Student in classroom with California College of ASU faculty

Scholarships

California College of ASU is committed to inspiring and empowering students with a variety of need and merit-based scholarships and grants. Unlike student loans, these scholarships and grants don’t have to be repaid and are awarded exclusively to California College of ASU students.

Each scholarship or grant has specific eligibility requirements, application instructions and submission deadlines. Students are encouraged to apply for all scholarships for which they may be eligible, as some scholarships can be combined up to the total amount of tuition and institutional charges per academic year.

Internal scholarships

California College of ASU is committed to cultivating, inspiring and empowering future storytellers and content creators by offering scholarships to qualified students enrolling in a degree program for the first time. Please scroll down to see a portfolio of our internal scholarships.

External scholarships

California College of ASU encourages students to research and apply for outside scholarships that are available to them. These sites provide information on many of these programs.

Big Future – Scholarships, other financial aid and internships from more than 2,200 programs totaling nearly $6 billion.
Fast Web – 1.5 million scholarships worth up to $3.4 billion.
Sallie Mae – provides free access to 6 million scholarships worth up to $30 billion for undergraduate students.

Disbursement of financial aid

Financial aid funds are generally disbursed in three payments, advancing a portion of the total award during three quarters in an academic year. For example, an annual Direct Subsidized Loan of $4,500 has three $1,500 disbursements, one in the first few weeks of each academic quarter for three consecutive academic quarters.

All financial aid funds that are disbursed are reflected on the student recipient’s account, including:

Loan proceeds from federal and private lending institutions.
Funds from federal and institutional scholarships and grants.
Outside scholarships or grants received by the college.

Funds are disbursed to the student’s account only when the student’s enrollment is confirmed. Outside awards and loans are disbursed upon receipt of funds. A student who receives funding that exceeds the billed charges will be issued a stipend check for the excess amount. Stipends may be issued in the form of a paper check or via direct deposit by arrangement with the Business Office.

Scholarship deadline information

All institutional grants and scholarships are non-transferable and carry no redeemable cash value. Credit balances created as the result of the application of an institutional grant(s) or scholarship(s) to a student account will be retained on the student’s account and applied to the subsequent term(s) until exhausted. Final scholarship awards are at the sole discretion of the Scholarship Committee. In the event that a student delays their original start date, all institutional scholarship and grant awards may be forfeited.

2024 California College of ASU scholarship portfolio

Student Achievement Scholarship

All programs | New students — California College of ASU graduates enrolling in a new program

The Student Achievement Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship for first year students in the 2024-25 academic year. It is designed to recognize deserving individuals that are focused on pursuing an education with California College of ASU. The scholarship is available to students currently enrolled in any of our degree programs and who meet all eligibility requirements.

Award: The Student Achievement Scholarship can be awarded up to $48,000 for a bachelor’s degree program at California College of ASU. Award breakdown is detailed below.

Eligibility and Provisions

Minimum Eligibility Requirement:

Submit high school transcript providing evidence of GPA.
Be enrolled Full Time in 12 or more credits.
Have successfully completed the first 30 days of the term of scheduled disbursement.
Maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA for each subsequent semester for continued eligibility.

Provisions

Funds will first be applied toward tuition & fees of a California College degree program.
Future scholarship consideration is forfeited if a student withdraws or is dismissed.
Eligibility beyond the first academic year is based on a 3.0 CGPA while a student is enrolled at CCASU.
Notification will be given by the Financial Aid department at the time of awarding.

Award

Award:

The Student Achievement Scholarship can be awarded up to $48,000 for a bachelor’s degree program at California College of ASU. The award breakdown is as follows:

Student Achievement Scholarship Tiers:

Type	Program	Per AY	Per Semester	High School GPA
University	$16,000	$4,000	$2,000	3.1 - 3.29
Dean	$32,000	$8,000	$4,000	3.3 - 3.49
President	$40,000	$10,000	$5,000	3.5 - 3.79
Trustee	$48,000	$12,000	$6,000	3.8 - 4.0

Award Notification

Recipients will be notified by their assigned Financial Aid Officer provided the eligibility requirements above are met.
Award notification will include the Academic Year for which the student is eligible.

Student Success Scholarship

All programs | New students — California College of ASU graduates enrolling in a new program

The Student Success Scholarship is a need-based scholarship designed to aid deserving individuals who are focused on pursuing an education with California College of ASU. The scholarship is available to students currently enrolled in any of California College’s degree programs and who meet all eligibility requirements.

Award: The Student Success Scholarship can be awarded up to the eligible student’s unmet need (less other available financial resources) as determined by the institution.

Eligibility and Provisions

Minimum Eligibility Requirements:
In order to be eligible for consideration, those applying for a Student Success Scholarship should:

For initial eligibility, a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 or greater with no more than 2 A-G or equivalent deficiencies.
Have completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and reviewed their Estimated Award Letter with a Financial Aid Officer.
Have completed the Financial Aid process and demonstrated need as determined by the Financial Aid department.
Be enrolled Full Time in 12 or more credits.
Have successfully completed the first 30 days of the term of scheduled disbursement.
For continued eligibility beyond the 1st semester at California College of ASU, maintain a 3.0

Provisions:

Funds may be used only toward the tuition & fees of a California College of ASU degree.
Funds can only be applied to tuition balances and cannot be used for living expenses.
Future scholarship consideration is forfeit if a student withdraws or is dismissed.
Remaining tuition balances that exceed $1,000 each semester will require good faith cash payments (as determined by the Business Office) to be considered for future eligibility.
If unmet need is offset by other fund sources, the scholarship amount may be reduced.
Must be in good financial standing with no prior balance owed.

