Aid Programs: Prospective Undergraduate Students

Scholarships are available to FAFSA and DREAM Applicants. 

Scholarships are considered gift-aid: They don't need to be repaid!  There are thousands of them, offered by schools, employers, individuals, private companies, nonprofits, communities, religious groups, and professional and social organizations. 

A scholarship might cover the entire cost of your tuition, or it might be a one-time award of a few hundred dollars. Either way, scholarships are worth applying for as they can help you cover your educational costs, and reduce your dependence on loans. 

Our Scholarships page is your resource for information on a variety of Cal Poly Pomona, CSU and outside scholarship opportunities.   

Federal Grants are available only to FAFSA Applicants. 

Federal Pell Grants:    

The largest federal grant program, the Federal Pell Grant is designed to assist students from low-income families. These grants are awarded to degree-seeking undergraduate students who have not yet earned a bachelor's or graduate degree. The Pell grant varies based on financial need, as determined by your FAFSA application. Pell Grant lifetime eligibility is limited to the equivalent of 12 semesters at full-time enrollment. 

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)   

Pell-eligible students who demonstrate the highest need may be considered for the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, which supplements their Federal Pell Grant. ​ 

Federal Grant Fact Sheets 

Federal Student Grant Programs Factsheet (English) 
Programas de prestamos federales para estudiantes (Spanish) 

California State Grants are available to FAFSA and DREAM Applicants. 

The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) determines the eligibility for California State Grants – which are available only to California residents or students who qualify for the Non-Resident Tuition Exemption (AB540 status). In general, you must submit your FAFSA or Dream Application by the March 2nd Priority Filing Deadline in order to be eligible for consideration for a State Grant.

Grants currently administered by CSAC include: 

Cal Grant A and B

Cal Grants assist in paying for the State Tuition Fee for California Residents, who meet eligibility criteria established by CSAC.

California Chafee Grant   

California Chafee Grants are intended to assist students who are or were in foster care and demonstrate financial need.

California Middle Class Scholarship (MCS) 

The California Middle Class Scholarship (MCS) is designed for undergraduate students with family incomes and assets (each) up to $201,000. MCS amounts are based on a sliding scale according to your family's income and the other kinds of support you receive. For more information on the program and eligibility requirements, visit the California Student Aid Commission's site about the Middle Class Scholarship.

Golden State Education and Training Grant

The Golden State Education and Training Grant (GSETG) Program supports Californians who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic with a one-time grant of $2,500 for reskilling, upskilling, or accessing educational programs to get back into the workforce.

Who Can Apply?

Both FAFSA and Dream Act students may apply for the Golden State Education and Training Grant program.  You are not required to submit a financial aid application to apply - but it is strongly recommended.

Eligibility

A Qualified Applicant:

• Was displaced from employment due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• Was not enrolled in a training program or institution of higher educatoin at the time they were displaced from employment
• Has been unable to obtain employment that provides an average monthly wasge that is equal to or greater than the average monthly wage from their employment prior to the COVID-19 pandemic
• Meets the income and asset criteria to be eligible for a Cal Grant A grant (pursuant to subdivision (k) of California Education Code Section 69432.7)
• Is now enrolled in an education program at an institution of higher education, an adult vocational or career training program provided by a K12 school or community college.

How to Apply

To apply, visit the CA Student Aid Commission's Golden State Education and Training Grant website.  

You will be asked to login to your existing CSAC account, or will be asked to create a new one.

Students with a FAFSA or CA Dream Application on file will not need to provide financial information.  This without an aid application on file will be required to complete a short, supplemental application form to verify financial eligibility for this program. 

If you have any questions regarding the program, please email GSETGP@CSAC.CA.GOV

Cal Poly Pomona Grants are available to FAFSA or DREAM Applicants. 

Cal Poly Pomona Grants are available only to California residents or students who qualify for the Non-Resident Tuition Exemption (AB540 status).  Eligibility is determined by the FAFSA or DREAM Application; you must file by the March 2nd Priority Filing deadline to be considered for a Cal Poly Pomona grant (for 2022-2023, the filing deadline was extended to April 1, 2022). 

Grants currently available from Cal Poly Pomona include: 

State University Grant (SUG) 

The State University Grant pays the Systemwide / State Tuition Fee. Students who are already receiving a financial aid award designated to pay the tuition fee (Cal Grant or Scholarship, tuition/fee waivers, vocational rehabilitation, etc.) are not eligible to receive a SUG. Those pursuing a second bachelor's are also not eligible. 

Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)   

The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) serves students who come from disadvantaged economic or educational backgrounds. The program provides admission, academic and financial assistance to eligible undergraduate students. Only students who are admitted to the university by the EOP admissions process and enroll full time (12 units or more per semester) are eligible for EOP grant consideration. Students are considered for EOP based on their estimated family contribution and the availability of funds. Funding for this program is extremely limited.  

Additional Information about EOP is available from the Educational Opportunity Program  

Federal Student Loans are available only to FAFSA Applicants. 

Low interest Federal Student Loans are offered as part of financial aid packages. Cal Poly Pomona is committed to reducing student debt, however, and student loan totals for our graduates are among the lowest in the country. 

Your FAFSA application will determine if you are eligible for subsidized or unsubsidized federal loans. 

Student borrowers eligible for need-based Subsidized Direct Loans will have their interest paid for by the federal government while they remain enrolled at least half-time. 

