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Types of Aid

Grants/Waivers

Grants are awarded based on demonstrated financial need. Typically, grants do not require repayment. However, partial or full repayment may be required if you do not complete the credits you registered for. Click on the titles below to get more information about each grant/waiver. Note: For a better web experience when using smaller mobile devices please use your device in landscape (horizontal orientation).

CALIFORNIA COLLEGE PROMISE GRANT

This California state-funded fee waiver program was established to assist low- to middle-income California residents with their enrollment fees. Eligible students do not receive a check from this program, but enrollment fees are waived. The California College Promise Grant (CCP) does not waive student health fees, student technology fees, student activity fees, course material fees, audit fees, or books. Make sure you check your account statement and pay all applicable fees to ensure your registration and prevent future holds on your account.

There are no unit (minimum or maximum) requirements to receive the CCP fee waiver.

How do I apply?

Students completing the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a California Dream Act Application (CADAA) will have their CCP fee waiver eligibility automatically determined. It is recommended (but not required) to complete the application prior to registering for classes. If you apply after registering, it may take several business days before your fees are waived. If you have questions or concerns regarding your residency status, please contact the Admissions and Records Office at (707) 476-4200.

Can I lose the California College Promise Grant fee waiver?

Community colleges are required to place students on academic probation who, after attempting at least 12 semester units, either have a grade point average below 2.0 or receive a "withdrawal," "incomplete," or "no pass" mark on 50 percent or more of total attempted units. This is not the same as financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards.Students who are placed on probation for two consecutive semesters lose their priority registration status. Beginning Fall 2016, students will also lose their fee waiver if they have been on college probation for two consecutive semesters. Those students who lose their fee waiver have the option to file a Loss of CCP Appeal to see if they can regain their eligibility, or they can regain eligibility when they are no longer on academic probation.

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COLLEGE OF THE REDWOODS ACCESS PROGRAM

As a result of the passing of Assembly Bill 19 (AB 19), CR implemented the CR College Access (CRCA) Program. This program waives enrollment fees for eligible first-time students enrolled in 12* or more units in the Fall and Spring semesters (it does not include the Summer term) for their first two years. Eligible students do not receive a check or refund from this program, but enrollment fees are waived.

The CRCA award does not pay for books, student health fees, student technology fees, student activity fees, course material fees, audit fees, or parking fees. Make sure you check your account statement and pay all applicable fees to ensure your registration and prevent future holds on your account.

To qualify for CRCA, students must:

Complete the online application to CR
Complete the FAFSA or CADAA
Maintain enrollment in 12* or more units (full-time)
Be a California resident or AB540
Currently not be receiving the California College Promise Grant
Be a first-time college student, or a high school graduate who took CR classes while in high school.
- NEW: Second-year students are now also eligible if they were also eligible during their first year (consecutive) and continue to meet the eligibility criteria as outlined above.

*AB 2, Statues of 2019 amended the qualifications for the fee waiver and provided consideration of “full-time” status to individuals with disabilities enrolled in fewer than 12 units. Students will need to connect with our DSPS office and be evaluated for an exception to the 12-unit full-time definition.

How do I apply?

Students completing the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a California Dream Act Application (CADAA) will be reviewed for the additional eligibility criteria.

If you have questions or concerns regarding your residency status, please contact the Admissions and Records Office at (707) 476-4200 or admissions@redwoods.edu.

Can I lose the College Access Program award?

You can lose the award if you are not enrolled in 12* or more units during each term or if you are determined to have attended college previously. If you drop below 12* units after receiving the grant you may be billed enrollment fees for that term. Additionally, if financial aid information is received that makes you eligible for the California College Promise Grant, you would be awarded the California College Promise Grant as there are additional benefits to this award that are not part of the College Access Program.

What is covered/waived?

$46/unit enrollment fees

What is not covered/waived?

Health Services fee - $23 Fall/Spring, $20 Summer ($9/semester @ DN and KT campus)

Activity fee - $12 per semester

Technology fee - $10 per semester

Various Course Material Fees & Books

Parking Fees

FEDERAL PELL GRANT

This is a federally-funded grant program which provides awards to undergraduate students. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA) as the starting point to determine eligibility. This application must be completed EACH academic year.

Award amounts are based on family contribution (as determined through the FAFSA) and unit enrollment. Awards range from $750 - $7,395 per year. Students enrolled in less than full-time (i.e., less than 12 units) receive pro-rated amounts according to their unit enrollment at the time of disbursement.

SUMMER PELL GRANT AWARDS: For each academic year, if a student was enrolled and received Pell at a full time level (12 or more units) for both Fall and Spring, they will need to be enrolled in at least 6 units to be eligible for a Summer Pell disbursement. Other students may be able to receive a Summer Pell disbursement at less than 6 units of enrollment.

Can I lose the Pell Grant?

Students must be enrolled in an eligible AA, AS, Transfer or certificate program and meet all other federal eligibility requirements, including meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards. More information on the SAP standards is available on the Satisfactory Academic Progress page.

