Grants

• Complete and submit the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For a Cal Grant, the FAFSA must be completed and filed with the federal processor by March 2* of each year.
• File a verified grade point average (GPA) with the California Student Aid Commission by no later than March 2*.
• DACA/Undocumented students who meet AB540 requirements must complete the CA Dream Act Application by March 2 deadline. 

Once you submit your completed FAFSA/CADAA and high school/college GPA, CSAC will consider you for the appropriate Cal Grant award based on GPA, financial need and college of attendance.

Up to13,000 Competitive Cal Grant Awards are offered to students who meet the March 2 filing deadline if not awarded an entitlement award. Students are scored based on information provided on their FAFSA and their GPA. Scoring components include: GPA, parent education level, access equalizer, student or parent household status, family income and household size. CSAC uses Competitive Scoring Matrix. Competitive Cal Grants may only be awarded at California State Universities, Universities of California or eligible Private Colleges. Students attending a California Community College will not be considered.

*Missed the March 2 deadline? There is a secondary deadline, starting Fall 2021, a new Cal Grant Community College Entitlement Award is for students attending California Community College . Submit the GPA and FAFSA/CA Dream Act Application before the September 2 deadline to be considered for this specific Cal Grant.

GPA Submission:

It is student's responsibility to ensure GPA was submitted by the deadlines. Student can check on the status by creating an account on www.csac.ca.gov "WebGrants for Students" to confirm GPA was received at least 2 weeks before the deadlines.
San Joaquin Delta College submits GPA electrically at least 2 weeks before the deadline if you meet all of these requirements:

1. You have provided a valid Social Security Numbers to Admissions and Records prior to the date the school submit the GPA verification (not required for undocumented students*); and
2. You have completed at least 24 degree applicable/transferable credits at Delta College (considered for Entitlement and Competitive Cal Grants) or 16 degree applicable/transferable credits at Delta College but less than 24 credits (considered for Competitive Cal Grant B only); and
3. 3You have completed at least one semester at Delta College within the past 5 years.

*GPA verification for student without SSN will be submitted separately if the student meets units requirements. DACA student who has provided DACA SSN or any student who has submitted the invalid SSN must check in with school to have GPA submitted manually before the deadlines.

If you do not have enough credits at San Joaquin Delta College, but have previously attended other college(s), you must confirm whether your prior school will file your GPA for you, or obtain a Cal Grant GPA Verification Form, get it certified by a school official at your prior college, and mail it yourself.

Senior high school or 1 year out of CA high school students should check with your high school for GPA submission.

Submitting all the required items does not mean you are guaranteed to receive a Cal grant. Your eligibility will be determined by the California Student Aid Commission after the required items have received. Please visit California Student Aid Commission web page to learn more about the process and requirements at http://www.calgrants.org/

• submit the FAFSA or CADAA application and your verified Cal Grant GPA by the deadline
• be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen or meet AB540 eligibility criteria
• be a California resident for 1 year
• attend a qualifying California college
• not have a bachelor’s or professional degree
• have financial need at the college of your choice
• have family income and assets below the minimum levels
• be enrolled or plan to enroll in a program leading to an undergraduate degree or certificate
• be enrolled or plan to enroll at least half time
• Effective with the 2021-22 academic year, registration with the Selective Service System (SSS) for males 18-25 years of age is no longer required to receive state financial aid in California. Although registration is not required to receive state financial aid in California, failure to register may impact future opportunities and/or benefits. Check with the U.S. Selective Service System for more information at https://www.sss.gov/register/benefits-and-penalties/
• not owe a refund on any state or federal grant or be in default on a student loan
• not be incarcerated
• maintain the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards as established by the school. Recipients who do not meet the standards are ineligible for Cal Grant payment and will not use eligibility during the terms they are ineligible for payment.

When will I know if I am qualified for a Cal Grant?

After you apply, you can track the status of your Cal Grant application online by using WebGrants for Students. Log on to set up your personal, confidential account.

If you met the Cal Grant application requirements and qualify for a Cal Grant, you’ll receive an award letter, also known as the California Aid Report, or CAR. If you qualify for a Cal Grant Entitlement award and your application was received on time and needs no corrections, you should receive a CAR by the end of March or early April. If you have not heard from the Commission by April 30, please call toll free 888.224.7268 or e-mail studentsupport@csac.ca.gov(link sends e-mail) to check your application.

If you’re applying for a Cal Grant Competitive award (you aren’t a high school senior and you didn’t graduate from high school the previous year or you plan to attend a California Community College and missed the March 2 deadline), you should receive a CAR by the end of May. If you have not heard from the Commission by mid-June, please call toll free 888.224.7268 or e-mail studentsupport@csac.ca.gov(link sends e-mail) to check on the status of your application.

If you’re applying to renew your Cal Grant, you should receive your notification for renewal by mid-July. If you are a renewal Cal Grant student and you have not heard from the Commission by August 1, please call toll free 888.224.7268 or e-mail studentsupport@csac.ca.gov.(link sends e-mail)

Grant C award offers will be made by the end of June.
 

Once file is complete, Cal Grant will be packaged as an estimated status and will be updated to accepted status once the disbursement date comes and students meet all eligibility criteria.

Cal Grant awards can only be released once the fiscal’s year budget has been passed by the Legislation and signed by the Governor. Cal Grant refund dates are pre-scheduled prior to the academic year starts.

Cal Grant is disbursed once per semester for Fall and Spring ONLY and after the institution’s census date for full length courses. Students must maintain enrollment in at least 6+ Title IV units at the time CAL Grant funding is disbursed. To receive the maximum award, students must enroll full time.

The first Cal Grant disbursement will occur four weeks into the term and is based on the active enrollment status at the time of disbursement. After the first disbursement, the Cal Grant will be disbursed biweekly throughout the term as students become eligible for the funds.

Disbursement made after term completion, the award will be based on the number of units completed for the term including Fs and Is.

As a new Cal Grant A/B recipient, you may receive up to the equivalent of four years of full-time grant payments if you are a first-time college student. The duration of your eligibility may be adjusted based on the Education Level listed on your application.

Student's EL is determined below:

• Freshman: A student who has earned 0 to 29.5 units;
• Sophomore: A student who has earned 30 units or more

Cal Grant C recipient can receive up to two years of full-time grant payments.

Refunds are applied directly toward your account balance and a credit balance will be transferred to BankMobile.

Cal Grant funding is limited to 4 academic years. In order to graduate in 4 years, you must complete 15 units or more per semester or the equivalent quarter units. Create a plan with your academic counselor to ensure you will graduate in four years.

Note: Cal Grant award amounts are disbursed based on the number of units you are actively attending at the time of the Institutional Census date