Cal Grant A, B, and C are three different awards, but you don't apply for any one of them. The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) considers you for the right type based on your FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application, your verified GPA, your financial need, and the college you'll attend. The short version: A needs a 3.0 and pays tuition at four-year colleges; B needs a 2.0, has a lower income limit, and adds a yearly $1,648 access award; C is for career and technical training, with no GPA requirement.
Cal Grant A vs. B vs. C at a glance
| Cal Grant A | Cal Grant B | Cal Grant C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | Low- to middle-income students | Low-income students | Students in occupational/technical programs |
| Program length | 2+ years, toward an associate or bachelor's | 1+ year, toward an associate or bachelor's | At least 8 weeks, toward a certificate |
| Minimum GPA | 3.00 high school, or 2.40 college | 2.00 high school; 2.0 college for community college awards; 2.40 for the transfer award | None |
| 2027-28 income ceiling (family of four) | $151,800 | $79,800 | $151,800 |
| What it pays | Tuition and fees at 4-year colleges | $1,648 access award each year, plus tuition and fees from year 2 | Books/supplies, plus tuition at private schools |
| Guaranteed? | Yes, if you qualify for an entitlement award | Yes, if you qualify for an entitlement award | No -- limited, competitive |
| Duration | Up to 4 years | Up to 4 years | Up to 2 years |
Award amounts, 2026-27
CSAC hasn't published 2027-28 award amounts yet. The 2026-27 maximums for full-time students:
| Community college | CC bachelor's program | CSU | UC (2026-27 cohort) | Private | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cal Grant A | Held in reserve | $3,024 | $6,838 | $15,588 | $4,000-$9,358 |
| Cal Grant B | $1,648 | $3,024 + $1,648 | $6,838 + $1,648 | $15,588 + $1,648 | $4,000-$9,358 + $1,648 |
| Cal Grant C | $1,094 books/supplies | -- | -- | -- | $547 books/supplies + $2,462 tuition/fees |
At UC, each entering cohort's Cal Grant amount stays fixed for up to six years under UC's tuition stability plan. Cal Grant C amounts are prorated for programs of 8 to 14 weeks.
Cal Grant A: the tuition grant
Cal Grant A covers tuition and fees at UC, CSU, and some private colleges, and upper-division fees in community college bachelor's programs. If you earn Cal Grant A but start at a community college, it's held in reserve for up to two years until you transfer. Students with dependent children and current or former foster youth under 26 can receive an access award of up to $6,000.
Cal Grant B: the access award first
Cal Grant B pays a $1,648 access award in your first year -- money for books, transportation, and living costs -- and then adds tuition and fees from your second year on. Students with dependent children and current or former foster youth can get up to $6,000.
Because Cal Grant B counts against a four-year lifetime limit, CSAC suggests that students starting at a community college use it there for one or two years and save the rest for a four-year school, where it also covers tuition.
Cal Grant C: career and technical training
Cal Grant C serves students in occupational or technical programs of at least eight weeks that lead to a certificate. It's the only Cal Grant with no GPA requirement, but it's competitive: awards are limited, students are scored, and those selected must complete a Cal Grant C Supplement Form in WebGrants 4 Students. Occupations on CSAC's priority list earn extra points. It renews for up to two years.
Which one you'll actually get
You can only be paid one Cal Grant at a time. Per CSAC, if you qualify for both A and B, the college decides it: UC, CSU, and certain private schools award A; community colleges award B. If you think the other type would serve you better, CSAC says to ask your financial aid office.
What this means for you
- Know your GPA. 3.0 is the line for Cal Grant A from high school; 2.0 for B.
- Check both income columns in the 2027-28 Cal Grant income limits.
- Make sure your GPA is actually on file -- see how GPA verification and guaranteed awards work.
- Over the income limits? The Middle Class Scholarship picks up where Cal Grant stops.