Education Grants In California

Higher education opens doors for you. For residents of the state of California who wish to attend a postsecondary institution getting enough money together for tuition, books and other education related expenses can be difficult. The solution can be to apply for grants that you are eligible for. Here we look at what is available for Grants in California for 2012:

Cal Grant Program: This grant program is funded by the state of California. Eligible candidates are individuals who are legal residents of the state. Student who are graduating from high school and want to continue onto college can apply for this program as can those who have been out of high school for a year and now wish to attend an institution of higher learning. What is unique about the Cal Grant Program is that even if you did not receive your high school diploma you are still eligible to apply for this grant. What you can do in lieu of a diploma is to send records showing that you took the SAT or ACT to the California Student Aid Commission.

The Cal Grant Program is broken down into three different categories for 2012. Let us look at those now:

Cal Grant A

This grant program is for students who plan to attend schools in the California State University system or University of California schools. You must be enrolled in a four year university degree program to apply for the Cal Grant A. Students who wish to attend a private college may also be eligible for this grant.

Cal Grant B

This California grant program is geared towards those who have a financial disadvantage when it comes to attending school. Those who qualify for the Cal Grant B will receive their money in increments for their first year of attendance at a college. Following the first year of school students can then apply for Cal Grant A.

Cal Grant C

This grant is for those pupils who plan to attend a community college or a vocational school. Some candidates will receive money for tuition (up to $2500) while others will receive money for books (up to $575).

Finding School Grants In California can be an overwhelming challenge. There are many options to consider, however a Cal Grant is a good place to start. There are many rules and restrictions that you need to be aware of before applying. Income ceilings and prior education are among the criteria when you are trying to find school grants in California . The resources listed below.. In order to get a Cal Grant, you have to meet certain criteria with respect to your income and assets in order to qualify. Finding a way to pay for college can be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you are a returning student, a first-time attendee, or a working adult seeking professional development, there are many California financial aid programs for you. Students can apply for federal and state financial aid, university scholarships, and other scholarships from a number of sources. It is just a matter of seeking and finding the right school grants for you.

According to the California Student Aid Commission (Csac.ca.gov, 2010), the income ceilings for students wanting to get a grant  are as follows:

CAL GRANT PROGRAM INCOME CEILINGS
CALIFORNIA STUDENT AID COMMISSION

Cal Grant                             Cal Grant
A and C                                 B
Dependent students and Independent students with dependents other than a spouse
Family size:
Six or more $92,700          $50,900
Five $85,900                         $47,200
Four $80,200                        $42,200
Three $73,800                      $37,900
Two $72,100                         $33,600

Independent students
Single, no dependents $29,400             $29,400
Married, no other dependents $33,600         $33,600

And according to the California Student Aid Commission (Csac.ca.gov,), the asset ceilings for students wanting to get a grant for are as follows:

CAL GRANT PROGRAM ASSET CEILINGS
CALIFORNIA STUDENT AID COMMISSION

All Programs
Dependent students** $62,000
Independent students $29,500
** These ceilings also apply to independent students with dependents other than a spouse.

In order to see which community colleges or universities or other schools are Cal Grant eligible institutions, you can do a search from the csac website via the city location in California. For example, for the city of Santa Barbara, there are six Cal Grant eligible institutions which are: University of California, Santa Barbara; Santa Barbara City College; Westmont College; Brooks Institute; Santa Barbara Business College; and Antioch University.

The Cal Grant deadline for the complete application is March 2nd of each year. There is a senior financial aid checklist to help you complete all the steps needed for applying for a Cal Grant at:  http://www.csac.ca.gov/pubs/forms/grnt_frm/G500PreCollegechecklist012208.pdf.

It is important to note that you are not eligible for a Cal Grant if you have a Bachelor’s or higher (M.A., for example) degree. A Cal Grant B award for your freshman year will pay educational expenses up to $1,551 per year. Also, you must be a resident of California; you must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen; and you must attend your institution no less than half-time (half-time is usually 6 units per quarter). And you must make satisfactory academic progress and sign up for U.S. Selective Service. If you get a Cal Grant A, however you are attending a 2 year California Community College; then your payment will be on reserve until you transfer to a 4 year tuition University. Cal Grant recipients can get no more than four years of grant payments, and the payments will stop once you get your Bachelor’s degree. Additional rules for Cal grants are found at: http://www.csac.ca.gov/pubs/forms/grnt_frm/ImportantfactsaboutyourCalGrant_2009.pdf

California School Grants

The state of California has its share of grant money for eligible organizations to take advantage of. It is important to be aware of application deadlines when you decide to apply as you do not want to miss out! Here is what is new for California grants..

Non-Profit Community Grants

There are grants that range up to $25,000 in California that provide financial support for non-profit community based organizations. To apply for this grant non-profits must submit with their proposals a small poem that ranges between four and eight lines. The poem must  clearly describes the mission of the organization The goal of this foundation grant is to show support and encouragement to non-profit organizations that are making a difference in the community.

Theater Performance Grants

Theater work and performances are becoming more and more recognized all of the time. In California there are grants that are geared at supporting as well as sustaining theater performances. The purpose behind this grant is to support the creation of theater productions that are of the highest quality and to make it possible for tours and venues to continue.

Grants for California’s Elderly

There have been some new grants created to address the mental health issues that are facing the elderly members of the population in Southern California. Grant funding for these programs is up to $500,000. Proposals are required to apply for these grants. The funding is to be used to develop programs which both identify and treat depression that is found in elderly people who live in community and nursing home settings.

Another grant in California that is geared towards the elderly is the Grant to Aid California’s Elderly Victims. This new California grant provides health, housing and financial assistance to elderly victims who have been abused and neglected. The funding is not provided to individuals but to non-profit organizations in the state and government agencies that seek to improve the services afforded to this segment of the population.

Workforce Training in California Grant

Grants totaling $1,000,000 are offered to California organizations that are involved in workforce development with consultant services and training materials. The organizations that would be eligible for this grant funding would be those that do their part to help youth and adults who have been laid off from their jobs. This grant money could also be used to help homemakers looking to get back into the job force and those who are self-employed.