How Cal Grants support students
Cal Grants are state-funded awards that can help cover your UC tuition and fees. If you qualify, you’ll apply when you submit your Financial Aid Application and complete a GPA Verification form.
Applying for Cal Grants
Cal Grants are need-based awards from the state of California that can help make your UC Santa Cruz education more affordable. If you qualify, a Cal Grant will cover UC tuition and fees, significantly reducing your overall costs.
Students apply for a Cal Grant when they submit their Financial Aid Application. Cal Grant applicants are also required to submit a GPA Verification form directly to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) by May 2. You can access the GPA Verification Form and monitor or manage your Cal Grant account on the CSAC website.
To remain eligible, you must re-qualify each year by submitting your Financial Aid Application, demonstrating financial need, and meeting the family income and asset ceilings. For renewal, the income and asset ceilings are the greater of the ceilings in the current year or those set in the first year you qualified.
Continuing Cal Grant Recipients
The UC Santa Cruz Financial Aid and Scholarship Office automatically submits GPA verifications for all current students who appear to qualify based on their GPA and current year Financial Aid Application data. If you have questions about the GPA submission, please contact our office.
Cal Grant for Education Master’s Degree Students
Education master’s degree students may request a one-year extension of the Cal Grant they received as undergraduates. To qualify, you must submit a Request for Teaching Program Benefits Form (Form G-44) to the California Student Aid Commission.
