Types of Financial Aid

There are many ways to finance your education. Because there are so many types of financial aid available, it is important to obtain accurate information. The Student Financial Services Office is dedicated to assisting students and families through the financial aid process in the most effective and friendly manner possible. When you apply for the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application (CADAA), you are applying for both federal and state grants.

Federal Grants

Federal Pell Grant

Pell grants are awarded to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or a professional degree, and is the largest source of free money from the federal government for students with financial need:

• • provides between $767 and $7,395 a year, depending on your expected family contribution (EFC), cost of attendance (COA) and whether you're attending full or part time
  • can be used to pay for tuition, fees and living expenses at any qualifying college
  • you can receive only one Pell Grant a year, which can be used to attend only one college at a time

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

The FSEOG program is for undergraduates with exceptional financial need. Pell Grant recipients with the lowest expected family contributions (EFCs) will be considered first for a FSEOG:

• • provides between $100 and $4,000 a year, depending on your EFC, your COA and whether you're attending full or part time
  • priority consideration if you're eligible for a Pell Grant
  • Unlike Pell Grants, funds are limited, so there's no guarantee you'll receive one
  • not all colleges offer them

Additional information regarding Higher Education Grants and Scholarships may be found at: studentaid.gov

Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship

Under this scholarship, a Pell-eligible student whose parent or guardian died in the line of duty while serving as a public safety officer is eligible to receive the maximum Federal Pell Grant award.  For the 2023-2024 academic year, the student must have been less than 24 years old or enrolled at an institution of higher education at the time of the parent or guardian's death. 

Eligibility requirements beginning with 2024-2025 -      

• Must have a calculated Student Aid Index (SAI) on the Student Submission Summary; and 
• Be less than 33 years old as of the January 1 prior to the award year for which you are applying  

(e.g., for the 2024-2025 award year, a student must be less than 33 years old as of January 1, 2024, to be eligible). 

For purposes of the Children of Fallen Heroes Award, a public safety officer includes: 

• Law enforcement officer, firefighter, or chaplain 
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) employee 
• Emergency management or civil defense agency employee 
• Member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew 
• Others as defined in section 1204 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796b) 

For more information, contact Student Financial Services at 209-575-7700 or mjc_finaid@mjc.edu.

State Grants

California College Promise Grant (CCPG)

The California College Promise Grant assists eligible students with the enrollment fees by waiving the student's tuition fees (currently $46 per unit). To receive this assistance, students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), California Dream Act Application (CADAA) or complete the California College Promise Grant Application. Students must be a California resident or AB540 eligible.

To learn more visit the California College Promise Grant website. 

Per Section 69432.95 of California Education Code, Modesto Junior College must advise students of the following information upon registration:

1. 1. A Cal Grant award is limited to four academic years, except as provided in subdivision (c) of Section 69433.6
   2. A student needs to take 15 units per semester or the equivalent quarter units, or 30 semester units or the equivalent quarter units per academic year, in order to graduate within four years.

Please Note: For the purposes of the Cal Grant Program, defines "full time" to mean 12 or more semester units or the equivalent and defines "part time" to mean 6 to 11 semester units or the equivalent.

Cal Grants A, B, & C:

Cal Grant A

Cal Grant A assists California residents at qualifying institutions. There are different types of Cal Grant A awards.

• High School Entitlement Award: Every current or previous year high school senior who has at least a 3.0 GPA, meets the financial and academic requirements and applies on time (March 2nd deadline) will receive a Cal Grant A Entitlement award.  Awards may be held in reserve while attending a community college.

• Community College Entitlement Award:  Awarded to financially eligible students enrolled in a community college who were not awarded a High School Entitlement award and who has at least a 3.0 HS GPA or 2.4 college GPA. (September 2nd deadline).  This is the only Cal Grant A award type that is payable at a community college level with the exception of students enrolled in a BA program at a community college.

• Competitive Award: Other eligible students who have at least a 3.0 GPA may apply for a Cal Grant A Competitive award. Selections are based on a composite score that considers family income, parents‟ educational level, GPA, time out of high school, single-family household, and former foster youth.  Awards may be held in reserve while attending a community college.
  
  

Cal Grant B

Cal Grant B provides a living allowance and tuition and fee assistance for low-income students. Beginning with the sophomore year, this award also helps pay tuition and fees at a qualifying institution offering baccalaureate degree programs. There are different types of Cal Grant B awards:

• Entitlement Award: Current or previous year high school seniors with at least a 2.0 GPA who meet the financial and eligibility requirements and apply on time (March 2nd deadline) will receive a Cal Grant B Entitlement award.

• Community College Entitlement Award:  Awarded to financially eligible students enrolled in a community college who were not awarded a High School Entitlement award and who has at least a 2.0 HS GPA or college GPA. (September 2nd deadline)

• Competitive Award: Other eligible students with at least a 2.0 GPA may apply for a Cal Grant B Competitive award. Selection is based on a composite score based on family income, parents‟ educational level, GPA, time out of high school, single-parent household and former foster youth.

Cal Grant C

Cal Grant C provides assistance with costs for occupational and vocational programs. Selections are based on financial need, vocational aptitude and enrollment in an eligible program at a California community or independent college or vocational school that is at least four months long.

