<p>Hey everyone. I posted in the UC forum but I think I may need to post here for more perspective on this question. I need to know if you have ANY information on whether the "Cal Grant" ever fully covers the tuition expenses, and if there is ever money left over from the "Cal Grant" fund. Also if you know anything about how the other loans, and aids work I would appreciate the additional information. Thanks everybody, any advice is useful.</p>
<p>Cal Grant does not cover any tuition for UCs or CSUs as California residents do not pay tuition ;).</p>
<p>Anywho, joking aside, Cal Grant covers fees within the UC and CSU system. I do not know the CSU amount offhand, but the UC amount for 2010-2011 is $10,302 for fees. This is just the system wide fees. Each campus is able to add their own additional campus fees on top of that amount. For example, UCSC’s total fees are estimated at $12,732 for the 2010-2011 school year. However, my experience has been that the UC will award you more than enough grant money to cover the remaining amount if you have remaining need.</p>
<p>Disclaimer: all numbers I use below this are relating to UCs, not CSUs. I will need to research the CSU information a little more deeply since I am only personally familiar with UCs.</p>
<p>The only “left over” money that ever comes from Cal Grant is if you have Cal Grant B. There is a living assistance allowance of $1551 (distributed evenly between the quarters/semesters). This is paid directly to the student in the form of a direct deposit or check (I set up direct deposit myself). However, I always put this money back into my housing costs for on campus living (I do this by writing a check for the amount to my campus; the money comes to me first).</p>
<p>Kender: Heh, I am amused when people talk about UC/CSUs and “tuition”, because what we have is fees. Thousands of dollars of them. Other than that, I think you covered it well.</p>
<p>Cool, Thank you for posting Kender, trin. I now have a good idea of whats going on. Question: Do you get more from the cal grant with a zero efc? I have a zero EFC, but I could either choose to use my veterans waiver (Which will cover all tuition, but not give me the “Cal grant”, but still the other aids) or I could get the cal grant with the other aids (Overall I want to know if I could have money left over after tuition from the Cal grant alone, since I have an EFC zero. In this case the Cal grant will be more worthwhile than the veterans waiver). I need to find out who is in category B.</p>
<p>TrinSF: It’s just something I find amusing myself to point out XD Compared to some other states that use both fees and tuition for residents, though, at least ours only deals in fees and still seeks to try and cover them for those with need. It is definitely something, though, that needs to be kept in mind when discussing things like Cal Grant since it talks about fees and not tuition (at UCs and CSUs).</p>
<p>dsgslj: I have a 1166 or something EFC and I get the same amount for Cal Grant that someone with an EFC of 0 would get. So no, it is a set amount and the only qualification is based on income and asset ceilings (it has nothing directly to do with your EFC). I get the same $10,302 for fees that you would receive even though we have different EFCs.</p>
<p>If you are using something else that is specifically for fees/tuition then, to my knowledge, you cannot receive Cal Grant. One of my friends who qualified for Cal Grant chose to use her dad’s veteran benefits instead because they covered more for her (I believe there was even a stipend for books). You’re just going to have to look at the different scenarios to see which would be the most financially beneficial to you. Your best bet is to talk to the financial aid office at your campus to determine this.</p>
<p>You will not, as I mentioned in my previous post, get any money back from Cal Grant unless you have Cal Grant B which has a small living allowance that is distributed directly to the student. I have B and I receive a direct deposit of $517 every quarter. This is specific to B only.</p>
<p>kender, you’re a rock star. You really cleared things up for me. thans for the info.</p>
<p>Heh, I am amused when people talk about UC/CSUs and “tuition”, because what we have is fees.</p>
<p>A rose by any other name costs the same. ;)</p>
<p>Kender, do you have the Blue and Gold Plan? How does it work in conjunction with the Cal Grant A/Cal Grant B (2nd year onwards)? Since they both cover fees.</p>
<p>mom2collegekids: Well, technically California’s idea of tuition costs for the UCs is $20k+. They’re merely “subsidizing that $20k+” for residents. So, truthfully, we really aren’t paying anywhere close to the true cost to fund our education (or so we’re told). But the fees are still insane considering they’re only called fees ($12k+ in fees is ridiculous). There is a history behind why the terms are used as they are, though. But that’s a discussion for another time with the whole issue with schools using fees and tuition terminology XD. (Obviously I do not agree, but I recognize that it is something that needs to be acknowledged since this is how things are phrased for those schools. Trust me, never try calling the fees tuition at any CCC, CSU, or UC. You will be raked over the coals for it.)</p>
<p>theReach: No, I have Cal Grant B plus UCSC grant money (I also have some Pell, but that isn’t specifically set aside for fees like Cal Grant and Blue and Gold is). I had Blue and Gold in my initial award package before Cal Grant was added to it. After Cal Grant was added, all my fees were covered between Cal Grant and UCSC grant so the Blue and Gold was removed (it showed up as “UC Fee Grant” on UCSC’s award package). From what I’ve seen of other packages, the order of priority for covering fees seems to go:</p>
<p>Cal Grant
Individual UC funds
Blue and Gold</p>
<p>If the first two are enough to cover the fees then Blue and Gold is not added. I’ve very rarely seen anyone with Blue and Gold as the majority are also eligible for Cal Grant. It almost seems more there to subsidize that first year where Cal Grant B only helps with a little bit of living costs, but no fee assistance until sophomore year.</p>
<p>Random information that I didn’t consider until it was pointed out to me: if you have Cal Grant and are taking summer classes, make sure that the financial aid office does not use Cal Grant to cover those summer fees if at all possible. It will use up your eligibility much more quickly.</p>