Federal and state grant awards you don't have to pay back.

When you submit the FAFSA, you'll be applying for these grants:

Federal Grants

Federal Pell Grant
The largest source of free money from the federal government for students with financial need: 
• awarded to every undergraduate who qualifies and hasn't already earned a     bachelor's degree
• provides between $890 and $4,731 a year, depending on your expected family contribution (EFC), cost of attendance (COA) and whether you're attending full or part time
• can be used to pay for tuition, fees and living expenses at any qualifying college
• you can receive only one Pell Grant a year, which can be used to attend only one college at a time.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
For eligible undergraduates with exceptional financial need:
• provides between $100 and $4,000 a year, depending on your EFC, your COA and whether you're attending full or part time
• priority consideration if you're eligible for a Pell Grant
• unlike Pell Grants, funds are limited, so there's no guarantee you'll receive one
• not all colleges offer them.

Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant
You may qualify for up to $750 for your freshman year of college and up to $1,300 for your sophomore year if you:
• receive a federal Pell Grant
• successfully complete a rigorous high school program
• have at least a 3.0 cumulative college GPA, if you're a sophomore

National SMART Grant
The National Science and Math Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant provides up to $4,000 for your junior and senior years of college if you:
• receive a federal Pell Grant
• are majoring in physical, life or computer sciences, math, engineering or certain foreign languages
• have at least a 3.0 cumulative college GPA

Additional information regarding Higher Education Grants and Scholarships may be found at: Ed Fund


State Grants

Cal Grant A Entitlement awards can be used for tuition and fees at public and private colleges as well as some private career colleges. At CSU and UC schools, this Cal Grant covers up to the full systemwide fees of $2,772 and $6,636, respectively. If you are attending a private college, it pays up to $9,708 toward tuition and fees. To get this Cal Grant, you need to be working toward a two-year or four-year degree.

Cal Grant B Entitlement awards provides low-income students with a living allowance and assistance with tuition and fees. Most first-year students receive an allowance of up to $1,551 for books and living expenses. After the freshman year, Cal Grant B also helps pay tuition and fees in the same amount as a Cal Grant A. For a Cal Grant B, your coursework must be for at least one academic year.

Cal Grant C awards help pay for tuition and training costs at occupational or career colleges. This $576 award is for books, tools and equipment. You may also receive up to an additional $2,592 for tuition at a school other than a California Community College. To qualify, you must enroll in a vocational program that is at least four months long at a California Community College, private college, or a vocational school. Funding is available for up to two years, depending on the length of your program.

Cal Grant A and B Competitive Awards are for students who aren't eligible for the Entitlement awards. The main difference is that these awards are not guaranteed.

Cal Grant A Competitive Awards are for students with a minimum 3.0 GPA who are from low-and middle-income families. These awards help pay tuition and fees at qualifying schools with academic programs that are at least two years in length.

Cal Grant B Competitive Awards are for students with a minimum 2.0 GPA who are from disadvantaged and low-income families. These awards can be used for tuition, fees and access costs at qualifying schools whose programs are at least one year in length. If you get a Cal Grant B Competitive Award it can only be used for access costs in the first year. These costs include living expenses, transportation, supplies and books. Beginning with the second year, you can use your Cal Grant B Competitive Award to help pay tuition and fees at public or private four-year colleges or other qualifying schools.

For more information on Cal Grants visit CalGrants.org