California residents have access to one of the largest combinations of federal, state, and local grant programs in the country. This page covers the major programs, who qualifies, and where to apply.
Federal grants available to Californians
All federal grant programs available nationally are open to California residents. The most-applied-for include:
- Pell Grant — need-based undergraduate aid up to $7,580 per year. See Pell Grant details
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) — additional need-based aid administered by participating schools
- TEACH Grant — for students preparing to teach in low-income areas
- Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers — administered locally by California's 100+ housing authorities
- Small Business Administration (SBA) grants and loans — including disaster relief and 7(a) loan programs
Federal applications are submitted through the issuing agency or through grants.gov. There is no California-specific application step for federal programs.
State of California grant programs
Cal Grant Program
The Cal Grant Program provides need-based and merit-based financial aid for California students attending qualifying colleges. There are three main awards:
- Cal Grant A — covers tuition and fees at four-year public universities
- Cal Grant B — provides a living allowance plus tuition assistance for low-income students
- Cal Grant C — supports students in vocational and technical programs
Apply by submitting both the FAFSA and the California Dream Act Application (for AB 540 students) by March 2 each year. Visit csac.ca.gov for current award amounts and full eligibility rules.
Middle Class Scholarship
This state program covers a portion of system-wide tuition and fees at UC and CSU campuses for students from families with annual income up to a state-defined threshold. The scholarship is layered on top of federal Pell Grant and Cal Grant awards.
CalWORKs
California's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program provides cash aid and services to low-income families with children. Apply through your county human services agency.
Small business grants in California
Most "grants" marketed to small businesses are actually loan or contract opportunities. True grant funding for California small businesses tends to be:
- Local economic development grants — many California cities run grant programs for small businesses in designated zones (San Francisco's Office of Economic and Workforce Development, Los Angeles County BizGrants, etc.)
- California Competes Tax Credit — not technically a grant but provides significant tax relief for businesses creating California jobs
- Industry-specific programs — including grants for clean energy businesses, agricultural producers, and minority-owned businesses
Visit the California Office of the Small Business Advocate for the current list.
Housing assistance
The California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) offers down payment assistance programs for first-time homebuyers, including:
- MyHome Assistance Program — provides a deferred-payment junior loan up to a percentage of the purchase price for down payment and closing costs
- CalPLUS Conventional Loan Program — combines a 30-year fixed-rate first mortgage with closing cost assistance
- Forgivable Equity Builder Loan — for first-time buyers with lower down payments
Check calhfa.ca.gov for current programs and rates.
How to find county and city programs
Many of the best-funded California grant programs are administered at the county or city level — affordable housing, small business, arts, and community development funds. Check:
- Your county's official
.govwebsite under "Community Development" or "Economic Development" - Your city's mayor or city manager's office
- Your local Workforce Development Board for job training and education grants
Important notes for California applicants
- All federal and state grant applications are free. Anyone charging an application fee is not affiliated with the government.
- Cal Grant deadlines are earlier than federal deadlines — submit by March 2.
- California Dream Act applicants (AB 540 eligible students) use a separate application from the FAFSA but qualify for many of the same state programs.