Award

Award:
The Student Success Scholarship can be awarded up to the eligible student’s unmet need (less other available financial resources) as determined by the institution.

Award Notification:

Recipients will be notified by their assigned Financial Aid Officer (via Award Letter in student portal) provided eligibility requirements above are met.
Award notification will include the Academic Year for which the student is eligible.

Golden State Institutional Grant

BA Liberal Arts | New students — California College of ASU graduates enrolling in BA Liberal Arts

The Golden State Institutional Grant is a need-based scholarship designed to aid deserving individuals that are focused on pursuing an education with California College of ASU. The grant is available to students enrolled in a degree program and who meet all eligibility requirements.

Award: The Golden State Institutional Grant will be awarded to students eligible to receive a Cal Grant A or Cal Grant B award as determined by the Financial Aid Department.

Eligibility and Provisions

Minimum Eligibility Requirements:

Have completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) prior to May 2, 2024.
Must be a U.S. Citizen, Eligible Non-Citizen.
California Residency for at least one year prior to semester start.
Not in Default on Title IV Student Loan.
Enrolled at Least Half-Time.
May not exceed Income and Asset ceilings for award year packaged.
Must have financial need per institutional analysis.
Cal Grant A recipients must have a min 3.0 CGPA (Cal Grant B recipients 2.0CGPA)
Have successfully completed the first 30 days of the term of scheduled disbursement.
For continued eligibility beyond 2024-25 award year, students are required to complete the
FAFSA applications for each subsequent award year and remain eligible for a Cal Grant award as defined by the Financial Aid Department.

Provisions:

Grant payments will only be applied to semesters that students are actively attending. (not eligible if taking LOA)
The Golden State Institutional Grant cannot be combined with institutional scholarships, except for the Student Success Scholarship.
Grant is only applicable for non-Cal Grant approved degree programs.

Award

Award:

The Golden State Institutional Grant will be awarded to students eligible to receive a Cal Grant A or Cal Grant B award as determined by the Financial Aid Department.

Award notification:

Recipients will be notified by their assigned Financial Aid Officer (via Award Letter in student portal) provided eligibility requirements above are met.
Award notification will include the Academic Year for which the student is eligible.
Award amount may adjust based on number of credits taken in semester.
All requirements for federal Pell Grant participation apply to recipients of this award.

The Alternative PELL Institutional Grant

BA Liberal Arts | New students — California College of ASU graduates enrolling in BA Liberal Arts only.

The Alternative PELL Institutional Grant is a need-based scholarship designed to aid deserving individuals who are focused on pursuing an education with California College of ASU. The grant is available to students enrolled in California College’s Liberal Arts degree programs and who meet all eligibility requirements.

Award: The Alternative PELL Institutional Grant will be awarded to students eligible to receive a PELL award as determined by the Financial Aid Department, not to exceed the annual Pell limit as defined by the U.S. Department of Education.

Eligibility and Provisions

Minimum Eligibility Requirements:
In order to be eligible for the Alternative PELL Institutional Grant students should:

Have completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Have completed the Financial Aid process and reviewed their Estimated Award Letter with a Financial Aid Officer.
Have successfully completed the first 30 days of the term of scheduled disbursement.
For continued eligibility beyond 2024-25 award year, students are required to complete the
FAFSA applications for each subsequent award year and remain eligible for a PELL award as defined by the U.S. Department of Education.

Provisions

Grant payments will only be applied to semesters that students are actively attending (not eligible if taking LOA).
Grant is only applicable for non-Title IV approved degree programs.

Award

Award:

The Alternative PELL Institutional Grant will be awarded to students eligible to receive a PELL award as determined by the Financial Aid Department, not to exceed the annual Pell limit as defined by the U.S. Department of Education.

Award Notification:

Recipients will be notified by their assigned Financial Aid Officer (via Award Letter in student portal) provided eligibility requirements above are met.
Award notification will include the Academic Year for which the student is eligible.
Award amount may adjust based on number of credits taken in semester.
All federal requirements for federal Pell Grant participation apply to recipients of this award.

Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Scholarship Program

All programs | Military veterans only

California College of ASU participates in the Yellow Ribbon Scholarship Program to assist new and continuing student veterans in funding their education. Under the Yellow Ribbon Program, the college coordinates with the Veterans Benefit Administration to ensure full coverage of a veteran’s institutional charges from the college.

Maximum award value
The college’s scholarship amount ensures that the student veteran’s tuition and fees are covered 100% despite the annual cap set by the VA.

Eligibility

A student veteran must qualify into the 100%-coverage tier of the Chapter 33 Benefits Program.

Please see the School Certifying Official on the student’s campus of enrollment for current contribution rates and distribution information: Ashley Mendoza, Business Office manager, amendoza@columbiacollege.edu.

Note: Students using Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment benefits (CH31) or Post-9/11 GI Bill (CH33) will be allowed to enroll in and attend courses and access campus facilities while the college awaits payment for tuition and fees from the VA. While awaiting receipt of funds from the VA, California College of ASU will not impose any penalty, charge late fees or require an eligible student to borrow additional funds to cover tuition or fees. This waiting period begins on the date the student provides appropriate documentation and continues until funds are received from the VA, up to 90 days after the school certifying official has certified the student’s enrollment for tuition and fees.

GI Bill is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Find more information about education benefits offered by VA.