Explore Your Financial Aid Options

Federal Pell Grant is designed for students with exceptional financial need. Funds are disbursed to the student.

Eligibility is based on a student’s financial need as determined by the FAFSA application, and based on the number of units a student is enrolled in toward their major or program of study. This is called enrollment intensity. Students cannot receive Federal Pell Grant for courses that are not applicable to their goal or major. If a student’s enrollment intensity changes throughout the semester, their Federal Pell Grant may be recalculated. 

Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress in order to receive a Federal Pell Grant. Students with a Bachelor’s degree or higher are not eligible for this grant. 

Federal Pell Grant funds are delivered via BankMobile Disbursements. Please make sure a refund preference is setup to ensure timely delivery of funds. 

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) is designed for students with exceptional financial need who also qualify for Pell Grant. Funds are disbursed to the student.

FSEOG is awarded to students who are eligible for Federal Pell Grant and have the lowest Student Aid Index (SAI). To remain eligible for this grant, students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress and must be enrolled in at least 6 units needed toward their major/program of study. 

FSEOG funds are delivered via BankMobile Disbursements. Please make sure a refund preference is setup to ensure timely delivery of funds. 

Federal Work Study program offers part-time employment to eligible financial aid applications as part of the student’s financial aid award package. Students earn funds through the form of a paycheck as they work.

Students who are eligible for Federal Work Study will receive the estimated award on their Financial Aid Award letter. Students must maintain enrollment in at least 6 units throughout the semester, and must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Students will receive their federal work study funds in the form of a regular paycheck from Grossmont Cuyamaca Community College District. Once hired, students will receive a monthly paycheck based on their hourly wage. Students can earn up to the amount on their award letter. This funding is first-come first-served. 

To search for Federal Work Study employment on campus, please visit our Jobs website. Students may work up to 25 hours per week. If a student earns wages that exceed the minimum filing threshold, then income must be included as taxable income for federal and state purposes. 

Federal Direct Loans are low-interest loans for students to assist with paying for educational costs. Cuyamaca College is not the lender on these loans, the lender is the U.S. Department of Education. Funds are disbursed to the student.

While Federal Student Loans are helpful for assisting students pay for the cost of higher education, it is advised that students only borrow if absolutely necessary. Students must be enrolled in at least 6 units and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress to be eligible for a loan. 

Federal Subsidized Loans:

Are based on financial need- the U.S. Department of education will pay the interest while a student is enrolled in at least 6 or more units and during the first six months after departing from school.

 Federal Unsubsidized Loans:

Are not based on financial need, and interest will begin accruing while a student is enrolled in school. Students are not required to make payments while enrolled in at least 6 units. Six months after departing from school, or dropping below 6 units, students must begin repayment on their loans. 

To apply for a student loan, please login to Self-Service and request a Federal Student Loan through your Student Forms account. Loan disbursements begin after the add/drop deadline. Please check the disbursement schedule for more information. 

Federal Student Loans are delivered via BankMobile Disbursements. Please make sure a refund preference is setup to ensure timely delivery of funds. 

California College Promise Grant (CCPG), formerly known as the BOG fee waiver - is a state-sponsored program that waives enrollment fees for qualifying students ($46 per unit). CCPG does not cover any other student fees, including the Health Center fee or Student Center fee.  

Important note about the CCPG:

There is no minimum enrollment for this award. 

Students receiving the CCPG must meet minimum academic progress standards to remain eligible. Students who are on academic probation or dismissal for two consecutive semesters will no longer qualify for CCPG for the following term. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher and must successfully complete more than 50% of attempted units. Students will be notified via email if they are being placed on academic probation and if they will lose CCPG eligibility. 

State law requires that students attending California Community Colleges pay an enrollment fee and a health fee. Students enrolled in credit classes at Cuyamaca College are required to pay a $46.00 per unit enrollment fee, an $22.00 per semester health fee and a maximum of $1.00 per semester Student Representation fee. The California College Promise Grant program provides three ways to help low income students pay fees and the eligibility requirements for each program are listed below.

If an application for the California College Promise Grant has not been processed by the time of your registration, fees will be charged and a refund will be made upon approval of the application. Please note that refunds are not retroactive to a prior semester. In other words, if your fee waiver is processed and approved after the end of the term for which you are being charged fees, then you are not eligible for a refund. All students must ensure that their fee waiver application is processed and approved before the end of the term. 

The California College Promise Grant is generally awarded for up to twelve months (fall, spring and summer), assuming you are meeting the academic requirements outlined above. Students need to reapply for the California College Promise Grant fee waiver every new academic year.

DROP FOR NON-PAYMENT: students who have a fee waiver will not be dropped for non-payment of fees. However, students should check with the College Cashier to ensure that they don't owe any miscellaneous fees. It is the student's responsibility to pay any outstanding balance due that is not covered by the California College Promise Grant.

Types of CCPG:

To qualify for CCPG, students must be a California resident. All three Fee Waiver Methods cover the enrollment fee and the parking fee (in excess of $20.00). The health fee will only be waived for Method A recipients. Method B & C recipients will be required to pay the $22 Health Fee. All recipients are still required to pay for the Student Representation Fee and any miscellaneous class or library fees.

