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Financial Aid

Paying for School

FEDERAL PELL GRANT

Federal Pell Grants are awarded on the basis of financial need and do not have to be repaid. Funding is provided by the federal government and is awarded to students who demonstrate the greatest financial need and have filed a FAFSA.

WHO MAY APPLY

  • Undergraduate students in a degree program
  • U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens
  • Students without a Bachelor’s degree

HOW TO APPLY

  • File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  • You must file the FAFSA each year to continue to receive the grant

HOW AWARDS ARE DETERMINED

  • Based on financial eligibility
  • Maximum awards go to full-time students with a $0 EFC
  • Maximum EFC to receive the Pell Grant in 2023-2024 is $6,656

2023-2024 ESTIMATED AWARD AMOUNTS*

  • Based on the Federal Payment Schedule for the 23-24 academic year
  • Pell amount can range from $0-7,395 for the 23-24 academic year
  • It is only possible to receive the maximum Pell amount of $7395 if you are enrolled full time (taking 12 credits or more per semester)**

*Amounts are set by the Federal Government and are subject to change at any time.

**Pell amounts are reduced based on a prorated schedule when students take less than 12 credits per semester.

DURATION OF ELIGIBILITY (LIFETIME ELIGIBILITY USED)

The amount of Federal Pell Grant funds a student may receive over their lifetime is limited to the equivalent of six years of Pell Grant funding. Since the maximum amount of Pell Grant funding you can receive each year is equal to 100%, the six-year equivalent is 600%. For more information, visit Studentaid.gov.

FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY GRANT (SEOG)

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants are awarded on the basis of financial need and do not have to be repaid.  Funding is provided by a combination of the federal government and Westcliff University. SEOG Grants are awarded to students who demonstrate the greatest financial need and have completed their financial aid application by the published deadlines.

WHO MAY APPLY

  • Undergraduate students in a degree program
  • U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens

HOW TO APPLY

  • File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  • You must file the FAFSA each year to continue to receive the grant

HOW AWARDS ARE DETERMINED

  • Based on financial eligibility
  • Due to limited funding, awards are made to students beginning with a $0 Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and continue until the fund is depleted

AWARD AMOUNTS

  • Annual amounts depend on financial need and other aid received. For the 2023-2024 academic year, the maximum SEOG grant award is $550.

CAL GRANT

Cal Grant is an additional form of aid that does not need to be repaid. It is funded by the State of California and is available to eligible California residents.

WHO MAY APPLY

  • Undergraduate students enrolled at least half time
  • California residents who have been a resident for at least a year
  • US Citizens and eligible noncitizens or students who meet the AB540 eligibility criteria (DACA)
  • Students without a Bachelor’s Degree
  • Students who meet Cal Grant GPA requirements

HOW TO APPLY

  • File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or CA Dream Act Application (CADA) by the Cal Grant Priority Deadline
  • You must file a FAFSA or CADA each year to continue to receive this grant
  • The Cal Grant Priority Deadline is usually March 2nd
  • For the 24-25 Academic Year the Priority Deadline has been extended to April 2, 2024
  • After submitting the FAFSA or CADA application create a CSAC webgrant account to select and manage your school

HOW AWARDS ARE DETERMINED

  • There are 3 Types of Cal Grants: A, B, and C
  • Westcliff University Students may be eligible for either Cal Grant A or B, Cal Grant C is only available to students enrolled in a California Community College
  • Eligibility is based on criteria such as student need, GPA, school type, and/or additional factors depending on the type of Cal Grant
  • More information about Cal Grant can be found at csac.ca.gov

AWARD AMOUNTS

  • Annual Cal Grant awards are based on a number of factors including grant type
  • The maximum Cal Grant amount for new Cal Grant A recipients at Private For-Profit Colleges like Westcliff University for the 23-24 academic year is $8,056*
  • Cal Grant B recipients may be eligible for an maximum grant amount of $8,056 towards tuition and fees and an additional $1648 Access award to help pay for books and supplies*
  • Students must be enrolled Full Time (12 credits a semester) to receive the full amount of Cal Grant aid that they are eligible for**

*Cal Grant awards are set and awarded by the CA state government and subject to change. The maximum listed is based on 23-24 award amounts for students enrolled in Private, For-Profit Institutions.

**Cal Grant award amounts are reduced on a prorated schedule for students enrolled in less than 12 credits per semester.

DURATION OF ELIGIBILITY (LIFETIME ELIGIBILITY USED)

The amount of Cal Grant funds a student may receive are limited to the equivalent of four years of Cal Grant funding. Since the maximum amount of Cal Grant funding you can receive each year is equal to 100%, the four year equivalent is equal to 400%.