The maximum lifetime eligibility for Pell Grant is the equivalent of receiving full-time Pell Grant funds for 6 full years (fall and spring). This is retroactive to the first time a student received a Pell Grant.

FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANT (SEOG)

This is a federally-funded grant program. CR has limited funding for this program, so students should submit their FAFSA as early as possible. SEOG is awarded on a priority basis to eligible students with the highest need. Eligibility is automatically determined through the FAFSA.

Awards generally range from $100 - $2,000 per year.

Can I lose the SEOG?

Students must be enrolled in an eligible AA, AS, Transfer, or certificate program and meet all other federal eligibility requirements, including meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards. More information on the SAP standards is available on the Satisfactory Academic Progress page.

CAL GRANT

These grants are awarded by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC); only California residents are eligible. The Cal Grant B and Cal Grant C programs are available to students enrolled at CR (Cal Grant A is only available at CR for students with qualifying dependents, as determined by CSAC).

Students must complete the FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application (CADAA) to apply. GPA verification is also required for this program. If you have completed at least 16 units at CR, your CR GPA will be electronically submitted to CSAC. If you are new to CR and have recently graduated from a CA high school, your high school will submit your GPA to CSAC. The initial GPA submission deadline for the Cal Grant program is March 2. There is a September 2 supplemental submission deadline for California Community College students only.

Awards range from $1,094 - $6,000 per year.

Students should create an account on the Webgrants For Students website to view updates or make changes to their Cal Grant information with the California Student Aid Commission.

Can I lose the Cal Grant?

Students must be enrolled in an eligible program and meet all other eligibility requirements, including meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards. More information on the SAP standards is available on the Satisfactory Academic Progress page.

The California Student Aid Commission can also withdraw a student's Cal Grant for various reasons. For more information, contact the California Student Aid Commission at (888) 224-7268.

STUDENT SUCCESS COMPLETION GRANT

The Student Success Completion Grant (SSCG) is a California state-funded program that provides additional funding for students who are enrolled full-time (12+ units) per term and are awarded Cal Grant B or C. Eligibility for the SSCG is evaluated at the time of disbursement of the Cal Grant B or Cal Grant C award. Awards are disbursed as students become eligible due to limited state funding for this award.

Am I Eligible?

To be eligible for the SSCG a student must be enrolled in at least 12 units or more, have applied for financial aid through the submission of a FAFSA or CADAA prior to the CSAC deadline for Cal Grants (March 2 or September 2), have been awarded a Cal Grant B or C by CSAC, and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.

How Much Can I Receive?

For students enrolled in 12-14.99 units at the time of disbursement of a Cal Grant B or Cal Grant C, the award is a maximum of $1,298 per term.

Former foster youth enrolled in 12 or more units may receive $5,250 per term.

For students enrolled in 15+ units at the time of disbursement of a Cal Grant B or Cal Grant C, the award is a maximum of $4,000 per term.

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CHAFEE GRANT

The California Chafee Grant is a federal and state funded program that provides cash aid for current or former California foster youth who were in foster care for at least 1 day between the ages of 16 and 18, and who have not reached their 26th birthday as of July 1 of the award year. For more detailed information, click here: https://chafee.csac.ca.gov/

BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS GRANT (BIA)

These grants are available to qualified Native American students through tribal or federal BIA funding. To apply, students should contact their tribal office for application forms. In addition, the FASFA must be completed. Award amounts vary from year to year. Students can contact the Education Officer of their tribe for more information. Click here for a Tribal Leaders Directory.

Scholarships are a form of gift aid that doesn't require repayment. They're generally awarded on such factors as academic achievement, talent, athletic ability, or field of study. Click the "Scholarships" link above or click here to visit our Scholarships Office website and learn more about their resources.

These federal loans must be repaid. Typically, repayment begins 6 months after you are no longer enrolled at a minimum of 6 credits. Students must first have their eligibility for other types of aid determined and then may start applying for loans by following the loan application process. Use the "Direct Loans" link above or Click HERE to learn more about the types of loans we process and how to apply online.

Employment - Federal Work-Study

This program provides on-campus jobs to students. Eligibility is determined through the FAFSA and students must also meet District student worker requirements.

Interested students should complete the FAFSA and all follow-up paperwork requested from the Financial Aid Office. You must have a Federal Work-Study Offer on your award letter before applying for a work-study position. Available jobs are posted on Handshake. Use the menu options at the top of the job board to filter the list to show the Federal Work Study positions. Once they have an offer on their award letter, students should contact the department in which they are interested in working to begin the process.
Awards range from $500 - $3,000 per year. The hourly wage rate depends on the position.
Additional information regarding career opportunities and resources that may be used to help cover education related expenses can be found be visiting CR's Career Center Resources.

Other Aid

Depending on a student's eligibility, they may qualify for additional aid and assistance through a number of special programs. Each program has its own application and eligibility criteria. Please use the links below to explore the different available programs. Please contact the individual departments if you have questions.