Federal & State Grants

Federal and state grants are two forms of financial aid that do not need to be repaid. Most grants are awarded based on demonstrated financial need.

Federal Grants | State Grants | Eligibility Requirements

Federal Grant Programs

Two federal programs provide grant assistance based on need.

• Federal Pell Grants are awarded to undergraduates with exceptional financial need who have not received a baccalaureate degree. A student's eligibility for a Pell Grant is determined by the information provided on the student's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. To qualify, a student must be a US citizen or an eligible noncitizen.

Award amounts are estimated and are subject to changes in federal legislation. In 2018–19, Pell Grant awards ranged up to a maximum of $6,095 per student. The amount of Federal Pell Grant funding a student may receive over her lifetime is limited by federal law to be the equivalent of six years of Pell Grant funding. The six-year maximum applies to all students regardless of when or where they received their first Pell Grant. Visit the Federal Student Aid web page on Pell Grants for detailed information.

• The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG program) allocates grant aid directly to the College which, in turn, awards these funds to its neediest students. Visit the Federal Student Aid web page on the FSEOG program for more information.

To be considered for federal grants, students must file the FAFSA by the published deadlines for students who are applying for admission to Mills or for continuing Mills students.

Most federal grants and need-based institutional grants are disbursed directly to a student's account electronically in two separate payments. If all disbursement requirements have been met, the first disbursement is made at the start of the fall semester, and the second disbursement is made at the of the spring semester.

State Grant Programs

The California Student Aid Commission administers grant programs for undergraduates and is an important source of support for California residents.

• Cal Grant A tuition grant awards are based, in part, on financial need and grade point average. In 2018–19, Cal Grant A awards ranged up to a maximum of $9,084 for students attending private California colleges.
• Cal Grant B awards are reserved for students with exceptional financial need. In 2018–19, students receiving a Cal Grant B for the first time were awarded a living allowance of $1,672 per academic year. In following academic years, Cal Grant B recipients are also eligible for tuition grants.

Cal Grants replace need-based Mills College scholarships. Mills will not replace Cal Grant funds for students who would have been eligible for a Cal Grant but failed to complete the required forms and application process by the required deadlines.

To be considered for a Cal Grant:

• California residents must file the FAFSA and the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form by the state deadline of March 2.
• Students who are AB 540-eligible or California DREAMers must file the California Dream Act Application and the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form by the state deadline of March 2.

Cal Grants are disbursed directly to a student's account electronically in two separate payments. If all disbursement requirements have been met, the first disbursement is made at the start of the fall semester, and the second disbursement is made at the start of the spring semester.

Visit the California Student Aid Commission’s web page on Cal Grants for more detailed information.

Federal & State Grant Eligibility Requirements

In order to be considered for these need-based federal and state awards, a student must:

• demonstrate financial need
• maintain satisfactory academic progress
• have a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certificate or have completed high school education in a homeschool setting approved under state law
• be a US citizen or an eligible noncitizen (for federal grants)
• have a valid Social Security number (for federal grants)

Eligibility for need-based funding from Mills, such as an FSEOG award, is determined by:

• a review of income, assets, and household information as reported on the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application
• academic information
• available funding