Before applying, an institution must be deemed eligible to participate in the Cal Grant program by the California Student Aid Commission (Commission). This requires the institution’s cohort default rate and graduation rate thresholds to be certified by the Commission. Please send requests to verify eligibility to csacipa@csac.ca.gov. Include the school’s name, OPE ID, and contact information. In addition, indicate what federal programs your institution participates in (Pell, SEOG, Direct Loans, and/or Work-Study). If your institution is requesting participation for additional locations, please make sure the OPE IDs for all locations are included in your request.

Once the institution has been certified, please complete and submit the application documents listed below. Missing or incomplete forms may cause a delay in processing the application. Completed applications are reviewed in the order received. This process can take several months once all documents have been received. Upon approval and execution of the Cal Grant Institutional Participation Agreement (IPA), further instructions about the administration of the Cal Grant program will be provided.

The Cal Grant IPA must be signed by the institution’s President, Chancellor, or Chief Executive Officer as reported to the U.S. Department of Education. Other documents may be signed by the Financial Aid Director/Administrator unless otherwise specified on the form.

Utilize the Cal Grant Application Checklist to complete the required documents below. Applications for the 2024-25 academic year must be received by July 1, 2024. If your institution is requesting participation for additional locations, you may be required to submit documents for each location. Please direct questions about the required documents to csacipa@csac.ca.gov. Note: Please send all documents via email. All items should be scanned individually and not as one file. See Frequently Asked Questions for additional information.

1. Cal Grant Institutional Participation Agreement (IPA) — Serves as the managing contract between your institution and the Commission and provides guidance regarding the administration of the Cal Grant program. The agreement must be initialed and signed by the President/Chief Executive Officer/Chancellor.

2. Cal Grant Program Review Survey — Provides an overview of your institution and its existing financial aid practices.

2(B). Eligibility and Certification Approval Report (ECAR) – Provide a recent copy of you ECAR. Must be printed within one month of submission.

3. 2024-25 College Cost Estimate  — Requests information regarding undergraduate and vocational/technical programs used to determine a student’s cost of attendance at your institution. Please submit one College Cost Estimate referencing the program with the highest cost. In special circumstances where the highest-cost program is significantly more expensive and does not represent the majority of students, a separate College Cost Estimate Form should be submitted. The College Cost Estimate start dates will determine your pay periods for Cal Grant awards.

For more information about the clock-to-credit-hour conversions please refer to: Clock Hours and Modules.

4. Institutional Contacts Form — Lists the names of key staff responsible for different aspects of administering the Cal Grant program and disseminating pertinent student financial aid program information.

5. System Administrator’s Access Request Form  —  The completion of this form allows WebGrants access as System Administrators (SA) at a Cal Grant-qualifying institution(s).  The form must be signed by the school’s Authorized Official (AO) as identified on the institutional contacts form. The AO cannot be someone who has access to the WebGrants system nor can the AO or the SA be the same person. Each institution may submit forms for a maximum of two (2) SAs. Once access is granted, SAs may create user access accounts for additional staff. Agreeing to comply with the security requirements is a condition of accessing the WebGrants system and data. If you have additional locations that you’ll require access to, you must also submit the additional schools list form.

6. Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Form — Cal Grant funds are transferred directly from the State Controller’s Office to the participating institution. This information allows institutions to receive funds electronically.

6(B). Interest-bearing documentation – Please provide a bank statement or bank letter which includes the account number and shows that the account is interest-bearing.

7. Third-Party Audited Financial Statement Reports — A copy of the institution’s audited financial statements for at least the two most recently completed fiscal years.

8. Institution Catalog — A current copy of the institution’s campus catalog describing the length of the course of study offered through the institution’s programs of study and financial aid policies. For Non-Public Institutions with the main campus out of state please provide the catalog specific for your California locations.

Please provide the page numbers of the following financial aid information when submitting your application: Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy, disbursement policy, refund policy,  and add/drop, freeze, or census dates.

