Another CalGrant Question - Need Advice

Paying for College
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<p>Application Procedure: New Applicants must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and a GPA Verification Form by March 2 prior to the academic year for which the award is intended. CSAC determines eligibility for new awards and notifies the eligible institution(s) listed on the FAFSA of these awards. *Renewal Applicants must only file the FAFSA and demonstrate need as determined by the institution. * You can check the status of your Cal Grant at <a href="https://mygrantinfo.csac.ca.gov/logon.asp%5B/url%5D"&gt;https://mygrantinfo.csac.ca.gov/logon.asp&lt;/a> </p>

<p>I have not asked the financial aid office this question yet, but this is what I'm getting based on this:
<a href="https://www.finaid.ucsb.edu/TypesOfFinAid.asp%5B/url%5D"&gt;https://www.finaid.ucsb.edu/TypesOfFinAid.asp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>So I think FresnoMom is correct. :)</p>

<p>But I will ask the financial aid office as a safety precaution. :)</p>

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<p>The initial award year is when you would be awarded. Seeing that you have family income and assets below the minimum levels.</p>

<p>The income and asset ceilings used for the initial award do not apply to renewal recipients.</p>

<p>Here they are 2009-2010 Income and Asset Ceilings at <a href="http://www.csac.ca.gov/facts/2009-10IncomeCeilings.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.csac.ca.gov/facts/2009-10IncomeCeilings.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Don't take my word for it see at CSAC for yourself. Or you might talk to me when you call Student Support, then you could take my word for it.</p>

<p>Cal Grant Renewal Important Program Facts -or- <a href="http://www.csac.ca.gov/pubs/forms/grnt_frm/ImportantFactsAboutYourRenewalCalGrant.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.csac.ca.gov/pubs/forms/grnt_frm/ImportantFactsAboutYourRenewalCalGrant.pdf&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p>

<p>But heres the point, copy & pasted.</p>

<p>Except BEGIN
Program Eligibility</p>

<p>As a Cal Grant recipient, you may receive up to the equivalent of four years of full-time grant payments. The phrase “program eligibility” refers to the number of academic terms that you may receive Cal Grant payment. The duration of your program eligibility will be based on your year in college at the time you receive your first Cal Grant payment. So, if you were first paid as a sophomore or junior, you will not receive four years of payment. Be advised, your program eligibility will be reduced by each term that you receive payment.
Renewing Your Cal Grant (A, B, and C)
Near the end of each school year, a Cal Grant Renewal letter, which indicates either your eligibility to renew your award or announces the end of your eligibility, is sent to you. To continue to receive your Cal Grant:
•You must have financial need of at least $100 for the renewal year,
•You must have filed a current year FAFSA, listing your school of attendance,
•You must be attending a participating Cal Grant school,
•You must have remaining Cal Grant eligibility, and,
•CSAC must have received either a request for payment for all terms or a leave of absence (LOA) request.</p>

<p>Exceprt END
For Cal Grant sake, this is basically how need is determined.
Minimum financial need is calculated as Cost of Attendance (COA), less the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), minus any Pell Grant amount.</p>

<p>The real meaning of
Expected family contribution (EFC)
Your expected family contribution, or EFC, is the amount of money the government believes you and your family could reasonably contribute toward your education for the school year. Calculated using a federal formula to evaluate the information you provide on your FAFSA, you’ll find your EFC on your Student Aid Report (SAR), which you’ll receive after submitting your FAFSA.
Your EFC will stay the same no matter which college you attend. However, you may be eligible for different types and amounts of aid at different colleges, since each college has its own cost of attendance (COA) and financial aid funds.
Keep in mind that your EFC may or may not be the actual amount you end up paying for college. For example, your college’s cost of attendance includes actual costs for tuition and fees, as well as average costs for housing, food, transportation and personal expenses. You may spend less or more than these averages. If your college is unable to meet all of your financial need, your actual contribution may be more than your calculated EFC.</p>

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<p>thanks a lot Arayrob! It seems to me now that, since my '08 numbers on the FAFSA were a fluke, I'm going to lose eligibility for a CalGrant next year when I renew it. I'm going to consider switching to Cal Grant A.</p>

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<p>Thanks Arayrob.</p>

<p>I still have one question: If the UC gives a kid Cal Grant B as freshman when his family’s income is below $ 30K in the “Award Year” as you called it, what happens when the next year his family income rises to say $ 50 K which is higher than income ceiling to be eligible to receive B?</p>

<p>Since the Cal Grant is valid for 4 years if you qualify in the “Award Year”, and the family has financial need as measured by COA - EFC (renewal FAFSA), can the kid continue to get CAL Grant B in sophomore, junior and senior years even though family income in these last years will exceed Cal Grant B eligibilty? </p>

<p>Also, if Cal Grant A is 7700/yr for 4 years, how does B exceed A (1558 times 4 years) + (7700 times 3 years) beginning with sophomore years?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

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<p>Sorry’ Post #32 is incorrect. Correction to Cal Grant B Totals.</p>

<p>2009-10 Proposed</p>

<p>AMOUNTS ARE AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE “FINANCIAL NEED”</p>

<p>Cost of attendance - Expected Family Contribution (EFC)= Financial Need</p>

<p>Cal Grant A offers 4 years of tuition & fee assistance at CSU’s U/C’s and Private Universities only.</p>

<p>CSU’s: up to $3,354 annual tuition award x 4 years = up to $13.416.
U/C’s: up to $7,788 annual tuition award x 4 = up to $31,152.
Private Universities: up to $9708.annual tuition award x 4 = up to $38,832. </p>

