California Student Aid Programs

Cal Grant

The state of California offers Cal Grants to qualifying students who are residents of California and have graduated from a California high school. Award is based on criteria set by the California Student Aid Commission. Several legislative actions have been passed and signed into statute regarding eligibility criteria for CalGrants.

For High School Graduates:

You must have your GPA Verification Form sent to CSAC by March 2 by your high school. Most high schools are sending these electronically, but check with your high school guidance counselor for confirmation of the submittal.
You must complete your FAFSA on or before March 2.

For community college students only, there is an additional award; deadline is September 2. If you are a current student, the GPA Verification Form is sent electronically; no action is needed by the student. The FAFSA must be completed before September 2.

For further information regarding CalGrants, please go to the California Student Aid Commission's (CSAC) web site at: https://www.csac.ca.gov/.

Cal Grant A

Eligibility is based on criteria set by the California Student Aid Commission. Monetary assistance is provided to meet tuition and fee costs at four-year universities. Awards to community college students may be placed on "reserve" for a maximum of two years, until a student transfers to a four-year institution.

Cal Grant B

This grant may be used at community colleges and universities, not to exceed four years. Cal Grant B students also receive tuition costs at the same level as Cal Grant A, beginning the junior year.

Cal Grant C

Assists eligible students enrolled in vocational training, leading to a Certificate or AA/AS degree, not a transfer program.

Student Success Completion Grant (SSCG)

Awarded to students who receive a full time Cal Grant A, Cal Grant B or C award. Students enrolled in 12-14.99 units per semester are eligible to receive $649 for the semester and students enrolled in 15+ units per semester are eligible to receive $2,000 for the semester. The SSCG is disbursed when the student’s enrollment is frozen for full time Cal Grant disbursement. If there is funding available after the fall and spring disbursements are made then additional disbursements may also be awarded to students who have earned 24-29.99 units for the year (regardless of semester enrollment including summer). These additional awards are worth $1,298 and is dependent upon whether or not funding is still available. Students who have earned 30+ units may be eligible for an additional $2,000 for the year. If funding is still available.

Students With Dependents Grant (SWD)

New Cal Grant regulations allow for an increased award for those students who have dependent students under the age of 18 that they are supporting and reside within the household. Potentially eligible students must either submit certification to the Financial Aid Office certifying they have dependents under the age of 18 that they are supporting or they can self-certify in their Web Grants 4 Students account.

Maximum Annual Award Amounts

Cal Grant A (only for Community College students with dependents): $6,000

Cal Grant B: $6,024

Cal Grant C: $4,000

GPA

Barstow Community College uploads all students cumulative GPAs to the California Student Aid Commission twice a year for any student who has completed more than 16 degree-applicable units at BCC.

You may check the Cal Grant website 48 hours before the actual deadline to see your reported GPA. If your reported GPA is not shown, please email finaid@barstow.edu.

Chafee Grant

This program provides grants of up to $5,000 to eligible foster youth. An Independent Living Coordinator with the Department of Public Social Services determines whether or not a student is an eligible foster youth.

Students must be enrolled in college or vocational school at least half-time (6 units) during the fall and/or spring semester and must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) before the Chafee grant can be disbursed.

Disbursement is contingent upon eligibility and funding. An application for this grant can be completed online at https://chafee.csac.ca.gov/ This grant will be renewed automatically by CSAC as long as the student meets specific criteria. Each CHAFEE grant disbursement is released by CSAC during the fall and/or spring semester at which time the Foster Youth Liaison, located in Special Programs & Services, reviews the student’s eligibility prior to the disbursement being released to the student.

All disbursement(s) for Chafee grants must be picked up in person with a valid picture ID from the Foster Youth Liaison in the Special Programs & Services Office.

California Military GI Bill Award Program

If you are an active member in the California National Guard, the State Military Reserve, or the Naval Militia you may be eligible for a state-funded program designed to provide an educational incentive to improve your skills, competencies, and abilities.