All other students, including those who may qualify for only a partially subsidized loan, may receive the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan. This loan has the same terms and conditions as the Subsidized loan,  except that the student borrower is responsible for the interest that accrues while in school. For current interest rate and origination fee information please visit the Federal Student Aid Website. 

Federal Loans are also available for parents to cover a student’s remaining education costs. PLUS Loans (Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students) are Federal Direct Loans in which the parent of a dependent student is the applicant/borrower. 

• Federal Direct Loans: Basics for Students 
• Federal Direct Loans:  Basics for Parents 

Federal Work-Study (Available to FAFSA Applicants only) 

Federal Work-Study (FWS) is a federally funded program that provides the opportunity for employment  to students with the highest financial need. The amount a student may earn will be listed on the student's aid summary. A FWS offer does not guarantee placement in an actual position. 

Work experience is not required to secure a FWS position. The money earned is yours to use for out-of-pocket expenses, such as travel, books, and personal care items. Cal Poly Pomona students typically work 10-12 hours per week. Work-study funds do not reduce your bill with the university. 

Fee Waivers are authorized by the California Legislature or the CSU Board of Trustees and may reduce the cost of attendance for eligible students.  If you will be receiving a tuition or fee waiver, you must notify our office as we are required to coordinate the waiver with your other financial aid.

The Cal Grant, Middle Class Scholarship, State University Grant (SUG), and most Tuition Fee Waivers are considered fee-paying resources and cover the exact same tuition/fees. Therefore, students are only eligible to receive one during a period of enrollment. students who have been awarded both a tuition-paying grant (SUG, Cal Grant, MCS) and a Tuition Fee Waiver will have the tuition paying grant cancelled or returned to the California Student Aid Commission.  Additional financial aid may also be affected by the waiver, up to the amount of the waiver, including grants and loans. 

Approved Fee Waivers Can Only Be Applied to State-Funded Courses

Approved Waivers are only applicable for state funded courses during the Regular Academic year (Fall and Spring terms). Fee Waivers cannot be applied to courses that are offered through CPGE (Open University, Extension Programs) - including Summer.

Below is information about the most frequently used waivers.  More information about Tuition and Fee Waivers is available from the CSU Chancellor’s Office.

Cal Vet Tuition Fee Waiver for Veteran Dependents

This is a waiver that covers the systemwide tuition fee at Cal Poly Pomona.  The Waiver does not cover the mandatory (auxiliary) campus fees which include student union fees, student health service fees, among many others.

If you are eligible for this waiver, you will not be eligible for California State aid (Cal Grant, Middle Class Scholarships, State University Grant).

For more information, contact your local County Veterans Service Office. You can also contact Sam Kim.

Alan Pattee Scholarship Act: Tuition Fee Waiver

Pursuant to the Alan Pattee Scholarship Act, Education Code 68120, Education Code 68120.5, children of deceased public law enforcement or fire suppression employees, who were California residents and who were killed in the course of law enforcement or fire suppression duties, are not charged mandatory system-wide fees or tuition of any kind at any California State University campus. Students who may qualify for these benefits should contact admissions@cpp.edu.

The California State University (CSU) Foster Youth Tuition Waiver

The California State University (CSU) Foster Youth Tuition Waiver is available for current and former foster care youth who are enrolled at a California State University campus in an undergraduate program.

The purpose of the CSU Foster Youth Tuition Waiver is to provide increased access for current and former foster youth to higher education by providing a tuition waiver. The waiver is open to qualified current and former foster youth enrolled as undergraduate students.

Students are exempt from paying the systemwide tuition fee (this covers only state-supported courses) at any CSU campus. The tuition fee waiver only applies to the systemwide mandatory tuition fee and application fee. It does not apply to campus-based mandatory (auxiliary) fees. The amount of the waiver may be reduced by any state or federal aid, including scholarships or grants, received by the student for the academic year or semester/quarter.

If you are already receiving a Cal Grant Tuition Grant or State University Grant, you do not need to apply for the Foster Youth Tuition Waiver.

Learn More about the CSU Foster Youth Tuition Waiver

CSU Fee Waiver and Reduction Program

The California State University (CSU) Fee Waiver and Reduction Program (Fee Waiver) is a program designed to reduce or waive state fees for eligible  employees to take classes at a CSU campus in order to improve current job skills/abilities (work-related training) or to obtain the education needed to pursue CSU career goals (career development).

Employees eligible to participate in the Employee Fee Waiver & Reduction Program may transfer their fee waiver benefit entitlement to an eligible dependent (spouse, domestic partner, or dependent child).

A Fee Waiver application must be submitted for each semester participation is requested in the program for both new and continuing participants. Applicants are responsible for reapplying each semester.

Approved Fee Waivers Can Only Be Applied to State-Funded Courses

Approved CSU Fee Waivers are only applicable for Regular Academic Session (state-funded) courses and cannot be applied to courses that are Open University/Extension Programs. 

Fee Waiver Submittal When Enrolling at Cal Poly Pomona

If you (or your eligible dependent) are enrolling at Cal Poly Pomona, the timelines to submit your completed Employee/Dependent Fee Waiver forms to our campus are listed on the benefits website.

Review Cal Poly Pomona’s Educational Benefits page for more information about the Employee Fee Waiver and Dependent Fee Waiver.