California college grants come mainly from two state programs: the Cal Grant, which pays tuition (and for some students a cash “access award”) at California colleges, and the Middle Class Scholarship, which covers part of the cost left over after other aid. Both are run by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC), and both start with one application: the FAFSA or, for students who cannot file it, the California Dream Act Application (CADAA). The March deadline matters more than almost anything else you do.
The federal 2027-28 FAFSA, the form California uses for grants in the 2027-28 school year, opened on September 23, 2026, according to CNBC’s launch report. The agency that runs the programs is the California Student Aid Commission. Its website refused automated requests when this guide was checked, so the figures below come from the state Legislative Analyst’s Office and a University of California aid office, and each is labelled with its year.
The main California college grants at a glance
| Program | Who it is for | What it pays |
|---|---|---|
| Cal Grant A | Students with financial need under the income and asset caps who meet a GPA minimum | Tuition at a UC, CSU or eligible private college |
| Cal Grant B | Students with greater need, under a lower income cap | Tuition plus an “access award” for nontuition costs |
| Cal Grant C | Students in career technical education programs | Lower amounts for job-training programs |
| Middle Class Scholarship | UC and CSU students with household income up to a higher cap | A share of the cost left after other aid |
Source for the table: the Legislative Analyst’s Office review of the California Student Aid Commission budget (February 17, 2026), which notes that Cal Grant C is “only available to students enrolled in career technical education programs.”
How much a Cal Grant pays in 2026-27
Cal Grant amounts depend on which college you attend, because Cal Grant A and B pay tuition directly. The LAO lists these maximum awards for new full-time undergraduates in 2026-27:
| Award, 2026-27 | Maximum |
|---|---|
| UC tuition under Cal Grant A or B | $15,588 |
| CSU tuition under Cal Grant A or B | $6,838 |
| Cal Grant B access award (most students) | $1,648 |
| Access award for students with dependent children or foster youth | $6,000 |
These are 2026-27 figures, the year students are in now. Amounts for 2027-28 depend on the state budget, so the 2027-28 numbers were not yet published when this guide was checked. Treat any 2027-28 dollar figure you see before then with caution.
Who qualifies for a Cal Grant
Every Cal Grant is need-based and capped by household income and assets. The caps change every year. For 2025-26, the LAO reports that a dependent student in a family of four needed income of no more than $135,900 to qualify for Cal Grant A or C, and no more than $71,500 for Cal Grant B. Those are the most recent ceilings the LAO published; CSAC posts each year’s chart on its own site.
There is also a grade requirement. The LAO says that “most award types require a minimum high school GPA of 2.0 or 3.0 or a minimum community college GPA of 2.0 or 2.4.” Your school sends your GPA to CSAC for you, but you should confirm it has done so. UC Berkeley’s aid office notes that the certifying school must submit the GPA form to CSAC by the March 2 deadline for a student to be considered for a 2026-27 Cal Grant, according to Berkeley Financial Aid and Scholarships.
Students who are undocumented or otherwise cannot file the FAFSA use the CADAA, which is California’s own application. If you are unsure which form fits your family, our guide to filling out the FAFSA covers the federal form step by step.
The Middle Class Scholarship
The Middle Class Scholarship (MCS) is aimed at families who earn too much for a Cal Grant but still struggle with UC or CSU costs. The LAO describes it as a need-blind program for students whose households earn up to $234,000 (the 2025-26 cap for dependent students). Rather than paying a fixed amount, MCS covers a share of each student’s remaining cost of attendance after other aid is counted.
That share is set in the budget and can change. The LAO reports it was 35 percent in 2025-26 and that the Governor proposed cutting it to 17.5 percent for 2026-27. Because the final figure depends on the budget the Legislature passes, check your college’s aid offer for your actual MCS amount rather than estimating it.
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California college grants deadline: March 2
For the current year, the deadline was firm. Berkeley’s aid office states: “The California priority deadline for the 2026-27 academic year (fall 2026, spring 2027, summer 2027) is March 2, 2026.” Filing after that date can cost you Cal Grant eligibility.
California has used March 2 as its main Cal Grant date for years, but we could not read CSAC’s own 2027-28 deadline page, so confirm the 2027-28 date on the CSAC site or with your counselor. The LAO notes a separate, later date has applied to community college students in past cycles. Our FAFSA deadlines guide explains how state dates differ from the federal one.
Step-by-step: applying for California grants for 2027-28
- Create your StudentAid.gov account (or start the CADAA) and file as early as you can.
- List at least one California college on the application so CSAC receives your data.
- Confirm your GPA was sent. Ask your high school or community college counselor whether your GPA was submitted to CSAC.
- Watch your email for any request from CSAC or your college, and answer it quickly.
- Read your FAFSA Submission Summary and fix errors quickly, since the state uses the same data.
- Compare offers. Your Cal Grant and MCS will appear in each California college’s aid offer.
A quick eligibility checklist
- California resident (or eligible under the California Dream Act)
- Household income and assets under that year’s cap for the award you want
- A GPA that meets the minimum for your award type, submitted by your school
- Enrolled at an eligible California college
- FAFSA or CADAA filed by the state deadline
Your 2027-28 timeline
The 2027-28 FAFSA has been open since September 23, 2026. Here is how the rest of the year lines up, using the dates the sources in this guide publish:
- Now through winter: file the FAFSA or CADAA and confirm with your counselor that your GPA will be sent to CSAC.
- Early March 2027: the state deadline, which was March 2 in the 2026-27 cycle; confirm the 2027-28 date with CSAC.
- Spring 2027: compare college aid offers, which will list any Cal Grant and Middle Class Scholarship.
- Summer 2027: watch for final 2027-28 amounts once the state budget is set.
Common questions
Do I need a separate Cal Grant application?
No. The FAFSA or CADAA is the application, together with the GPA your school submits. What you do need to do is make sure both reach CSAC by the deadline. A FAFSA filed on time with no GPA on record can leave you out of consideration, which is why Berkeley’s aid office stresses the GPA submission date as well as the filing date.
Can community college students get a Cal Grant?
Yes. The LAO’s minimum GPA figures include community college GPAs of 2.0 or 2.4 for some award types, and Cal Grant C is aimed at career technical education programs, many of which are offered at community colleges. The LAO also notes that a separate, later deadline has applied to community college students in past cycles, so check the current date for your college.
What if my family’s income changed this year?
The FAFSA asks for past tax information, so a recent job loss or other change may not show up. Ask your college’s aid office about a professional judgment review, and see our guide to state grants if you are weighing colleges in different states.
Keeping your award
Cal Grants and the MCS are renewed each year, so you must file a new FAFSA or CADAA every year and remain under the income and asset caps. A family whose income rises can lose an award they held the year before. Your college’s financial aid office handles the yearly check and has the final word on your package.
How California grants fit with federal aid
Cal Grants stack with the federal Pell Grant, which is paid separately by the US Department of Education. Many California students receive both. For the gap that remains, search for local and private awards with our free scholarship finder, and see our overview of state grants for college if you are comparing schools in more than one state.
The most important date on your calendar is the state deadline in early March 2027. File the 2027-28 FAFSA or CADAA now, and ask your school this month whether it will submit your GPA to CSAC.