CALIFORNIA STATE GRANT PROGRAMS

CAL GRANTS

New York Film Academy (NYFA) has been approved by the California Student Aid Commission to award CAL Grants to eligible students attending the Los Angeles campus. A Cal Grant is free money for college you don’t have to pay back.

To qualify, you must apply for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) by the deadline and meet the eligibility and financial requirements as well as any minimum GPA requirements. NYFA staff are available to answer any questions regarding the CAL Grant program but for immediate information, visit http://www.csac.ca.gov/.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

 

  • Submit the FAFSA or CADAA application and your verified Cal Grant GPA by the deadline
  • Be a US citizen or eligible noncitizen or meet AB540 eligibility criteria
  • Be a California resident for one year
  • Attend a qualifying California college
  • Not have a bachelor’s or professional degree
  • Have financial need at the college of your choice
  • Have family income and assets below the minimum levels
  • Be enrolled or plan to enroll in a program leading to an undergraduate degree or certificate
  • Be enrolled or plan to enroll at least half time
  • Have registered with the U.S. Selective Service, if required to do so
  • Not owe a refund on any state or federal grant or be in default on a student loan
  • Not be incarcerated
  • Maintain the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards as established by the school.

Recipients who do not meet the standards are ineligible for Cal Grant payment and will not use eligibility during the terms they are ineligible for payment.

INCOME AND ASSET CEILINGS

CAL GRANT DEADLINE DATES

March 2: The most important deadline for Cal Grants is March 2. Be sure you submit your FAFSA and your verified Cal Grant GPA by the March 2 Cal Grant application deadline.

September 2: If you’ll be attending a California Community College in the fall and missed the March 2 deadline, you have a second deadline of September 2. There are only a limited number of awards available for those who apply in the fall, so try to meet the March 2 deadline.

October 1: The FAFSA and CA Dream Act Application open for the following school year. Be sure to submit your application and GPA by the March 2 deadline.

All Cal Grant award offers are subject to the approval of the final state budget.

California Dream Act allows undocumented and documented students who meet the nonresident tuition exemption eligibility requirements to:

  • Apply for and receive non-state funded scholarships for public colleges and universities
  • Apply for and receive state-funded financial aid such as Cal Grant, Chafee Grant, CCC fee waiver, and institutional grants