California College Promise Grant

Need help paying your enrollment fees?

The California College Promise Grant (CCPG), formerly known as the Board of Governors' Fee Waiver (BOGFW), is a state funded program which is available to California residents^* who meet the specific income eligibility requirements. To apply, submit a FAFSA or Dream Act application.

The program waives only the $46/unit Enrollment Fee (for the full Cost of Attendance, see COA). Students are responsible for paying any fees not covered by the award at the time of registration to avoid being dropped for non-payment. Student Health fees, Student Center fees and parking fees may be reduced or waived under qualifying CCPG standards (see "Types of CA College Promise Grants", below). The CCPG will be awarded for the entire academic year which includes the (Summer, Fall and Spring) semesters.

2024-2025 CCPG covers Summer 2024, Fall 2024, and Spring 2025.  The last day to award CCPG for 2024-2025 is May 30, 2025.  Applications must be received by that date. 

^*Note: California Residency status is determined by the Registrar at the SWC Admissions Office.

Applying for the California College Promise Grant (CCPG)

To apply for the CCPG, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act application.  Do NOT use the CCCApply website to apply for the CCPG.  Students must use the FAFSA or California Dream Act application to determine eligibility for the CCPG.  

Many students do not qualify for a Method A or Method B, but will qualify for a Method C  and additional financial aid funds by completing the FAFSA. If you are an undocumented student, you can complete the California Dream Application instead of the FAFSA. 

IMPORTANT! If you have already paid the enrollment fees for your classes, and then receive the CCPG, you may request a refund of your paid fees from the Cashier's Office, located in the Cesar Chavez Center, First floor, or at the Student Services counter at any of the Higher Education Centers.

Eligibility

To qualify for CCPG, you must be a California resident or eligible AB 540 student and meet the eligibility requirements for Method A, B or C. Each type of CCPG has different eligibility requirements.  Please see below for more information on each. 

If awarded the CCPG, there are no minimum or maximum unit requirements for the program.

IMPORTANT! If you do not qualify for the California College Promise Grant, you may be eligible for the Southwestern College Promise, which also waives enrollment fees. However, eligibility requirements differ. For more information, visit Southwestern College Promise page. 

Types of California College Promise Grants

AB540 Students

Under AB131, students who are registered as AB540 students are entitled to apply for a CCPG and should apply for the CCPG using the Dream Act application. For students needing to qualify under the CCPG-C, students with a valid SSN should complete the FAFSA application and students without a valid SSN should complete the California Dream Application. Visit our webpage to get more information on AB540 eligibility and the California Dream Act information. 

CCPG Academic/Progress Eligibility Requirements

Students are required to meet academic/progress standards to maintain eligibility for CCPG. Students who are placed on academic and/or progress probation or disqualified (DQ) in two consecutive primary terms (Fall/Spring) will lose eligibility for CCPG at the next registration opportunity.

Academic - Sustain a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
If your cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 for two consecutive primary terms (fall/spring semesters, or fall/spring quarters), you may lose your eligibility.

Progress Complete more than 50% of your coursework
If the cumulative number of units you complete is not more than 50% in two consecutive primary terms (fall/spring semesters, or fall/spring quarters), you may lose your eligibility.

Combination of Academic and Progress Standards
Any combination of two consecutive terms of cumulative GPA below 2.0, and/or cumulative unit completion of not more than 50% may result in loss of CCPG eligibility.

How will I know if I lose eligibility?

If you lose eligibility for the CCPG, you will be notified within 30 days of losing eligibility. You have several options to regain eligibility:

•  Improve your GPA or course completion measures to meet the academic and progress standards
• Successfully appeal the loss of California College Promise Grants by completing a CCPG Appeal Form and submitting it to the Financial Aid Office.
• "Sit out" by not attending SWC for two consecutive primary terms (Fall/Spring)

The appeals process for extenuating circumstances includes:

• Verified accidents, illness or other circumstances beyond your control
• Changes in economic situation
• Evidence of inability to obtain essential support services
• Special consideration factors for CalWORKs, EOPS, DSPS and veteran students
• Disability accommodations not received in a timely manner

Please note that foster youth and former foster youth (age 24 years and younger) and students receiving the CalVet waiver are not subject to loss of the CCPG under these regulations. If you have questions or need assistance with the CCPG, please contact the Financial Aid Office. If you need assistance on issues about residency, please contact the Admissions & Records Office.

What's the process to appeal?

1. Complete the appeal form, which can be found on the Appeals and Special Circumstances page. Fill the form out completely and accurately, checking the correct reason for your appeal and including all required documentation. Any missing information or documentation will delay the processing of your appeal.
2. Processing takes approximately 2-3 weeks. Please check your SWC email account for an update from the Financial Aid office or check your My Financial Aid account (via the My SWC portal) for updated information. 
3. We are here to help! If you are struggling with your classes, please take the opportunity to meet with your counselor, who can help you find and take advantage of the many resources and support services that are available to you.  Your success is our priority!