For more information on Cal Grants visit: CalGrants.org

Student Success Completion Grant (SSCG)

The Student Success Completion Grant (SSCG) is only awarded to students who qualify for a Cal Grant award.  Recipients may be eligible to receive up to $8,000 per year. Each semester’s disbursement will be based on the student’s enrollment, which must be at least full-time in order to receive a disbursement. Students enrolled in 12 units or more (but less than 15 units) will be eligible to receive $1298 for the semester. Students enrolled in 15 or more units will be eligible to receive $4,000 for the semester.  Students who are current or former foster youth whose dependency was established or continued by the court on or after the date on which the student reached 13 years of age are eligible for SSCG as well for up to $10,500 annually. 

Eligible students for this grant must meet all of the following requirements:

1. Have financial need
2. Must be receiving a Cal Grant Award
3. Must enroll in 12 or more units per semester by the “Freeze Date”
4. Must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress
5. Must be a California resident or is exempt from paying nonresident tuition

Please Note: This award is NOT available in summer or to students enrolled in the RSCR BA Program

Students, who qualified for the SSCG, are encouraged to meet with their academic counselor to ensure that they have a comprehensive Student Education Plan and are on track to complete their program within the timeframe outlined in the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.

Click this link for more information: Student Success Completion Grant

 

Golden State Education and Training Grant Program

This program is designed to encourage and support individuals who were impacted by COVID-related job loss to enter, continue and complete college and job training programs.  The program was established and funded in the 2021 California Budget Act, mainly with one-time federal COVID dollars. Following approval by the Legislature, the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) designed the program and is responsible for awarding eligible applicants to offer a one-time incentive of $2,500. 

Eligibility Requirements:

• Job loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• Unable to find an equivalent-paying job since
• Not enrolled in a education or training program at the time of job loss
• Meet the income and asset requirements associated with Cal Grant A eligibility

How to Apply:

Apply online at GSETG Program.  Students will be asked to create a CSAC account or log in to an existing account.

Students who have completed a FAFSA or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) or who receive support through CalWORKs will not need to provide financial information. All other applicants will be required to complete a short, supplemental application to verify financial eligibility for the program.  

Next Steps:

• CSAC will process the application
• The Student Financial Services Office will verify your enrollment
• Awarded students will be notified by phone once their check has been received by the college.  A valid government-issued ID will be required to pick up the check.

Additional Information:

CSAC Website:  Golden State Education and Training Grant Program

CSAC Email:  GSETGP@CSAC.CA.GOV

 

California Chafee Grant

The California Chafee Grant Program awards grants up to $5,000 annually to foster youth and former foster youth to use for college courses or vocational school training. To be eligible, the applicant must have been in foster care between their 16th and 18th birthdays and for paid renewal students-have not reached their 26th birthday as of July 1st of the award year, for new and non-paid renewal students-will be 25 years old as of July 1st of the award year. Applicants must file a FAFSA or a CADAA as well as the California Chafee Grant Program application available at the California Chafee Grant website. Students must be enrolled in college or vocational school at least half-time (6 units) during the fall and/or spring semester and must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) before the Chafee grant can be disbursed. For more information, go to the Foster Youth page.

Disbursement is contingent upon eligibility and funding. An application for this grant can be completed online at California Chafee Grant website. This grant will be renewed automatically by CSAC as long as the student meets specific criteria. Each CHAFEE grant disbursement is released by CSAC during the fall and/or spring semester at which time the Foster Youth Liaison, located in Student Financial Services, reviews the student’s eligibility prior to the disbursement being released to the student. All disbursement(s) for Chafee grants must be picked up in person with a valid picture ID from the Foster Youth Liaison in the Student Financial Services Office. 

Resources for Foster Youth:

FosterClub

Other Types of Grants

Americorps

Each year, AmeriCorps offers 75,000 opportunities for adults of all ages and backgrounds to serve through a network of partnerships with local and national nonprofit groups. Whether your service makes a community safer, gives a child a second chance, or helps protect the environment, you’ll be getting things done through AmeriCorps!

AmeriCorps members address critical needs in communities all across America. As an AmeriCorps member, you can:

• • Tutor and mentor disadvantaged youth
  • Fight illiteracy
  • Improve health services
  • Build affordable housing
  • Teach computer skills
  • Clean parks and streams
  • Manage or operate after-school programs
  • Help communities respond to disasters
  • Build organizational capacity

For more information log on to Americorps.

To file an AmeriCorps payment request log My.Americorps.

 

Bureau of Indian Affairs Grants (BIA)

Eligibility Requirements:

• • Have at least one-fourth Native American, Eskimo, or Aleutian heritage as certified by tribal agencies served by BIA.
  • Are enrolled or plan to enroll as an undergraduate student on a full-time basis

BIA grants are not automatically awarded. It is important that students apply early to meet deadline dates set by area offices. Additional information regarding BIA Higher Education Grants and Scholarships may be found the Bureau of Indian Education web site.

Bureau of Indian Affairs Grants are provided to help eligible Native American Students. Contact your Tribal Agency or the Student Financial Services Office for more information.

Loans

Modesto Junior College is dedicated to supporting our students at being successful in their educational goals. We want all potential student borrowers to have a realistic borrowing plan.  We want to ensure that transferring students have enough loan eligibility to complete their educational goals. Also to the students working towards a certificate or associates degree to not be overly burdened with student loan debt. 

To learn more visit the Loan website.