The 2026-27 Budget: California Student Aid Commission

Feb 17, 2026 - Program Has Considerable Overlap With Cal Grant Program. When MCS was originally created, it was targeted to help moderate ‑income students who did not receive Cal Grants cover tuition costs. Thus, the original MCS program was intended to have little, if any, overlap with the Cal Grant program.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5127

The 2026-27 Budget: Higher Education Overview

Feb 5, 2026 - Cal Grant Spending Continues to Grow at Historically High Rate. The Cal Grant program is the state ’s largest and longest ‑standing financial aid program. The Governor ’s budget includes a $337   million ongoing General Fund augmentation (12   percent increase) to cover higher projected Cal  Grant costs in 2026 ‑27.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5112

The 2026-27 Budget: California Student Aid Commission [Publication Details]

Feb 17, 2026 - In this brief, we provide an update on Cal Grant cost estimates and discuss recent program trends leading to higher Cal Grant spending. We then analyze the Governor’s budget proposal to reduce Middle Class Scholarship award coverage and provide associated recommendations.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5127

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Higher Education

Nov 14, 2025 - (The CCC Expanded Entitlement program allows students to retain their Cal Grant awards when they transfer.) Our Cal Grant Spending and Cal Grant Recipients EdBudget tables summarize costs and recipients, respectively, by segment and award type.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5089

The 2026-27 Budget: Higher Education Overview [Publication Details]

Feb 5, 2026 - In this brief, we provide an overview and initial analysis of the Governor’s higher education budget plan.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5112

The 2026-27 Budget: California State University

Feb 24, 2026 - (In addition, the California Student Aid Commission budget includes $53 million ongoing General Fund to pay for higher associated Cal Grant costs for CSU students in 2026‑27. Many CSU students with financial need receive full tuition coverage under the Cal Grant program.)
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5142

The 2024-25 Budget: California Student Aid Commission

Feb 29, 2024 - Cal Grant Reform State Has Plans to Restructure Cal Grants, Subject to Trigger Provision. In the 2022 ‑23 budget package, the state adopted a potential restructuring of the Cal Grant program, commonly referred to as “Cal Grant reform. ” Cal Grant reform would replace the existing award types with a
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4865

The 2024-25 California Spending Plan: Higher Education

Sep 11, 2024 - Cal Grant Reform Is Not Triggered in 2024-25. The budget does not provide funding to implement a set of program changes known as “Cal Grant reform. ” Cal Grant reform would have made several key changes to award types and eligibility rules.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4926

The 2025-26 Budget: Higher Education Overview

Feb 6, 2025 - Whereas the Cal Grant program for low ‑income students has an income cap of $69,000 (for a family of four in 2024 ‑25), and the Cal Grant program for middle ‑income students has an income cap of $131,200 (for a family of four), the MCS program benefits families with annual income as high as $226,000.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4957

The 2022-23 California Spending Plan: Higher Education

Oct 4, 2022 - Two Cal Grant actions are subject to this trigger provision. Cal Grant Reform Is Subject to Trigger Provision. If triggered, this action would restructure the Cal Grant program. Specifically, it would replace the existing award structure with a Cal Grant 2 award that provides nontuition coverage to California Community College
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4632