Deadline Fast Approaching to Apply for Free College Money; Students Urged to File Cal Grant Applications By March 2.

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. -- The California Student Aid Commission urges parents and students to apply for a Cal Grant prior to the fast-approaching March 2 deadline, to earn up to $8,300 for college expenses. Cal Grant applications cannot be accepted after March 2. The Cal Grant is free money for a college education that does not need to be repaid. The Entitlement Cal Grant is for graduating high school seniors, students who graduated from high school last year and did not get a Cal Grant, and California Community College students who are transferring to a four-year college. Continuing college students who are currently Cal Grant recipients should also apply to renew their grant.

"Last year, more than a quarter of a million California students used Cal Grants to help pay for college," said Diana Fuentes-Michel, executive director of the California Student Aid Commission. "The Cal Grant money is there waiting for students to apply for it. I urge students and their parents to file the two free forms required to qualify for a Cal Grant before March 2."

Two Forms. Tons of Opportunity.

Applying for a Cal Grant takes two free forms - the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Cal Grant Grade Point Average (GPA) Verification Form. There is no fee for filing these forms. The FAFSA can be submitted online or mailed by the March 2 Cal Grant application deadline. However, students are encouraged to complete the form online to save time, prevent mistakes and streamline the application process.

Free help with filling out the forms is available through free California Cash for College workshops. Students and their parents can visit www.californiacashforcollege.org, or call the Cal Grant information line at 1-888-CA-GRANT (1-888-224-7268) for additional information. Students can also visit their high school counseling or college financial aid offices for the appropriate forms and to get help.

Students who are not awarded a Cal Grant should contact their high school counselor or financial aid administrator to learn more about other financial aid opportunities for college.

For more information on Cal Grants, visit www.calgrants.org or go to the Commission's Web site at www.csac.ca.gov for information on the California Student Aid Commission and other college financial aid and scholarship programs.

The California Student Aid Commission is the state's principal provider of intersegmental statewide grant aid to postsecondary students. Founded in 1955 as the California State Scholarship Commission, the Commission's primary programmatic responsibilities include operation of the Cal Grant program, which is distributing nearly $800 million to California's college students during the 2005-2006 school year; operation of the California Chafee Grant Program; and, several multi-million dollar targeted state scholarship and loan forgiveness programs. The 15-member Commission oversees the activities of its nonprofit student loan services auxiliary, EDFUND. The Commission is headquartered in Rancho Cordova, California.

California Student Aid Commission and its associated graphic are the service mark of the California Student Aid Commission. EDFUND and its associated graphic are the registered trademark of EDFUND.