Cal Grant Competitive Awards
California Student Aid Commission
If you’re looking to attend a California State university or University of California, consider the Cal Grants. These are awards offered by the California Student Aid Commission. This commission is a state-run organization that provides financial aid to Californians. They aim to make education accessible to everyone.
The Cal Grant Competitive Awards is a program for students who were not awarded the Cal Grant Entitlement Program. If you are eligible to apply for Cal Grants, then you are eligible for this award too. The program is designed to assist low-income students to pay for a program that’s a minimum of two years.
To apply for this program, you will need to apply for FAFSA or the CA Dream Act Application. You will also need to submit your GPA as there are GPA requirements for the award. Students are scored based on GPA, parent education level, access equalizer, student or parent household status, family income, and household size. Those with the highest scores will be awarded.
Scholarship Summary
If you’re looking to attend a California State university or University of California, consider the Cal Grants. These are awards offered by the California Student Aid Commission. This commission is a state-run organization that provides financial aid to Californians. They aim to make education accessible to everyone.
The Cal Grant Competitive Awards is a program for students who were not awarded the Cal Grant Entitlement Program. If you are eligible to apply for Cal Grants, then you are eligible for this award too. The program is designed to assist low-income students to pay for a program that’s a minimum of two years.
To apply for this program, you will need to apply for FAFSA or the CA Dream Act Application. You will also need to submit your GPA as there are GPA requirements for the award. Students are scored based on GPA, parent education level, access equalizer, student or parent household status, family income, and household size. Those with the highest scores will be awarded.
Eligibility Requirements
- Eligible Grade: High School Senior – College Senior
- Maximum Age: Any
- Required GPA: 2.0
- Geographic Eligibility: California
- Gender: Any
- Race/Ethnicity: Any
Key Information of Cal Grant Competitive Awards
Study Details
Area of Study
Health Care
Country of Study
United States
Specific Schools
- California State University
- California State University, East Bay
- California State University, Sacramento
- University of California, Los Angeles
- University of California, Berkeley
- University of California
- University of California, Irvine
Application Requirements
Here’s what you need to submit besides your application.
- Financial Information
- Grade transcript
- School Verification
Cal Grant Competitive Awards Timeline
October 1, 2024
Application Opening Date
Applications for FAFSA and CA Dream Act open in October.
March 2, 2025
Submission Deadline
You will need to submit your FAFSA and Dream Act applications by this date.
How to ace the Cal Grant Competitive Awards
Ensure that you have school verification
This award can only be used at specific California schools – namely, California State Universities, Universities of California, or eligible private colleges. Make sure that you apply to qualifying schools or you will not be awarded the scholarship.
Enroll or apply to the correct programs
The requirements stipulate that you need to be in a program that is a minimum of one academic year (Cal Grant B) or two years (Cal Grant A). You will need to earn a degree – an associate's or bachelor's degree at the end.
Have all your information ready
When applying for both FAFSA and the CA Dream Act, you will need to provide quite a bit of information. Most of it is to verify your financial need – so your household, income, number of dependents, parent's financial information, etc. Have all of this available so that your application runs smoothly.
Complete your FAFSA correctly
You must file your FAFSA correctly – if your application is incomplete, you may not qualify for the award. Read through all the instructions and ensure you have all the required documents. Take your time applying too – don't rush the process but do apply on time.
How the Cal Grant Competitive Awards is Judged
The Cal Grant Competitive Awards is awarded to the 13,000 who receive the highest score. Applicants will be scored based on the following criteria GPA, parent education level, access equalizer, student or parent household status, family income, and household size.
Why We Love the Cal Grant Competitive Awards
They award so many students
This program awards 13,000 students scholarships to help them afford college.
It's easy to apply
Chances are that you're already applying for FAFSA and the CA Dream Act, so you don't need to go through another application process.
It finances your sophomore and senior year
It can often be difficult to receive funding for your later years of college. The Competitive Award is only for your sophomore and senior year.
5 Facts about the California Student Aid Commission
The Governor appoints commissioners
There are 11 Governor chosen representatives of each higher education sector.
The commission was established in 1955
It was originally named the California State Scholarship Commission.
They run several programs
The CSAC not only awards the Cal Grant but also programs for teachers, law enforcement dependents, and other groups.
It is state run
The CSAC is part of the California state government.
The state provides massive funding
The CSAC receives up to $3.8 billion in funding from the California state government.