General Requirements

• To be eligible for a Cal Grant B, you must fulfill certain personal requirements. You must (1) be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or eligible non-citizen; (2) be a California resident or (in some cases) have a parent who is a California resident; (3) have a Social Security number; (4) have registered with the U.S. Selective Service, if required; (5) not be in default on any student loan or owe a refund on a grant; and (6) not be incarcerated.
  
  

Educational Requirements

• You must also fulfill requirements based on the school you are attending and the program you are enrolled in. You must (1) attend a qualifying California college; (2) be enrolled at least half time; (3) be taking courses for at least one academic year; (4) be in a program leading to an undergraduate degree or a certificate; and (5) not already have an undergraduate or professional degree.
  
  

Financial Requirements

• To receive a Cal Grant B Entitlement Award, you must show that you have financial need. Financial need is calculated based on the cost of your school, so there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of what the income requirements are. After you fill in your application, your school's financial aid office will determine whether or not you meet the financial requirements.
  
  

GPA Requirements and Deadlines

• To qualify for a Cal Grant B Entitlement Award, you must have a GPA that's at least 2.0. If you are applying for a grant for the first time at your school, you must verify your GPA by filling out a form and having your prior school certify it. In order to be guaranteed an entitlement award, you must apply by March 2. If you miss the deadline, you might still get an award, but it won't be guaranteed.
  
  

Competitive Awards

• You can apply for a Cal Grant B Competitive Award even if you don't qualify for an Entitlement Award. To apply for a Competitive Award, you must have a GPA of at least 2.0 and be from a low-income and disadvantaged family. Selection criteria include how much education your parents have, your family's income and special circumstances, for example if you had been in a foster home.