<p>You simply want to make an informed decision.
With your schools assistance, hopefully this is best.
Its sometimes complicated, but you can try to evaluated yourself and consult your school or other knowledgeable & credible sources then decide.</p>
<p>How will you pay for your current and forecasted Cost of Attendance for each year and over four or more years?</p>
<p>Cost of attendance (COA):
The total cost of college for the school year as calculated by colleges, including tuition, fees, books, supplies, transportation, food, housing, personal expenses, and sometimes the rental or purchase of a computer; also known as the student budget.</p>
<p>How will you pay for this?
Savings, Scholorships, waivers, other Grants "Pell", school level, Rotary Club etc..., EFC, GI Bill, Veteran’s benefits everything? Cal Grant comes after all of these.</p>
<p>As a freshmen deciding Cal Grant A or B, its after all these abilities to pay aid are considered and when you determine your need for the Cal Grant and which A or B you will exploit the most free money you dont have to pay back. This decision could be worth thousands paid out of the grant rather then a high interest financial aid loans.</p>
<p>Cal Grants have minimum academic year (9 Month School Year) need requirements or you can’t use it.
Cal Grant A and B are different.</p>
<p>Cal Grant Award Minimum Annual Financial Need
New Cal Grant A recipients - Maximum annual award amount + $1,500
At Private Universities: $11,208 of minimum need
At U/C's: $9,288 of minimum need
At CSU's: $4,854 of minimum need</p>
<p>New Cal Grant B
Minimun need of $700</p>
<p>Renewal Cal Grant A & B recipients - $100</p>
<p>Awarded as a Sophomore year on, picking Cal Grant B is a no brainer. Tuition + Expense assistance.</p>