9. California License Exam Certification — California Education Code (CEC) 69432.7(l)(2)(A) requires institutions provide an access point for students to view the institution’s license examination passage rates for undergraduate programs that lead to employment for which passage of a California licensing examination, if required. All institutions must complete this form annually, regardless of whether programs require CA license exam.

10. Certification of Compliance with Education Code Section 67386 (Student Safety Policy) —requires any California college or university to establish programs and policies regarding student safety to be eligible to receive student financial aid from the State of California.

11. Certification of Compliance with Education Code Section 66281.8 (Sex Equity in Education) – In order for any California college or university to be eligible to receive student financial aid from the State of California, certain policies and procedures must be established regarding sex equity.

12. Title IX Exemption or California Equity in Higher Education Act — CEC 66290.2 requires educational institutions in the state who hold exemption from federal Title IX provisions or California Equity in Higher Education Act provisions to notify the Commission with a written declaration. Non-exempt institutions should also provide a written statement confirming their non-exempt status. 

SUBMISSION OF THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS ARE REQUIRED FOR NON-PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. TO BE ELIGIBLE, NON-PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS MUST SATISFY EITHER OPTION (A) WHICH QUALIFIES A SCHOOL BASED ON PARTICIPATION IN PELL + 2 ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS, OR OPTION (B), THE 10% RULE, WHICH QUALIFIES WASC ACCREDITED SCHOOLS THAT EXPENDS 10% OF THEIR OPERATING BUDGET AS FINANCIAL AID FOR STUDENTS.

(A) OPTION (A) PELL + 2:
All Non-Public institutions qualifying under CEC 69432.7(l)(1)(A) by participating in Pell Grant and in at least two other federal student aid programs (SEOG, DL, FWS) must submit items 13 & 14 below. Do not submit anything under option B, the 10% rule, if applying under option A.

13. Verification of Title IV Receipt of Funds — Submit a G5 External Award Activity History Report from the U.S. Department of Education that verifies that Title IV funds (Pell Grant and two of the three federal student aid programs: Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant [SEOG], Federal Stafford Loan Program, and/or Federal Work Study [FWS]) have been allocated to the institution for the most recent academic year. 

14. Verification of Title IV Disbursement to Student — Submit student account ledger(s) that verify Title IV funds (Pell Grant and two of the three federal student aid programs: SEOG, Federal Stafford Loan Program, and/or FWS) have been disbursed to students.

For Non-Public institutions with multiple campuses, the Title IV funds must show disbursement at each location.

For Non-Public institutions with the main campus out of California, the Title IV funds must show disbursement at each California campus requesting Cal Grant participation. Each California additional location must submit a copy of student accounting ledgers, and/or FWS payroll statements verifying each California additional location disbursement of Pell Grant and two of the three federal student aid programs.

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ONLY SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENT IF APPLYING UNDER THE 10% RULE. DOCUMENTS 13 & 14 ABOVE ARE NOT NEEDED IF APPLYING UNDER THIS RULE.

(B) OPTION (B) 10% RULE:
Non-Public institutions that do not qualify under Title IV requirements may qualify under CEC 69432.7(l)(1)(B). Under CEC 69432.7(l)(1)(B), a qualifying institution for the Cal Grant program means a nonprofit post-secondary institution headquartered and operating in California that: (A) expends at least 10% of the institution’s operating budget, as demonstrated in the most recent audited financial statement, for the purposes of institutionally funded student financial aid in the form of grants, (B) demonstrates to the Commission that it has the administrative capability to administer the funds, and (C) is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

Institutions qualifying under the 10% Rule must download, complete, and submit the Financial Statement and Demonstration of Administrative Capability Form.

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In addition to documents collected from institutions, the Commission will also use information collected from the U.S. Department of Education regarding the institution’s Title IV eligibility, accreditation, school officials, and additional campuses/ locations/ branches/sites (if applicable) to verify and determine the institution’s eligibility to participate in the Cal Grant program.

If you have questions regarding your application or require assistance in completing the forms, contact the Commission at (888) 294-0153 or at csacipa@csac.ca.gov.

Email completed applications to:csacipa@csac.ca.gov.