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Student financial aid

Find California student aid, FAFSA or CADAA guidance, Cal Grant steps, state award accounts and free application-help workshops.

Before you start

  • Start with the academic year you need. State priority dates, GPA requirements and individual college deadlines are different.
  • Choose FAFSA or CADAA for your circumstances. Mixed-status families should review CSAC’s specific guidance and confirm rules for their academic year.
  • County maps help you browse statewide services. They do not decide eligibility, list every college aid office or guarantee a local workshop.

1 guide with reviewed service links · Shasta · “City of Garden Grove”

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California state agency · Statewide

California CSAC — Student Financial Aid

California student financial aid; programme, school and academic-year eligibility apply.

Choose FAFSA or CADAA for the right academic year (opens in a new tab)Official instructions

Compare applications, state priority dates and next steps with CSAC. Check your college’s own deadlines.

Service area: California student financial aid; programme, school and academic-year eligibility apply. Area details & sources

Choose FAFSA or CADAA for the right academic year

Choose the appropriate FAFSA or CADAA and apply each year. Mixed-status families should review the separate guidance rather than treating this general comparison as an individual eligibility decision.

Official information checked October 16, 2026 · Details & sources

Source checked October 16, 2026

California Student Aid Commission · CSAC — Department website (opens in a new tab)

Main content — service choose

Apply for Financial Aid 2027-28 FAFSA & CADAA applications open October 1, 2026! Apply early to maximize your financial aid opportunities for the 2027-28 academic year! Priority Deadline for State Aid: March 2, 2027 CA Community College Students should apply by September 2, 2027. Ready to Get Started? Visit the How To Apply Page

Saved evidence: 06dd984f28068a62 · Agent source review

Apply using the federal FAFSA (opens in a new tab)Official instructions

Federal Student Aid’s public FAFSA entry page. Select your academic year; application and contributor accounts are managed by the federal site.

Service area: California student financial aid; programme, school and academic-year eligibility apply. Area details & sources

Apply using the federal FAFSA

FAFSA is operated by the U.S. Department of Education/Federal Student Aid and is used for federal, state and institutional aid. Each programme makes its own eligibility decision.

Official information checked October 16, 2026 · Details & sources

Apply using the federal FAFSA

The federal public entry page lists the 2027–28 FAFSA as available. Select the academic year you actually need.

Official information checked October 16, 2026 · Details & sources

Source checked October 16, 2026

California Student Aid Commission · Student aid — Visit the How To Apply Page (opens in a new tab)

Main content — service fafsa

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)The FAFSA is an application operated by the U.S. Department of Education and the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) that allows students to qualify for federal, state, and institutional financial aid. You are eligible to complete the FAFSA if you: Are a US Citizen Are a Permanent Resident ("Green Card" holder) Have a T-Visa Are an Eligible Non-citizen* Apply with FAFSA here

Saved evidence: 283e488cc653b677 · Agent source review

Apply using the California Dream Act Application (opens in a new tab)Official instructions

CADAA is a state and institutional aid application. Review eligibility and family circumstances before choosing an application.

Service area: California student financial aid; programme, school and academic-year eligibility apply. Area details & sources

Apply using the California Dream Act Application

CADAA is operated by CSAC for state and institutional aid. It does not supply federal aid eligibility.

Official information checked October 16, 2026 · Details & sources

Source checked October 16, 2026

California Student Aid Commission · Student aid — Visit the How To Apply Page (opens in a new tab)

Main content — service cadaa

California Dream Act Application (CADAA)The CADAA is California’s state financial aid application operated by CSAC that allows undocumented and other eligible students to qualify for state and institutional financial aid. You are eligible to complete the CADAA if you: Are Undocumented Have a U-Visa or Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Meet the CA non-resident exemption requirements New: Students from Mixed-Status Families See Making Informed Decisions, for more information. Apply with CADAA here

Saved evidence: 283e488cc653b677 · Agent source review

Check Cal Grant eligibility, GPA and award steps (opens in a new tab)Official instructions

Review Cal Grant requirements and confirm that CSAC has your GPA. FAFSA or CADAA supplies the application; Cal Grant has additional eligibility conditions.

