Frequently Asked Questions
If I enroll less than full-time (11 units or less) how will my Cal Grant award be adjusted?
In order to receive the full semester amount of your Cal Grant, you must be enrolled in a total of 12 units. If you are enrolled in fewer than 12 units, your Cal Grant will be prorated:
I am a high school senior, how can I apply for a Cal Grant?
Please check out our How to Apply section.
I received a Cal Grant at LMU last year. Is there anything I need to do to make sure I receive it next year?
Yes, Students who have been awarded a Cal Grant A or B in the previous aid year will automatically be considered for a Cal Grant in the following aid year if the student meets the following qualifications:
- Meet Income and Asset Ceilings as defined by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC).
- Complete the FAFSA.
- Makes Satisfactory Academic Progress.
- Have remaining eligibility according to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC).
For more information regarding the renewal criteria for the Cal Grant, please read this special announcement from CSAC.
I received a Cal Grant in 2010-2011. Do I need to file a GPA Verification form to receive a Cal Grant next year?
No, you will NOT need to submit a GPA Verification Form if you received a confirmed Cal Grant award for the 2010-2011 school year. As a service to our students, LMU annually submits your GPA to CSAC so that you can have continued eligibility for your Cal Grant.
Your Cal Grant will be automatically renewed as long as you continue to demonstrate financial need, you are making satisfactory academic progress and you have remaining eligibility according to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC).
To ensure you have remaining eligibility for your Cal Grant, please log into Webgrants for Students to check on the renewal status of your Cal Grant award.
I did not receive a Cal Grant during my freshman year at LMU, can I be considered for a Cal Grant for next year?
If you have completed fewer than 24 units at LMU and graduated from a California high school within the past year, you may still be considered for a Cal Grant award. In order to apply for a Cal Grant, you will need to go back to your high school and request that they submit your GPA to CSAC. In addition, you must submit the FAFSA by March 2nd.
If you have completed more than 24 units, LMU will automatically submit your GPA to CSAC for consideration for a Competitive Cal Grant Award. Once your GPA has been submitted to CSAC, an email notification will be sent to your Lion email address.
You can also verify that your GPA has been submitted by creating an account for Webgrants for Students and logging in.
Please note that LMU automatically submits GPA’s as a service to its students, bFut it is ultimately the student’s responsibility for ensuring that his or her GPA is submitted to CSAC if they wish to be considered for a Competitive Cal Grant Award.
What is the maximum Cal Grant award amount that I can receive per semester at LMU?
The maximum Cal Grant award amount varies by Cal Grant Program. Here is a breakdown:
- Cal Grant A maximum for full-time enrollment (12 or more units) is $4854 per semester.
- Cal Grant B maximum for full-time enrollment (12 or more units) is $4854 per semester.
- Cal Grant B Access Award for full-time enrollment (12 or more units) is $776 per semester.
What is the difference between an Entitlement and Competitive Cal Grant?
Cal Grant Awards are broken into two categories: Entitlement and Competitive.
Entitlement Cal Grants are awarded to all high school seniors (and some college freshmen) who meet all eligibility requirements, demonstrate financial need, have family income and assets below established ceilings, and have a high school GPA of 3.0 (Cal Grant A) or 2.0 (Cal Grant B). There is no limit to the number of Entitlement Cal Grants that can be awarded by the state.
Competitive Cal Grants are awarded to students who were not eligible to receive an Entitlement Cal Grant. The selection process for Competitive Cal Grants is geared towards non-traditional students – students who did not attend college directly after high school or who are returning to college. When awarding a Competitive Cal Grant, the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) considers not only GPA but also time out of high school, family income, and parents’ education levels.
While there is no limit to the number of Entitlement Cal Grants that can be awarded each year, there are only 11,250 Competitive Cal Grant Awards available to continuing students attending 4 year universities in the State of California.
How can I find out if my GPA was automatically submitted to CSAC for consideration for a Competitive Cal Grant?
You can verify that your GPA has been submitted by creating an account for Webgrants for Students and logging in.
Please note that LMU automatically submits GPA’s as a service to its students, but it is ultimately the student’s responsibility for ensuring that his or her GPA is submitted to CSAC if they wish to be considered for a Competitive Cal Grant Award.