To qualify, you must:

Be an active member of the California National Guard, the California State Guard, or the Naval Militia;
Agree to remain an active member throughout the participation period in the program;
Agree to serve two years in the California National Guard, the California State Guard, or the California Naval Militia upon completion of the last academic period of utilizing this program;
Agree to use the award to obtain a certificate, degree, or diploma that you currently do not possess;
Agree to only obtain one degree (baccalaureate, graduate, or doctoral) while participating in the Program;
Agree to complete course of study within 10 years of initial acceptance into the Program;
Be enrolled in, registered at, or accepted to a qualifying institution;
Agree to maintain enrollment of a minimum of three (3) academic units per semester, or the equivalent, at a qualifying institution as defined by California Education Code section 69432(l);
Agree to maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA); and
Be a resident of California for at least one year.

Initial Applicants:

CMD GI Bill New Application Process

If you did not participate in the CMD GI Bill for the 2024-25 AY or were withdrawn from the 2024-25 AY, follow the application process below to apply for the 2025-26 AY (which goes from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026).

Applications are not transferable from one academic year to another.

If you are a CMD GI Bill participant for the 2024-25 AY, go to Renewal Participants Tab, and complete the 2-step process listed there by June 1, 2025.

5-Step Application Process

Visit the FAFSA website and fill out the 2025-26 AY Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Complete the 2025-26 AY Initial Application.
Submit a completed 2025-26 AY Statement of Understanding.
Submit a CMD GI Bill Service Commitment Acknowledgement form.
Submit a completed Letter of Recommendation form from a former or current professor or school counselor, a current or former commander, or a civilian employer.

(You do not need to send anything in to confirm you completed it. Once you have completed step 2, the California Student Aid Commission will confirm the date your FAFSA was submitted.)

(Make sure the Application for Academic Year drop-down box shows 2025-26.)

(Scan and e-mail it as a pdf document to the CMD GI Bill Coordinators at : cmd.gi.bill@cmd.ca.gov. If you take a picture with your phone and then convert to a pdf, it may not be accepted as the pages are often distorted.)

(This step is only for applicants who apply by April 30, 2025. (Scan and e-mail it as a pdf document to the CMD GI Bill Coordinators at : cmd.gi.bill@cmd.ca.gov. If you take a picture with your phone and then convert to a pdf, it may not be accepted as the pages are often distorted.)

To be considered a Priority Applicant, you must complete all five steps of the application process by the Priority Deadline of April 30, 2025, for your application to be considered complete and considered for the Priority Board. Your “completed application date” will be the date that you complete all 5 steps. Applicants who do not submit a Letter of Recommendation but meet the other requirements will be added to the first-come, first-serve wait-list.

Applications will continue to be accepted after April 30, 2025, on a first-come, first-serve basis until all funds are exhausted or we can no longer accept applications (no later than April 30, 2026). Applicants who will complete the first 4 steps after April 30, 2025, do not need to complete step 5.

Renew your CMD GI Bill (Formerly CNG EAAP) award for the 2025-26 academic year!

The 2025-26 academic year goes from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. (This is not for classes that start prior to July 1.)

Only those who are currently participants in the CMD GI Bill (Formerly CNG EAAP) for the 2024-25 year should complete this process.
Everyone else must complete the CMD GI Bill New Application Process on the Initial Applicants Tab.

Renew your CMD GI Bill (Formerly CNG EAAP) award for the 2025-26 academic year!

The 2025-26 academic year goes from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. (This is not for classes that start prior to July 1.)

Renewal Process

Visit the CSAC Website and complete the 2025-26 AY Renewal Application.
Complete the 2025-26 AY Renewal Statement of Understanding.
Service Commitment Acknowledgement form

Those who entered the Program in the 2020-21 AY or after must also complete the CMD GI Bill Service Commitment Acknowledgement (.pdf) form.

(Camera images such as jpg and jpeg will not be accepted because they distort the pages)

The deadline to complete the renewal process is June 1, 202