Is there a UC Blue + Gold Opportunity type plan for CSU's?

State Forums
1

<p>Is there a UC Blue + Gold Opportunity type plan for CSU's?</p>

2

<p>They don’t have a special name for it at the CSU, but yes, a similar aid plan is in place. The basic component of the Blue and Gold Opportunity plan is the CalGrant, which covers systemwide fees (currently $12,192) at UCs. The CalGrant is also available to CSU students and also covers systemwide fees (currently ~$4,884).</p>

<p>CalGrant eligibility is determined by family income and assets as reported on the FAFSA - it is not tied to EFC. See this schedule to determine if your student is eligible for CalGrant <a href=“http://www.csac.ca.gov/facts/2012_13_income_ceilings_new_applicants.pdf[/url]”>http://www.csac.ca.gov/facts/2012_13_income_ceilings_new_applicants.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Cal Grant is all-or-nothing. If you are under the ceilings you get the full grant whether you are $1 under or $30,000 under. If you are over the ceilings the grant is not awarded whether you are $1 over or $100,000 over.</p>

3

<p>I didn’t realize it was basically the same as Cal Grant. My D graduated from HS early and she didn’t know she would before the Cal Grant deadline–so it was never filed. I don’t know if we qualify but I will look into it. Thanks</p>

4

<p>Actually, there is not a similar program to the Blue& Gold plan at the UCs.</p>

<p>My son ended up going to a UC because it was actually less expensive than going to a CSU, because of the Blue and Gold plan.</p>

<p>The Blue and Gold plan is independent of the Cal Grant. You are eligible for the B&G plan, regardless of whether you qualify for CalGrant, as the B&G plan looks only at income, where the CalGrant looks at income and assets. (We did not qualify for the CalGrant, but we qualified for B&G.)</p>

<p>If you don’t qualify for CalGrant, there is no other financial aid available at a CSU, other than scholarships. </p>

<p>So, if you qualify for a CalGrant, you will get it whether at a UC or CSU. If you don’t qualify for CalGrant, you may still be eligible for B&G. But there is no other program at the CSUs that is equivalent to the B&G.</p>

<p>Hope this helps!</p>

5

<p>So if your kids go to a CSU not only does the state spend a tiny fraction of the amount on your child’s education compared to what it allocates to UC students but you are basically on the hook for its full cost while most UC students do not pay a penny for their educations because of the B&G program.</p>

6

<p>Partially true. The B&G program only pays for tuition. We still have to pay for housing, books, etc, which is easily over half the cost. </p>

<p>It was very interesting though, that the CSU ended up being more expensive. Unless your child lives at home.</p>

7

<p>Lemaitre1, California students who qualify for CalGrant (see link in my post #2 for income/assets ceilings) have their systemwide fees (what we commonly call “in-state tuition”) covered at CSUs. The majority of students (but not all) in California live within commuting distance of one of the 23 CSU campuses and many CSUs offer admission priority to applicants from their home region.</p>

<p>In other words, California students with family incomes of as much as $92,000/year (for a family of 6) can attend a CSU at an incredible bargain. In addition, the CSU is available to students who would not be academically eligible for a UC. If the student is admitted to a UC and finds it is less expensive, then they are in a fantastic position and should take advantage of it. That does not make the CSU any less of a bargain for those who pay $0 for tuition and can commute from home.</p>

8

<p>Yep, it was the “asset” part that my D was not told about when she inquired about Cal Grant–that knocked her out of eligibility-</p>

9

<p>About the Cal Grant, anyone know if I can use it in conjunction with the GI Bill?</p>