<p>Cal Grant A Community College Reserve Grant
If you receive a Cal Grant A but attend a California Community College first, your award will be reserved for up to three years until you transfer to a four-year college.</p>

<p>Cal Grant B offers
4 years expense assistance up to $1551. at Community College or Universities and
3 years of tuition assistance starting as a sophomore at CSU’s U/C’s and Private Universities.</p>

<p>CSU’s: up to $3,354 annual tuition award x 3 years = up to $10,062 plus expense assistance of up to $1551.x 4 years = up to $6,204. After 4 years up to $16,266</p>

<p>U/C’s: up to $7,788 annual tuition award x 3 years = up to $23,364. plus expense assistance of up to $1551.x 4 years = up to $6,204. After 4 years up to $29,568</p>

<p>Private Universities: up to $9708. x 3 = up to $29,124. plus expense assistance of up to $1551.x 4 years = up to $6,204. After 4 years up to $35,328</p>

<p>Community Colleges: expense assistance only of up to $1551. x 4 years = up to $6,204.</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>Since UC tuition is $7126, CAL Grant A is actually given $7126 instead of the full $7788.</p>

<p>Since CAL Grant B pays other stuff in addition to tuition, room, board, etc. after Freshman year, it gets to the full amount $7788.</p>

<p>So the pay out is actually (for a UC):</p>

<p>CAL Grant A:</p>

<p>7126 x 4 = 28504</p>

<p>CAL Grant B:</p>

<p>4(1551)+3(7788) = 29568</p>

<p>Arayrob, thanks for the private mail message. </p>

<p>Can you confirm what I posted is correct? :)</p>

<p>If it is wrong, then just correct me.</p>

<p>Thanks for your helpful posts. :)</p>

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<p>Thanks for the clarification Arayrob. brassring has a question up on post #44 that applies to my situation, could you possibly address that?</p>

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<p>Renewal
The recipient shall remain eligible for award renewal only if he or she is a California resident, in attendance, and making satisfactory academic progress at a qualifying institution, as determined by the commission. minimum financial need of at least $100 to remain eligible. </p>

<p>If your EFC changes so much that you don’t need $100 then a student might be done with the grant
If your school reports to the Commission “no minimum financial need” this could trip the grant into withdrawl.
The possible work around is to request a leave of absence with the Commission for terms with less then $100 need.
I need to get back to you on this.</p>

<p>The income and asset ceilings used for the initial award do not apply to renewal recipients.</p>

<p>The minimum need requirement is a separate eligibility criterion from the income and asset ceiling requirements.
To be eligible for a Cal Grant, a student must have sufficient financial need for the award. The calculation of a student’s financial need is described here at the bottom.</p>

<p>Award amounts may vary each year depending on the level of funding provided in the Annual State Budget.
For whichever year you were awarded, these are your amounts.</p>

<p>2001-02 & 2002-03 Private $9708, U/C $3429, CSU $1428
2003-04 Private $9708, U/C $4984, CSU $2046
2005-06 Private $9708, U/C $6141, CSU $2520
2007-08 & 2008-09 Private $9708, U/C $6636, CSU $2772
2009-10 Private $9708, U/C $7788, CSU $3354
2010-11 To be determined as early as November 2009.</p>

<p>New = 1st year or award year of Cal Grant
New Cal Grant A or Cal Grant C minimum financial need required equals the maximum award amount, at the student’s first school choice, plus $1,500. At all schools, the minimum financial need required for Cal Grant B selection is $700.</p>

<p>Renewal = 2nd, 3rd 4th and 5th if eligible.
Renewal Cal Grant A, B or C minimum financial need of at least $100 to remain eligible for a Cal Grant payment. </p>

<p>Minimum financial need is calculated as Cost of Attendance (COA), less the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), minus Veteran’s benefits, minus any Pell Grant amount.</p>

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<p>Arayrob…you are posting great information!</p>

<p>I didn’t know that… “The income and asset ceilings used for the initial award do not apply to renewal recipients.” </p>

<p><a href=“http://www.csac.ca.gov/CGM/Chap06.pdf[/url]”>http://www.csac.ca.gov/CGM/Chap06.pdf&lt;/a&gt; (11/2003)</p>

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<p>Wow. That is really good information. So my minimum financial need only has to stay at $100? That seems like a very low amount, almost like a guarantee that the Cal Grant will be renewed? </p>

<p>Anyone have any idea what kind of income/EFC that would be?</p>

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<p>Arayrob: Thank you. You are a great help and its terrifically appreciated.</p>

<p>So, if in Year 1, a student is eligible for either Cal A or Cal B – but the UC selects Cal B in the first year for the student. For Year 2, student has financial need exceeding $ 100, but his/her family income (on renewal FAFSA for UC) rises above Cal B eligibilty levels, the student will still remain eligible for Cal B (tuition + 1550) during sophomore, junior and senior years?</p>

<p>Put another way, based on a careful reading of all your postings, once eligible for Cal B in the AWARD Year, student will remain eligible for Cal B for years 2, 3, & 4 so long as student demonstrates financial need exceeding the minimum. Is my understanding correct?</p>

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<p>If you meet the renewal criterion and need $100 or more yes you keep your grant.
If your sudden income that caused “no need” was a one time fluke? You’ll need to convince your school of this so they do not declare that you dont need additional California State Education Aid.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the posts Arayrob. :)</p>

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<p>What does it mean? (Do I get anything?)
Cal Grant A - Awarded - On Hold
Cal Grant B - Qualified - Not Awarded</p>

<p>California Aid Reort
Cal Grant B - see code #1</p>