• Method A: is for students on public assistance programs (TANIF/CalWORKs, SSI/SSP, or General Assistance). It is also available to dependents of disabled or deceased California Veterans or National Guard, recipient or child of the Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, or dependent of a victim of the 9/11/2021 terrorist attacks. Documentation is required to verify eligibility.
• Method B: is for low-income students based on the prior-prior year income.
• Method C: is for students who do not qualify under Method A or B, but establish financial need for aid. 

Apply to the CCPG

Grossmont Cuyamaca College Promise is for Full-time (12 units) students who are California residents or nonresidents eligible for tuition exemption will have their mandatory enrollment and fees waived for the first two years of enrollment for primary terms only (Fall and Spring). Funds are not disbursed to students. See the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Promise website for more information. 

Cal Grants A, B and C are for undergraduate students who meet financial, academic, and other eligibility requirements and apply by the CSAC priority deadline date. Make sure you create a WebGrants4Students account to check Cal Grant status.

Cal Grant is funded by the state of California to help students with tuition and other costs associated with college. There are three types of Cal Grant, and all students must meet financial, academic, and other eligibility requirements. Complete your financial aid application as early as possible- grant funds are limited and priority is given to students who complete their financial aid application by the state priority deadline each year. 

To maintain eligibility for these funds, students must: 

• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress 
• Be enrolled in at least 6 units needed for your major/program of study

Students with dependents under the age of 18 may be eligible for higher Cal Grant amounts. Be sure to create your WebGrants4Students account and certify if you are a student with dependents (SWD). 

Cal Grant A: is for students enrolled in four-year programs. If awarded while at a community college, this award will be held on reserve for up to two academic years until transferring to a four-year university.  

Cal Grant B: is for students at community college or a four-year university. 

Cal Grant C: is for students enrolled in an occupational or technical certificate program of at least 4 months in length. 

Cal Grant funds are delivered via BankMobile Disbursements. Please make sure a refund preference is setup to ensure timely delivery of funds. 

Cal-HBCU Transfer Grant Program

The Cal-HBCU Transfer Grant Program awards up to $5,000 to participating students who transfer from a California Community College to eligible Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). 

To be eligible for this program students must:

• Be a California Community College student who has earned an Associate’s Degree for Transfer (ADT).
• Demonstrate unmet need by completing the FAFS or CADAA
• Intend on returning to California after graduating from the HBCU

For more information, please visit the CSAC CAL-HBCU site. 

Student Success Completion Grant (SSCG) is for students who are Cal Grant recipients and are enrolled in 12 or more units.

To support students in the completion of their educational goals as quickly as possible, the SSCG is provided to students who meet the below eligibility criteria:

• Are Cal Grant B or C eligible at a community college.
• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.
• Are enrolled in at least 12 units toward their major/program of study by the term census date.

Semester Award Amounts

• Students enrolled in 12-14.5 units are eligible for $1,298 per term.
• Students enrolled in 15 or more units are eligible for $4,000 per term.
• Former Foster Youth enrolled in 12 or more units are eligible for $5,250 per term.
• Students who are part of DSPS on an Academic Accommodation Plan and are enrolled in 9 or more units are eligible for $1,298 per term. 

SSCG funds are limited each year and are awarded and disbursed on a first-come first-served basis.

SSCG funds are delivered via BankMobile Disbursements. Please make sure a refund preference is setup to ensure timely delivery of funds. 

Chafee Grant is for students who are or were in foster care between the ages of 16 to 18 and have financial need. 

Students who were or are in foster care between the ages of 16 to 18 and have financial need may qualify for additional financial aid for career or technical training or college. 

Students must meet the below eligibility criteria:

• Former foster youth or ward of the court, living in foster care from 16 to 18 years old.
• Not have reached your 22 birthday as of July 1 of the award year.
• Submit a financial aid application (FAFSA or CADAA).
• Complete the online California Chafee Grant Application. 

If you have applied for the Chafee Grant, please login to your WebGrants4Students account to check your status. The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) will notify you if you are selected. 

Chafee funds are delivered via check that can be picked up at the Financial Aid Office. Recipients must show their photo ID.  

Dream Act Service Incentive Grant (DSIG) allows students who complete the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) and are Cal Grant eligible to receive grants for community or volunteer service. 

To be eligible for DSIG, students must:

• Be a CADAA applicant
• Be eligible for Cal Grant A, B, or C
• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress
• Complete 150 service/volunteer hours during the academic year. Students must volunteer at an approved service organization. Please visit the RISE Program website for more information. 

Cuyamaca College Financial Aid department works with the Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges to provide around 350 scholarship opportunities and over $300,000 to our students each semester. Thanks to generous donors in the community and their commitment to invest in students, these competitive scholarships are awarded each semester. Students can complete one online application and are matched to qualified scholarship opportunities automatically. 

Please visit the foundation website for more information including dates, deadlines, and link to apply.

Scholarship funds are delivered via BankMobile Disbursements. Please make sure a refund preference is setup to ensure timely delivery of funds.

When applying to scholarships outside of Grossmont Cuyamaca Community College District, please be wary of possible scams. Applications should never have to provide a social security number or pay an application fee to submit a scholarship application.

For more information and to explore outside scholarship opportunities, visit our Outside Scholarship Links and Resources page