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State Programs

The state of California, through the California Community College Chancellors Office and the California Student Aid Commission, sponsors financial aid programs which include the California College Promise Grant (formerly known as the Board of Governors Fee Waiver), Cal Grants A, B and C, and the Student Success Completion Grant. For more information regarding these programs contact the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office at (661) 763-7762.

California College Promise Grant (formerly known as the BOGW)

The Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges adopted regulations to implement the Student Financial Aid Plan to ensure to the greatest extent possible no student who is eligible and desires to attend a community college is denied access as a result of the mandatory enrollment fee.

The enrollment fee will be waived for any student who is a California resident or has an AB540 status at the time of enrollment and:

  1. is a recipient of or a dependent of a parent who is a recipient of CalWORKs, SSI, General Assistance; has certification from the California Department of Veterans Affairs indicating eligibility for a dependent's fee waiver; has certification from the National Guard Adjutant General indicating eligibility for a dependent's fee waiver; is eligible as a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor,or as a child of a recipient; is eligible as a dependent of a victim of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack; is eligible as a dependent of a deceased law enforcement/fire suppression personnel killed in the line of duty OR
  2. meets the annual household income (Standard published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).

Students must complete a California College Promise Grant application, a FAFSA, or a California Dream application and may need to provide documentation to receive the waiver.

Cal Grant Program

Cal Grants are financial awards for educational expenses which you typically do not have to pay back. You can use your Cal Grant at any qualifying college in California. Depending on the Cal Grant you receive, the money can be used to pay for tuition, fees, books, supplies, housing, food, and even transportation costs to and from class. You must submit your FAFSA or California Dream Application AND your verified Cal Grant GPA by March 2nd. Students who miss the March 2nd deadline AND who plan to attend a California Community College in the Fall, have until September 2nd to apply.

Taft College submits most GPA verifications electronically. Check with the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office to verify your GPA will be included in the submission. Otherwise, a GPA verification form completed by your high school or prior college would be required.

Cal Grant A or B Entitlement Grant for High School Senior

Starting with the 2000-2001 graduating class, every high school senior who meets the academic requirements may be eligible to receive a Cal Grant A or B Entitlement award. Cal Grant A awards can only be used at a UC or CSU.

Cal Grant A or B Entitlement award requirements:

  • 3.0 GPA for Cal Grant A
  • 2.0 GPA for Cal Grant B
  • Meet qualifying income and asset ceilings
  • Apply by March 2nd of your senior year in high school or the year following graduation
  • Starting Fall 2007, all students offered a Cal Grant B Entitlement must complete the California High School Graduation Certification Form;

In addition, eligible students have an opportunity to compete for a limited amount of Cal Grant A or B Competitive awards. Of the awards set aside for competitive Cal Grant A or B, half are for community college students who apply by the second deadline of September 2nd.

Cal Grant A and B California Community College Transfer Entitlement Grant

High school seniors who graduated after June 30, 2000, attend a California Community College and then transfer to a qualifying baccalaureate-degree granting college may be eligible for a California Community College Transfer Entitlement Award (Cal Grant Transfer Entitlement). This award is either a Cal Grant A or B. To qualify, you must have at least a 2.4 community college GPA, meet the Cal Grant eligibility requirements, be under 28 years of age as of December 31st of the award year and apply by March 2nd. You MUST transfer from a California Community College to a baccalaureate-degree granting school in the award year for which the award is offered.

Cal Grant C

Students who are vocationally oriented, enrolled at least half-time in a program of study to acquire marketable job skills in a recognized occupational program, and falls within the established income and asset ceilings, and applies by the deadline may be eligible to receive a Cal Grant C award!

General Cal Grant Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for a Cal Grant, a student must:

  • submit the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application and your verified Cal Grant GPA by the deadline;
  • be a US citizen or eligible non-citizen or meet AB540 criteria;
  • be a California resident when you graduated from high school or meet AB540 criteria;
  • attend a qualifying California college;
  • be in a program leading to an undergraduate degree or certificate, and not currently have a bachelor's or higher degree;
  • have financial need at your college;
  • have family income and assets below the established ceilings;
  • meet any minimum GPA requirement;
  • be attending school at least half-time;
  • have registered with the US Selective Service, if required;
  • not owe a refund on any state or federal educational grant;
  • not have a delinquent or defaulted federal student loan;
  • not be incarcerated; and
  • maintain federal satisfactory academic progress.

Cal Grant funding is limited to 4 years. In order to obtain a Bachelor's degree in 4 years, you must complete 15 units or more per semester or the equivalent in quarter units. Create a plan with your counselor to streamline your transfer eligibility to meet the 4 year time frame. Taft College does not offer Bachelor's degrees.

Student Success Completion Grant (SSCG)

The purpose of the SSCG award is to provide the student with additional financial aid to help offset the total cost of community college attendance, and to encourage full-time attendance and successful on-time completion.

A maximum of $1,298 annually at six hundred forty-nine dollars ($649) per semester, or quarterly equivalent, for eligible students who enroll and attend 12 through 14.99 units per term. A maximum of $4,000 annually at two thousand dollars ($2,000) per semester,or quarterly equivalent, for eligible students who enroll and attend 15 units or more per term. Total grant amount is up to the amount of unmet need.

To qualify for the SSCG, a student must:

  • be eligible for a Cal Grant B or C;
  • meet federal satisfactory academic progress (SAP);
  • have unmet need; and
  • maintain full-time attendance.

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