How will I find out if I am awarded a Cal Grant?
The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) will notify you by mail as to your eligibility. You can also track the status of your Cal Grant application online by creating an account for Webgrants for Students and logging in.
If you are being considered for an Entitlement Cal Grant (high school seniors or college freshmen), you should receive an award letter, also known as a California Aid Report (CAR) by mid March or early April.
If you are being considered for a Competitive Cal Grant Award, you should receive your California Aid Report (CAR) by the end of May. If you are not notified by this time, you may contact the California Student Aid Commission at 888-224-7268 or by email at studentsupport@csac.ca.gov to check on the status of your application.
If you’re applying to renew your Cal Grant, you should receive your notification for renewal by mid-July. If you are a renewal Cal Grant student and you have not heard from the Commission by August 1, please call toll free 888.224.7268 or e-mail studentsupport@csac.ca.gov.
I was awarded a Cal Grant by CSAC, but the Financial Aid Office has not included this grant in my Financial Aid Award.
This can happen if you have not assigned your student record to Loyola Marymount University’s roster in Webgrants for Students. Your Cal Grant will not be awarded to you until you are assigned to Loyola Marymount University’s roster.
Please log into Webgrants for Students immediately to submit a “school change.” It can take up to two weeks for your award to be processed after you notify CSAC of your school change to LMU.
If you have assigned your student record to LMU in Webgrants for Students and it has been two weeks, you can submit a copy of your California Aid Report (CAR) from the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) to the Financial Aid Office. If it is determined that you are eligible for the Cal Grant, your award will be revised and a message will be posted to your PROWL/MyAid account.
My original financial aid award included a Cal Grant, but it has been removed. Why did this happen?
The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) determines your eligibility for the Cal Grant award using information provided on the GPA Verification Form and the FAFSA.
However, Loyola Marymount University is responsible for verifying your eligibility for this program before paying these funds to your student account. If changes have been made to the financial data provided on your FAFSA, you may no longer qualify for the Cal Grant. This may occur if you or your parent(s) provided estimated data on your FAFSA that was later updated based on information on you or your parents’ Federal Income Tax Returns. LMU is required to notify CSAC if you become ineligible for a Cal Grant, and your award will be withdrawn. F
I received a Cal Grant B award. Can I receive a refund for the Access ($1551) portion of my award?
LMU will automatically accept and disburse your Cal Grant B Access Award to your student account at the start of each semester. Your Cal Grant B Access award will be applied towards the outstanding balance on your student account.
However, you have the right to request that your Cal Grant B Access Award be refunded to you instead of being applied to the balance on your student account. To request a refund for the amount of your Cal Grant B Access award, located in the Forms and Publications section of our website. Please make sure to select the form for the appropriate aid year.
Please note that you will be responsible for any unpaid bills in your student account that your Cal Grant B Access award would otherwise have reduced or cleared. In addition, you cannot receive a refund for this amount until after your Cal Grant B Access award has been disbursed to your student account and no earlier than the first day of the semester.
I am planning to take a leave of absence or withdraw from all of my classes for the semester. Will I still be eligible for my Cal Grant Award?
If you take a leave of absence or withdraw for the semester your Cal Grant will be cancelled. When you take a leave of absence, your ‘leave of absence’ status will be sent to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) and you will be able to reinstate your Cal Grant award upon your return to school.
What are the Cal Grant Income and Asset Ceilings for:
2011-2012 New Student Cal Grant Income and Asset Ceilings
2011-2012 Returning Student Cal Grant Income and Asset Ceilings
Other than the GPA and income and asset ceilings, what are the other eligibility requirements for the Cal Grant programs?
In addition to the GPA and income and asset requirements, you must also meet the following criteria in order to be eligible for a Cal Grant Award.
- Submit the FAFSA by March 2nd annually
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
- Be a California resident Graduated from a California high school
- Have a Social Security number
- Attend a qualifying California college
- Not have a bachelor’s or professional degree
- Have financial need based on your college costs
- Have family income and assets below the established ceilings
- Meet minimum GPA requirements
- Be in a program leading to an undergraduate degree or certificate
- Be enrolled at least half time
- Have registered with U.S. Selective Service (most males)
- Not owe a refund on a state or federal grant, or be in default on a student loan F