or career institutions (minimum 2.0 GPA). Pays up to $2,462/year for tuition and $547/year for books, tools, and equipment. Maximum 2 years.
[Source: collegeaidguide.com/cal-grant (accessed 2026-05-17)]

Income limits

Cal Grant A income ceilings range from about $59,100 (family of 2) to $85,200 (family of 6+). Cal Grant B has lower ceilings (roughly $28,000 to $46,300). Exact numbers are in the 2026-27 Income and Asset Ceilings PDF.

Extra money for students with kids

If you have dependent children and qualify for Cal Grant A or B, you can get an extra $6,000/year through the Students with Dependent Children Access Award. Foster youth get a separate access award too.

Middle Class Scholarship — for higher incomes

The MCS covers leftover costs after other aid is applied, for undergraduates at UC, CSU, or select community college baccalaureate programs.
2026-27 income ceilings (much higher than people expect):
  • Dependent students: family income up to $250,000
  • Independent students with dependents (besides spouse): up to $250,000
  • Independent + married, no other dependents: up to $165,000
  • Independent + single, no dependents: up to $144,000
No separate application — filing the FAFSA or CADAA automatically puts you in the running [Source: csac.ca.gov/mcs/income-asset-ceiling (accessed 2026-05-17)].

Chafee Grant — for current/former foster youth

Up to $5,000/year for college, vocational school, or career training. Can be used in California or out of state. Eligibility: you were in foster care between ages 16 and 18, and you're under 26 when you start using it. Maximum 5 years of payments.
Apply at chafee.csac.ca.gov — funding is first-come, first-served, so apply early.

Golden State Teacher Grant (GSTG) — for future teachers

Up to $20,000 total for students enrolled in a state-approved teaching credential or pupil personnel services program. In exchange, you commit to working 4 years at a priority school (high-poverty or high-English-learner schools) or a California State Preschool Program within 8 years of finishing.
The 2025-26 application is open now. The 2026-27 application opens July 2026 and depends on the state budget. Join the interest list at gstg.csac.ca.gov [Source: csac.ca.gov/golden-state-teacher-grant-program (accessed 2026-05-17)].
Important: If you don't finish the credential within 6 years, or don't complete the 4-year teaching obligation, you have to repay part or all of the grant.

Other CSAC programs

  • California Military Department GI Bill Award — for active National Guard, State Military Reserve, or Naval Militia. See nationalguard.csac.ca.gov.
  • Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents (LEPD) Grant — for dependents/spouses of first responders killed or 100% disabled in the line of duty. csac.ca.gov/faforfirst
  • Cal-HBCU Transfer Grant — up to $5,000 for California community college transfers to partnered Historically Black Colleges and Universities. csac.ca.gov/cal-hbcu
  • Public Interest Attorney Loan Repayment (PIALR) — up to $11,000 over 4 years for attorneys working public-interest law in California. csac.ca.gov/pialr
  • California Dream Act Service Incentive Grant (DSIG) — up to $4,500/year for CADAA filers with Cal Grant A or B who do community/volunteer service. csac.ca.gov/dsig

How to apply (the basics)

  1. File the FAFSA at studentaid.gov/fafsa if you have a Social Security number. If you don't (DACA, undocumented, AB 540), file the CA Dream Act Application at dream.csac.ca.gov instead. Pick one, not both.
  1. Make sure your school sends your GPA to CSAC by March 2, 2026. Most California high schools do this automatically, but ask your counselor to confirm.
  1. Create a WebGrants for Students account to track your application and view your award.
  1. Apply for any extras that need separate applications (Chafee, GSTG, PIALR).

Common pitfalls

  • Missing the GPA verification. The FAFSA alone isn't enough for Cal Grant — your school must send the GPA too.
  • Filing both FAFSA and CADAA. Pick one. Filing both can delay your aid.
  • Assuming you don't qualify. The Middle Class Scholarship goes up to $250,000 in family income. The Chafee Grant doesn't require recent foster care — just any time between ages 16-18.
  • Waiting on the application. GSTG and Chafee are first-come, first-served. Don't wait until March if you can apply earlier.

Where to get help

  • CSAC Customer Service: 1-888-224-7268 (Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm)
  • Your school's financial aid office — they handle the actual disbursement and can answer school-specific questions.
  • Cash for College workshops — free in-person help filing FAFSA/CADAA. Find one at icanaffordcollege.com.
Freshness check 2026-05-30: The March 2, 2026 priority Cal Grant deadline for 2026-27 has passed — but if you're attending (or planning to attend) a California Community College, you still have until September 2, 2026 to file the FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application and qualify. Foster youth in occupational/technical or community-college programs also get the September 2 deadline. The Golden State Teacher Grant 2026-27 application opens July 2026 (budget-dependent) — join the interest list now at gstg.csac.ca.gov. Chafee and GSTG are first-come, first-served, so apply the moment they open. Source: [csac.ca.gov dates & deadlines; verified 2026-05-30]