A Complete Guide to California Financial Aid
Regardless of whether you are a California resident or an out-of-state student, the Golden State offers a variety of options to meet college students’ financial needs.
In this guide, you will find out how California financial aid works, what options are on the table, and how to apply!
What Types of Financial Aid Are Available in California?
In California, financial aid comes in many forms, such as:
- Grants
- Scholarships
- Loans
- Work-study programs
California Financial Aid—Grants
The following table shows grants that are most frequently awarded to California college attendees:
| Grant | Description |
| Cal Grant | This grant has three subcategories:
The subcategories ensure that students with different backgrounds, accomplishments, and financial needs can get the necessary aid |
| California Chafee Grant for Foster Youth | Students younger than 26 who spent at least one day in foster care between the ages of 16 and 18 can apply for this grant |
| Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents Grant Program | Spouses, children, and dependents of law enforcement officers who were disabled or killed in the line of duty are eligible for this generous financial aid program |
| The Golden State Teacher Grant Program | Future teachers can apply for this one-time grant if they agree to teach in high-need areas for four years |
| Middle Class Scholarship | Students with family income and assets below $184,000 can use this grant to cover from 10% to 40% of their tuition and attendance costs |
Students enrolled in California schools can also qualify for federal grants such as:
- Pell Grants
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)
- Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants
- Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grants
Scholarships in California
The State of California offers a plethora of private and institutional scholarships. If you’re attending a school located in California, you should contact its financial aid department to inquire about school-specific scholarships.
Outside scholarships can help you fill any financial gaps you still have after receiving aid. Here are some tools to help you with your search:
California Financial Aid—Loans
California doesn’t offer state-specific loans, but it does participate in the Federal Direct Stafford Loan Program, which allows you to get the following loans:
- Direct Subsidized Loans
- Direct Unsubsidized Loans
- Parent PLUS Loans
- Graduate PLUS Loans
- Direct Consolidation Loans
Work-Study Programs in California
The State of California participates in the Federal Work-Study Program that allows students to work up to:
- 20 hours per week during the academic year
- 40 hours per week during breaks
Most California-based schools also offer employment programs for students who don’t qualify or haven’t applied for Federal Work-Study.
How To Apply for California Financial Aid
To apply for California financial aid, check out the forms you need to complete and the application deadlines:
| Financial Aid Application | Description |
| Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) | Students need to meet the following criteria to complete the FAFSA:
Applications are open from October 1st of the current year through June 30th of the year after next (For example, for the academic year 2020/2021, FAFSA applications opened on October 1st, 2019, and closed on June 30th, 2021) |
| California Dream Act Application (CADAA) | CADAA requires students to:
CADAA applications for the next academic year begin on October 1st of the current year and end on March 2nd the following year |
What To Do if a School in California Doesn’t Offer You Enough Aid
If a school in California denies you aid or offers too little, you can appeal its decision by writing a rock-solid appeal letter.
Subscribe to DoNotPay to get a custom financial aid appeal letter without any hassle!
Use DoNotPay To Create an Appeal Letter and Get More Financial Aid!
If you feel like your dream school underestimated your financial need, DoNotPay can help you get more aid in three simple steps:
- Open DoNotPay in any web browser
- Search for Appeal for More Financial Aid
- Answer a few brief questions about your application
After you complete the final step, the service will generate a custom letter using the information you provided to make it as convincing as possible.
Handy Financial Aid Guides Are Only a Few Clicks Away
We can help you find out all the info about financial aid, such as how many years you can get it for or how it works for graduate schools. We even explained a variety of programs of the most popular schools in the U.S., such as:
Solve Any Issues Like a Pro With DoNotPay
DoNotPay is an AI assistant that is able to solve almost all issues you’re facing. Whether that be your noisy neighbors, the annoying text and email spam you’re receiving, or the frustrating robocalls that won’t leave you alone. We’ll even cancel your unneeded subscriptions and get you a few extra bucks you’ve been cheated out of.
The world’s first robot lawyer app can help you get:
- Compensation if you’re a victim of crime
- In touch with your locked-up relatives
- Your documents notarized from the comfort of your home
- A temporary phone number to ensure your privacy
- Unclaimed money
- College fee waivers
- Virtual credit cards for avoiding scams
- Tailor-made divorce settlement agreements
DoNotPay Helps You Deal With Any Administrative Issue Effortlessly
Tedious administrative tasks are always headache-inducing, but they don’t have to be if you use DoNotPay. With our AI-powered app, you will be able to:
- File insurance and warranty claims easily
- Get compensation from airline companies
- Appeal parking tickets anywhere in the U.S.
- Get refunds and chargebacks from various companies
- Schedule appointments at the DMV
- File FOIA requests
- Fight discrimination at your workplace