Service area: California student financial aid; programme, school and academic-year eligibility apply. Area details & sources

Check Cal Grant eligibility, GPA and award steps

Cal Grant does not have a separate initial application: students are considered through timely FAFSA or CADAA submission. GPA, school and programme conditions still apply.

Official information checked October 16, 2026 · Details & sources

Check Cal Grant eligibility, GPA and award steps

The Cal Grant amount depends on award type A/B/C and the school. No universal grant amount is stated here. A financial aid award is separate from an application fee.

Official information checked October 16, 2026 · Details & sources

Source checked October 16, 2026

State of California · CA.gov — California Student Aid Commission (opens in a new tab)

Main content — service calgrant

Cal Grant financial aid for college Apply for a Cal Grant, a financial aid program administrated by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) providing aid to California undergraduates, vocational training students, and those in teacher certification programs. Launch service: Cal Grant financial aid for college

Saved evidence: 9ce39cbd46ab8810 · Agent source review

Manage state awards with WebGrants 4 Students (opens in a new tab)Official instructions

Check state awards, school information and GPA receipt in the official WG4S portal. It is separate from your school and FAFSA accounts.

Service area: California student financial aid; programme, school and academic-year eligibility apply. Area details & sources

Manage state awards with WebGrants 4 Students

WG4S manages Cal Grant/Chafee updates, school/address changes and leave-of-absence requests. It does not replace school or FAFSA accounts; monitor each account separately.

Official information checked October 16, 2026 · Details & sources

Manage state awards with WebGrants 4 Students

Use mygrantinfo.csac.ca.gov for WG4S. CSAC says it is no longer affiliated with webgrants4students.org and the old address cannot access your account.

Official information checked October 16, 2026 · Details & sources

Source checked October 16, 2026

California Student Aid Commission · CSAC — More contact info (opens in a new tab)

Main content — service webgrants

Important: CSAC is no longer affiliated with the website www.webgrants4students.org. You will not be able to access your WebGrants account information from that website. To access your WebGrants account, please go to https://mygrantinfo.csac.ca.gov.

Saved evidence: 8358dd3677b90a59 · Agent source review

Find free Cash for College application help (opens in a new tab)Official instructions

Find an official workshop for FAFSA, CADAA or Chafee application help. Use the current directory to check event dates, location and availability.

Service area: California student financial aid; programme, school and academic-year eligibility apply. Area details & sources

Find free Cash for College application help

The Cash for College directory describes free FAFSA, CADAA and Chafee application-help workshops from October 1 through June 30. Find a current event; this service window is not an aid filing deadline or a guarantee of a nearby event.

Official information checked October 16, 2026 · Details & sources

Source checked October 16, 2026

State of California · CA.gov — California Student Aid Commission (opens in a new tab)

Main content — service workshops

Attend a student financial aid workshop Attend a student financial aid workshop with the Cash for College program. The Cash for College program offers free, hands-on workshops across the state. From October 1 to March 2, families can get help to complete the California Dream Act Application or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can also learn about scholarships and other forms of financial aid. Launch service: Attend a student financial aid workshop

Saved evidence: 9ce39cbd46ab8810 · Agent source review

Read CSAC guidance for mixed-status families (opens in a new tab)Official instructions

Review CSAC’s family-specific guidance. Parts of the page explicitly refer to 2026–27; ask CSAC and your college about the academic year you need.

Service area: California student financial aid; programme, school and academic-year eligibility apply. Area details & sources

Read CSAC guidance for mixed-status families

CSAC says FAFSA can be completed after CADAA and directs families to consider their circumstances, its privacy/informed-decision materials and college federal-aid deadlines. This guide makes no blanket privacy or immigration-advice guarantee.

Official information checked October 16, 2026 · Details & sources

Source checked October 16, 2026

California Student Aid Commission · Student aid — Visit the How To Apply Page (opens in a new tab)

Main content — service mixed status

New: Students from Mixed-Status Families See Making Informed Decisions, for more information. Apply with CADAA here

Saved evidence: 283e488cc653b677 · Agent source review

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