Cal Grant aid deadline March 2, but few apply

By JACKIE WOMACK / The Collegian

Some students could be missing out on free money for college from a state program they may not even be aware of and whose deadline to apply is March 2.

The Cal Grant program is a state financial aid system for California college students who meet the income requirements and a minimum grade point average of either 2.0 or 3.0, depending on the type of grant.

The income ceilings for the program and the maximum income allowed also differ according to the type of grant and vary from $36,600-$69,600 for a dependent student from a family of four.

The income ceilings for independent students are $25,500-$29,200.

But despite the fact that many students from the Valley would be eligible, only 28 percent apply for the grants, according to an announcement in The Fresno Bee.

Junior Chelsi Silva said she missed out on financial aid when she entered college because she didn’t know how to apply for the state’s Cal Grant program.

She said she only learned of the program when her younger sister received one of the grants.

“I said, ‘what’s up with that?’” Silva said. “Why did she get one and not me? [Counselors] said you didn’t fill out the form.”

Psychology major Adrian Castillo was also unaware of the program.

“I don’t know anything about them,” Castillo said. “I don’t know where I’d apply.”

Cal Grant Coordinator Adeline Ford said there are efforts at Student Outreach Services to make students aware of the grant.

“In the past couple of years, the Student Aid Commission has been advertising more,” Ford said. “I’ve even seen ads at the movies.”

Financial aid director Maria Hernandez said the program is divided into different levels.

“There are two programs that we primarily work with, Cal Grant A and Cal Grant B,” she said.

She said Cal Grant A, which has a 3.0 GPA minimum requirement, is intended to cover registration fees but not campus student fees.

Cal Grant B, which has a 2.0 minimum GPA requirement, is for lower-income students.

“[Cal Grant B] provides a stipend to help with living expenses,” Hernandez said. “Usually, in the first year, that’s all the students get (from the program). After that, they also get the fee portion on top of it.”

Cal Grant B pays $2,334 for registration and $1,551 for access costs. Cal Grant A pays $2,334 for registration.

There are also two other kinds of Cal Grants: C, for vocational education and T, for future teachers.

There are currently 887 Fresno State students receiving Cal Grant A and about 3,100 who receive Cal Grant B, Hernandez said.

“Typically, if [students] are eligible, they’re eligible for the full amount,” Hernandez said.

History, and Chicano and African American studies major Raquel Lara said the aid can make a difference.

“It’s expensive learning how to be a teacher,” Lara said.

Lara said she learned about the program in high school from her counselor.

She said the program has made a big difference in her being able to get an education.

Hernandez said that in order to apply for the grant, students must first file the Free Application for Student Aid, by March 2. They must also have their grade point average verified.

“The new applicant is required to have a GPA verification form filed by the school they last attended,” she said.

She said that in the case of students who have less than 24 college units, their former high schools will have to fill out the forms.

The process is handled a little differently for students who have more units than that.

“The GPA is actually handled by the registrar’s office,” Hernandez said. “They electronically send the grades of eligible students to the state.”

Hernandez said students with questions can contact her office at 278-2182.