Student Resources

Start Saving for College on 529 Day

Saving for college can be overwhelming but every little bit helps.

ScholarShare, California’s 529 College Savings Plan can help you start planning for your child’s future. The program is available to any citizen or taxpayer and anyone can contribute. Visit scholarshare.com or call 1-800-544-5248 to learn more.

If you open a new 529 college savings plan account with $50 and commit to monthly contributions of $25 or more, ScholarShare will match your initial $50 contribution.

Visit scholarshare.com/529day to get started.

For more information about college savings options, call my office at (661) 335-0302.

Student Resources

The Cal Grants Program

How to Apply

Whether you’re planning to go to college or pursue a career education, there’s money to help you pay for it. Here you’ll learn about the major programs, how to apply and more.

Cal Grant Programs

A Cal Grant is money for college you don’t have to pay back. To qualify, you must apply for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) by the deadline and meet the eligibility and financial requirements as well as any minimum GPA requirements. Cal Grants can be used at any University of California, California State University or California Community College, as well as qualifying independent and career colleges or technical schools in California.

There are three kinds of Cal Grants — A, B and C — but you don’t have to figure out which one to apply for. Your eligibility will be based on your FAFSA or CADAA responses, your verified Cal Grant GPA, the type of California colleges you list on your FAFSA and whether you’re a recent high school graduate.

Follow these simple steps to apply for a Cal Grant.

Step 1: Apply

Complete the FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application by March 2nd.

Step 2: File your GPA

File a certified grade point average (GPA) with us no later than March 2nd.

Step 3: Go!

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Students and families can visit https://www.csac.ca.gov/ or call my office to learn more about the Cal Grant program.

Student Resources

Middle Class Scholarship

Students from middle class families have been increasingly priced out of college. To help these families, the State Legislature enacted the Middle Class Scholarship Program in 2013. The Middle Class Scholarship reduces student fees at the California State University and University of California by up to 40 percent.

Both Cal Grants and Middle Class Scholarships are only available by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the CA Dream Act Application. Remember, you can’t get the money unless you fill out the application and meet the March 2, 2020 deadline.

Student Resources

Additional Resources

CALIFORNIA PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS:

California Community Colleges
1102 Q Street Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 445-8752
www.cccco.edu
University of California System
1111 Franklin Street
Oakland, CA 94607
www.ucop.edu
Association of Independent California Colleges
1121 L Street, Suite 802, Sacramento, CA 95814
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 446-7626
www.aiccu.edu
California State University System
401 Golden Shore
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 951-4000
www.calstate.edu

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION:

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
(800) 4-FED-AID (433-3243)
www.fafsa.gov
California Student Aid Commission
(888) CA GRANT (224-7268)
www.calgrants.org
Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC)
(877) 2 EDFUND (233-3863)
https://www.ecmc.org/borrowers/index.html
College Connection Scholarships
(302) 765-3880
staff@collegescholarship.com
www.collegescholarships.com
FastWeb: Internet Scholarship Service
info@fastweb.com
www.fastweb.com
California College Explorer
www.californiacolleges.edu
Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid
www.finaid.org

Student Resources

Don't Let Your Student Loan Debt Stop You From Serving Your Community

Need Student Loan Relief Eligible public service employees enrolled in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program may have certain federal student loans forgiven after they have completed 10 years of on-time monthly payments.

Service in government, public school districts, police and fire departments, public hospitals, non-profits, national service programs and more constitutes “public service.” To certify that you work for a public service organization, have your employer download and complete the form available online .

To benefit, borrowers working full-time in public service need to have a qualifying loan and sign up for a qualifying repayment plan. After 120 on-time monthly payments, the remainder of the loan is forgiven. Borrowers benefit the most when they have high debt relative to their income, so it pays to start early. Public Service Loan Forgiveness is not considered taxable income by the IRS.

Visit Student Aid to get started!

Student Resources

Cash For College Workshops

Students from middle class families have been increasingly priced out of college. To help these families, the State Legislature enacted the Middle Class Scholarship Program in 2013. Once fully implemented, the Middle Class Scholarship will reduce student fees at the California State University and University of California by up to 40 percent.

California’s Cal Grant Financial Aid Program further guarantees financial assistance based on need to every qualified student who applies.

Both Cal Grants and Middle Class Scholarships are only available by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the CA Dream Act Application. Remember, you can’t get the money unless you fill out the application and meet the March 2, 2015 deadline.

Paying for college can be difficult, but the State of California is here to help. For hands-on assistance, consider attending an upcoming workshop. Check back for a list of Cash for College Workshops near you.