Grants

Occidental College participates in the following grant programs:

Federal Grants

The Federal Pell Grant is a need-based undergraduate aid program. If you meet the criteria for a Pell Grant, it will be included on your award letter from Occidental. Any change in Pell Grant eligibility will reduce or increase other need-based grants and scholarships.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) are awarded to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. Students with exceptional financial need who qualify for Pell Grants are given priority for FSEOG funds. