Cal Grant Information & SAC Cal Grant Policies
General Cal Grant Eligibility Requirements
Cal Grant Awards are for students who are pursuing an undergraduate degree or vocational or career training. In addition to meeting the financial criteria and Cal Grant requirements, students must:
Be a California resident.
Be a U.S. citizen, eligible noncitizen or be exempt nonresident tuition.
Attend an eligible California college or university.
Be enrolled at least half time.
Not have completed a prior baccalaureate degree.
Maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) as defined by the school of attendance.
Not be in default on any federal or state education loan or owe a grant refund.
Have financial need at the school of your choice.
Have family income and assets not over CSAC Income and Assets chart.
For more information about the Cal Grant eligibility requirements, go to https://www.csac.ca.gov/students
Types of Cal Grant
There are three types of Cal Grant: A, B, & C. The types of Cal Grant a student may be eligible for will be determined based on a combination of student's responses while completing the FAFSA or Dream Act Application, the GPA Verification, Financial Need, and type of California College listed on the FAFSA or Dream Act Application will determine which Cal Grant they may be eligible.
Cal Grant A:
- For low to middle income students
- 3.00 high school GPA minimum or 2.4 college GPA minimum
- May be used for a program that is at least two academic years in length resulting in an associate or baccalaureate degree of 48 semester units or the equivalent.
- Can only be used for tuition and fees.
For more information regarding eligible institutions and Cal Grant A Awards Amounts go to: https://www.csac.ca.gov/post/what-are-cal-grant-award-amounts
Cal Grant B:
- For low-income students
- 2.00 high school GPA or 2.00 college GPA minimum
- May be used for a program that is at least one academic year in length resulting in an associate, or baccalaureate degree or certificate of at least 24 semester units or the equivalent.
- Includes an additional annual Access Award amount (living expenses)
- Sophomore through senior years the student will receive tuition and fees plus Access Award at tuition charging institution.
For more information regarding eligible institutions and Cal Grant B Awards Amounts go to: https://www.csac.ca.gov/post/what-are-cal-grant-award-amounts
Cal Grant C:
- For low to middle income students
- No GPA requirement
- For Occupational or Technical training programs of least 4 months in length
- Offers an award amount to assist with tuition and fees, also includes an additional annual book and supplies amount.
For more information regarding eligible institutions and Cal Grant C Awards Amounts go to: https://www.csac.ca.gov/post/what-are-cal-grant-award-amounts
Applying for Cal Grant
| Step 1: Complete either a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) and submit by the deadline: |
| FAFSA: U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents, or Other Qualifying Non-Citizens: - Must complete and submit the online FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) at FAFSA.gov
- The FAFSA must be completed and filed with the federal processor by the deadlines noted (see Application Cycles & Deadlines section below) to be considered for a Cal Grant award.
- Students can e-sign the FAFSA application with their FSA ID
- When completing the dependency questions on the FAFSA, students who are determined to be “Dependent" must also have one of their parents request an FSA ID to e-sign the student's FAFSA.
CADAA: Students who meet the definition of an AB540 student: - Must complete the California Dream Act Application at https://dream.csac.ca.gov/
- The CADAA must be completed and filed with the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) by the deadlines noted (see Application Cycles & Deadlines section below) to be considered for a Cal Grant award.
- Students will be able to e-sign the Dream Act Application at the time of submission.
- When completing the dependency questions on the Dream Act Application, students who are determined to be “Dependent" must have one of their parents request a pin # from the California Student aid Commission (CSAC) to e-sign the student's application.
For more information go to: https://www.csac.ca.gov/how-apply
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Step 2:
File a verified grade point average (GPA) with the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) by the deadline: In addition to the FAFSA or Dream Act Application, a school certified Grade Point Average (GPA) must be submitted to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) by the filing deadlines, in order to be considered for a Cal Grant award. CSAC will only accept GPAs by one of the following methods:
- Certified by high school or college electronically. The fastest and most secure way for a student to submit his or her Cal Grant GPA is to have their school electronically upload the GPA directly to the California Student Aid Commission's system.
- Certified by a school official on the paper GPA Verification form. The paper Cal Grant GPA Verification form must be certified by the school if the school cannot submit it electronically. Click on the following link Cal Grant GPA Verification Form - California Student Aid Commission to download the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form and have the registrar in Admissions & Records certify the GPA. The GPA Verification form must be postmarked no later than the deadline date(s) as described below. No transcripts are accepted.
Should your high school submit your GPA? Students who have less than 16 completed college units are required to have their High School submit their GPA. An applicant who does not have a High School GPA or whose GPA is more than 5 years old may submit a test score from the General Educational Development Test (GED), the American College Test (ACT) or the SAT Reasoning Test (SATI), in order to be considered for a Cal grant Award.
Should your college submit your GPA? Students who have completed 16+ college units can have their GPA submitted by the college they are attending or have attended.
Santa Ana College (SAC) Policy for submitting GPA Records
SAC will automatically submit GPAs to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) for:
- California Resident Students & AB540
- Student Type is “Regular" with Admissions & Records. Students who change enrollment status from the Career Advance Placement Program (CAP) into a first-year freshman college student, must make sure to complete a new Admission Application with their High School Graduation Status updated. Students in the CAP Program will not have their GPA submitted to CSAC by Santa Ana College.
- Attending/has attended college credit classes at SAC and their last semester was completed no later than 3 years from the GPA deadline date.
- Have completed at least 16 units on the student transcript as “RSCCD Degree Applicable Units" Transfer units may be included only if the official transcript was evaluated and included in “RSCCD Degree Applicable Units" before the time SAC submits the GPA electronically.
Student's Responsibility for GPA Submission
Students Identified as Resident: In order for a GPA submission record to be submitted students must make sure their High School Graduation Date and Social Security Number is listed accurately on their Admissions & Records Record. It is the student's responsibility to make sure that Admissions & Records reflect their correct Social Security Number and High School Graduation Date at least four weeks prior to submission deadline. If either one of the components is invalid by the GPA Submission Date, the record will be rejected by CSAC.
Students identified as AB 540 Dreamer & Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA): In order for a GPA submission record to be submitted, students must make sure their High School Graduation Date and other data elements in lieu of a Social Security Number are listed accurately on their Admissions & Records Record. Instead of a Social Security Number, students who meet the AB 540 requirements, will have other data matches submitted to CSAC such as address, date of birth, e-mail address, etc. in lieu of a social security number, along with their GPA by the March 2nd Deadline. AB 540 & DACA students must make sure that these data elements match between Admissions & Records and their Dream Act Application.
Students may inquire about the details of submitted GPAs after the submission deadline in the Financial Aid Office.
Deadlines and Application Cycles
Deadlines
March 2 Deadline - High School Entitlement, California Community College Transfer Entitlement. Competitive
September 2 – California Community College (CCC) Entitlement, Cal Grant C, Cal Grant B for foster youth at the CCC
Application Cycles
High School Entitlement Cal Grant – Deadline: March 2:
Who is considered for a High School Entitlement Award?
- Current High school seniors and last year's high school graduates
- Students who meet the general Cal Grant eligibility requirements
California Community College Transfer Entitlement Cal Grant – Deadline: March 2:
Who is considered for a Transfer Entitlement Award?
- Students who graduated from a California high school or its equivalent during or after the 2000-01 academic year.
- Students were California residents when they graduated high school (unless that California resident graduated outside of California Population served: due to military orders); OR non-high school graduates or its equivalent that were a California resident at the age of 18; have at least a 2.4 CCC GPA.
- Students must transfer in the same academic year as awarded and receive award payment at an eligible institution offering a baccalaureate degree.
- Students must be under the age of 28 by December 31 of the award year.
- If identified as potentially eligible, students must complete the G-6 Transfer Entitlement Certification form.
California Community College Entitlement Cal Grant – Deadline: September 2*:
Who is considered for a California Community College Entitlement Award?
Students who were not awarded a Cal Grant A or B award at the time of the student's high school graduation but will be enrolled at a California Community College during the award year, and who meet all the general Cal Grant eligibility requirements. In lieu of a high school GPA, applicants may submit a college or CCC GPA (at least 2.4 on a 4.0 scale for a Cal Grant A; 2.0 on a 4.0 scale for Cal Grant B) or can re-establish their GPA by completing at least 16 units of credit at CCC with at least a 2.0 GPA, as defined by CSAC regulations.
Competitive Cal Grant A and B – Deadline: March 2:
Who is considered for Competitive Cal Grant A and B?
Special consideration given to disadvantaged students; factors include the expected family contribution, family income and household size, GPA, years since high school graduation, and other conditions that might hinder a student's access to higher education.
Cal Grant C – Deadline: September 2*:
Students from low and middle-income families who are seeking occupational or technical training. If identified as potentially eligible, students must complete and submit the C Supplement Form.
*Due to the September 2, 2023, Cal Grant deadline falling on a Saturday, and Labor Day the following Monday, the deadline is extended to the next business day on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, per § 6707 of the California Government Code.
SAC's Process for A warding/Disbursing Cal Grant Awards
Determination of Required Documents & Awarding
Students offered a Cal Grant by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) must have a completed financial aid file before the Santa Ana College Financial Aid Office (SAC FAO) processes the student's Cal Grant. This means that all the required documentation being requested by the SAC FAO must be turned in and the Financial Aid Analyst assigned the file finalizes the file as "Awarded." To find required information log into Self-Service .
All Cal Grant students must check for any required documents, their SAP Status, and the status of their Financial Aid File by logging on to Self-Service under the Financial Aid Menu. Dream Act students must also file an affidavit with the college stating that he or she has filed an application to legalize his or her immigration status, or will file an application as soon as he or she is eligible to do so (California Nonresident Tuition Exemption Request).
Upon completion of the financial aid file, the SAC FAO will add the Cal Grant award to the student's award as long as the student meets the income and asset ceiling as outlined by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC). A Financial Aid Office Notification will be emailed at that time. If the student no longer meets the income and assets ceiling requirements, the SAC FAO will inform CSAC to have the Cal Grant award withdrawn.
Income & Asset Ceilings
Disbursement Policy & Census
The Santa Ana College Financial Aid Office (SAC FAO) only disburses:
Cal Grant A Access Funds to students who certify at https://mygrantinfo.csac.ca.gov/ that they support dependent children under the age of 18 by July 1 of the award year. Cal Grant A eligible students without meeting and certifying the support of their under 18 dependent children will not receive Cal Grant A while attending SAC. They will remain on “Community College Reserve" for two years. If they will not transfer after two years, they must appeal for an extension with the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC).
Cal Grant B Access Funds to all eligible Cal Grant B students.
Cal Grant C Book & Supplies awards to all eligible C students who certify they are not in a transfer program and are enrolled in an Occupational/Technical or associate degree or Certificate of Achievement.
Cal Grant will only be disbursed on students with complete financial aid files without any outstanding required document or conflicting information. Students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for the term being disbursed.
Generally, SAC FAO only disburses Cal Grant one time during each semester (Fall and Spring Only). During disbursement, SAC FAO will exclude classes that are not actively attended, classes with W (withdrawn) status will also be excluded. Within the semester, at the Pell Recalculation Date (PRC) students' eligibility will be recalculated, payment may require adjustments if students' enrollment attending status changes between the time of initial disbursement and the PRC date. In order to assist Cal Grant eligible students to be able to retain their remaining eligibility percentage of their Cal Grant lifetime, Cal Grant program will align with Title IV eligible program in packaging and recalculating eligibility due to enrollment change.
SAC Cost of Education
The SAC FAO awards Cal Grant based on a 9-Month Budget/Cost of Education for Fall and Spring Terms only. SAC FAO does not award Cal Grant during Summer Terms; therefore, budget increases for summer will only apply for Pell Grant.
