Cal Grants: These are California's largest source of state-funded student aid for students attending public, private, and selected post-secondary institutions in California after high school. General student eligibility requirements include the following: 1) be a California resident, 2) be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, 3) attend an eligible California school, and 4) not exceed established income and asset ceilings. For Cal Grants A and C, these ceilings range from approximately $74,100 for a family of six or more to $26,900 for a family of two. These ceilings vary from year to year.

For graduating high school seniors, there are two types of Cal Grant A Awards:

Cal Grant A Entitlement award is for those students who have at least a 3.0 grade point average, are within the family income and asset ceilings, and apply by the deadline.

Cal Grant A Competitive award is for all other Cal Grant-eligible students who compete for 22,500 Cal Grant A or B awards based on grade point average, meet the financial need, and filing deadline.

For graduating high school seniors, there are two types of Cal Grant B Awards:

Cal Grant B Entitlement award is for students who have at least a 2.0 GPA, meet the family income and asset requirements, and apply by the deadline.

Cal Grant B Competitive award is for students who meet the academic, family income, and disadvantaged background requirements.

Cal Grant C award assists students in occupational or career training programs.

Governor's Merit Scholarships: Any public high school student in grades 9, 10, or 11 who is among the highest scorers statewide on the STAR exam will earn a $1,000 college scholarship. It is possible to earn $1,000 each year.

California Resident: Unmarried students under 18 are legal California residents if a parent has been a legal California resident for one year immediately prior to September 20 of the school year in which the student will enroll. All unmarried students 18 or older must establish their own residency by having lived in California for at least one year immediately prior to September 20 of the school year in which the student will enroll.

Cost of Attendance: This includes tuition, fees, housing, food, books, transportation, and personal expenses.

EFC (Expected Family Contribution): The amount that the student and his family are expected to contribute toward the student's cost of attendance.

Eligible Non-citizen: Generally, an eligible non-citizen is 1) a permanent U.S. resident who has an Alien Registration Receipt Card (I-551); 2) a conditional permanent resident (1-551C); or 3) an other eligible non-citizen with an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service showing one of several acceptable designations.

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid): This is the application for most federal and state financial aid. Information required on this form includes the family's size, income, assests, the parents' age, the number of children in college, and any unusual circumstances. This information is used to determine the EFC.

Fee Waiver: A document stating that a student does not have to pay a fee. See your Counselor to obtain a fee waiver.
Financial Aid: Money that is given or loaned so that a student can pay for college. It may be based either on need or merit or on a combination of both need and merit.

Financial Aid Package: A combination of any of the above kinds of financial aid which a college/university may offer to a student. This may include grants, scholarships, work-study, loans, tuition discounts, fee waivers, or other types of assistance. The aid may be need-based, non-need-based, or a combination of the two.

Financial Need: The difference between a student's expected family contribution and the student's cost of college attendance; is also called the student's financial aid eligibility.

Financial Aid Office: This is the college or university office that awards the financial aid package. Parents and students should contact this office for information.

GPA: Grade point average; numbers are substituted for letter grades and then are averaged; an A=4,a B=3,a C=2, and, a D=1.

Grant: A gift of money to help pay for college; does not have to be paid back.

Loan: Money borrowed; must be repaid with interest.

Scholarship: A gift of money to help pay for college; does not have to be paid back. Some are based on need; some on merit; others may based on both need and merit.

Tuition: The cost of the classes that a student takes.

Work-Study Program: In this program students can earn money while they are in college by working part-time on campus or in the community. Work-study programs are sponsored by the government or by a college or university.