ARC Financial Aid Options

ARC Financial Aid – American River College is one of the colleges located in California. This college offers various educational degree programs. Besides, it is relatively more affordable compared to the average cost of higher education in the United States. That said, covering all the expenses yourself can be quite hard for your family’s financial condition. That is why many people are seriously thinking about dropping out of college, especially during the hard times of the economy.456

However, it doesn’t always have to be that way. There are various parties who care about education for everyone. Financial help options are provided by the government, organizations, and foundations. The goal is to encourage and provide help for low-income students to finish their education. This post will focus on the financial aid options for the American River College students.

ARC Financial Aid Eligibility

The ARC is one of the colleges with good accreditation in the United States. That means that the student of ARC may be eligible for government grants for education. As a college student, I am sure you have already heard about the Federal Pell Grant, the most popular grant available in the US. As expected, you don’t have to repay the money you get.

To see your eligibility and the amount you’ll be getting, you should complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. More than half of the students attending ARC College got the Federal Pell Grant, in which the average money the students received is $4,417.

State-based Financial Aid for ARC students

Aside from the federal grants, there are some local programs that are available for students of American River College. There is two State of California scholarship programs these students can use, which are the Cal Grant A and Cal Grant B. Both are available only for California residents who can prove their financial need and acceptable grades.

The difference is that the Cal Grant A is provided for students with a minimum 3.0 GPA while the Cal Grant B is awarded to students with a minimum 2.0 GPA. Another difference is the amount of money you might receive. While both have similar $9,708 maximum amount of award, the Cal Grant B has a lower minimum amount of award ($1,551) compared to the Cal Grant A ($2,520). Both are renewable grants, depending on your performance.

If you’re interested in applying for these grants, please contact your financial aid office. You will get more information and submit the application before the deadline on March 2 for both scholarship programs.

CAL Grant B

Cal Grant B is a financial aid program designed to support low-income students pursuing higher education in California. Here’s how to apply:

1. Complete either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) by March 2nd.
2. Submit your Verified Cal Grant GPA (either from high school or community college) to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) by March 2nd. Note that some community colleges have a later deadline of September 2nd for certain Cal Grant types. If you attend American River College, you will submit your GPA electronically.
3. Create an account on the Web Grants for Students portal after submitting your FAFSA or CADAA. This portal allows you to track the status of your award.
4. Once you have submitted FAFSA/CADAA and GPA, CSAC will consider you for the appropriate Cal Grant award based on your GPA, financial need, and the college you plan to attend.

The Cal Grant program offers different grant amounts based on student dependency status and whether they have dependent children. Here’s a breakdown:

• Dependent students or independent students without dependent children can receive up to $1,648 annually.
• Students with dependent children younger than 18 years of age can receive up to $6,000 annually. However, this category requires an annual certification to confirm the status of dependents.

These grants aim to provide financial assistance to students pursuing higher education in California, with the amount varying based on individual circumstances.

The Amount of Fund

Furthermore, Cal Grant B recipients enrolled in 12 or more eligible units per semester may qualify for the Student Success Completion Grant (SSCG). The amount varies based on the number of units enrolled:

1. Students enrolled in 12 to 14.99 financial aid eligible units will receive $1,298 SSCG for that semester.
2. Students enrolled in 15 or more financial aid eligible units will receive $4,000 for that semester.

This additional grant aims to support Cal Grant B recipients in successfully completing their academic programs by providing extra financial assistance.

Grant C

To qualify for Cal Grant C, which is a need-based program, students must be pursuing an occupational or technical program lasting at least four months and attending at least six eligible units per semester.

Here’s how to apply:

1.  Complete the FAFSA or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) by March 2.
2. Create an account at Web Grants for Students to track your application status.

If deemed eligible by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC), you’ll be contacted to complete the Cal Grant C Supplement Form by the specified deadline.

Regarding eligibility and grant amounts:

1. Dependent students or independent students without dependent children can receive up to $1,094 annually.
2. Students with dependent children under 18 years old (annual certification required) may receive up to $4,000 annually.

For further details on eligibility requirements, refer to CSAC Cal Grant guidelines.

Additionally, Cal Grant C recipients enrolled in 12 or more eligible units per semester may qualify for the Student Success Completion Grant (SSCG). The amount varies based on the number of units enrolled:

• Students enrolled in 12 to 14.99 financial aid eligible units will receive $1,298 SSCG for that semester.
• Students enrolled in 15 or more financial aid eligible units will receive $4,000 for that semester.

The California College Promise Grant

This grant is for California community college students and does not require repayment. The grant waives enrollment fees for eligible students but does not cover expenses (books or other educational costs). You may qualify for the California College Promise Grant if you are a California resident or exempt from nonresident fees under AB 540. Eligibility falls into one of three categories:

Type A: You receive Temporary Aid For Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI/SSP), or General Assistance.

Type B: You meet the income standards. Family size includes yourself and other household members, and total family income refers to adjusted gross income and/or untaxed income for the specified year.

Type C: You have submitted the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act application (for AB 540 students who are not US citizens or eligible non-citizens), and it indicates that you have unmet financial need.

To apply for the California College Promise Grant, you can fill out the application form online.

If you’re eligible for the California College Promise Grant, it’s crucial to maintain specific academic and progress standards. So, this can help you keep receiving the grant funds. Here’s what you need to know:

• You must uphold a grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher. If your cumulative GPA drops below 2.0 for two consecutive primary terms (fall/spring semesters), you risk losing your grant eligibility.
• It’s essential to complete more than 50% of your coursework. Failing to complete at least half of your cumulative units in two consecutive primary terms (fall/spring semesters, or fall/winter/spring quarters) could result in the loss of your grant eligibility.
• Falling below a cumulative GPA of 2.0 and/or completing fewer than 50% of your cumulative units for two consecutive terms may lead to the loss of grant eligibility.

Financial Aid Options From Local Organization

Aside of the official programs from both the federal and state governments, there are several financial aid options coming from local organization or foundations. For example, there’s the CAPA Award from the Californians for Population Stabilization. This program offers $1,500 to $5,000 in the form of grant contest (deadline on January 31). There’s also the James C. Basile Scholarship that is sponsored by the Ventura County Community Foundation that provides a generous $5,000 for Ventura County resident who are coming from low-income families.

Other notable sources of financial aid are the Ebell/Flint Scholarship, Iris & Roger Wilkins Scholarship, Anne Rudin Scholarship, etc.

Believe it or not, 3 out of 4 students of ARC receive some form of financial aid to support their educational goals. Therefore you have to make sure that you get the ARC financial aid options you need!

References:
American River College – http://www.arc.losrios.edu/
Image: sciarc.edu