Scholarships & Grants
Federal Government Scholarships
Federal Pell Grant—$890-$4,731 per year. This is a federal program and is awarded based upon financial need as determined by FAFSA.
Federal Supplemental EducationalOpportunity Grant (FSEOG)—$1,000 per year. SEOG is a federal grant designed to help students with the highest need as determined by the FAFSA. Funds are limited.
State Government Scholarships
Cal Grant—$9,708 per year (for current first-year recipients). Cal Grant is funded by the State ofCalifornia and awarded to residents who meet GPA and financial criteria. To be considered, students must submit a FAFSA form. Your community college may submit a GPA verification form to the state on your behalf. Check with your college’s registrar to confirm that it is sent by March 2.
Among the scholarships available to students are two important ones: Assumption Program of Loans for Education (APLE), and Teacher Loan Forgiveness. Each has special requirements, and each promises significant benefits for those eligible to participate. Numerous nursing scholarships also are available, with eligibility and application information available from the web sites below.
APLE—This is a competitive teacher incentive program designed to encourage outstanding students, district interns, and out-of-state teachers to becomeCalifornia teachers in subject areas where a critical teacher shortage has been identified or in designated schools meeting specific criteria established by the superintendent of public instruction. Applicants must agree to teach in one of the following teacher shortage areas: mathematics (grades 7-12), science (life/physical, grades 7-12), foreign language, education specialist instruction (formerly special education), business (grades 7-12), agriculture (grades 7-12), low-income-area schools, schools serving rural areas, state special schools, schools with a high percentage of emergency permit teachers, and low-performing schools.
Up to $19,000 in outstanding educational loan balances may be assumed in return for four consecutive years of teaching. To be eligible, applicants must be approved to receive, or have received, an educational loan(s), must not be in default on any educational loans, and must agree to teach in a California public school in one of the areas listed above for at least four years. Applicants must be legal residents of California, must have completed 60 semester units (90 quarter units), and must be in a program leading to a BA or in a teacher preparatory program. Applications may be obtained through the Financial Aid Office at CBU.
Teacher Loan Forgiveness—This federal program is designed to encourage individuals to enter and continue on in the teaching profession. Eligible participants will receive reimbursement for up to a combined total of $5,000 of their subsidized and/or unsubsidized federalStafford or Direct loans, and in certain cases federal or Direct Consolidation loans. Reimbursement for up to a combined total of $17,500 in loans is available to highly qualified math, science or special education teachers.
To be eligible, borrowers must have no outstanding loan balance on the date a loan is obtained. They also must be employed as a full-time teacher at a qualifying school for five complete and consecutive years, and at least one of those years must be after the 1997-98 academic year. Applicants also must be employed as an elementary or secondary school teacher and be “highly qualified” as defined on the Teacher Loan Forgiveness application. Loan balances must be outstanding at the time the loan is forgiven.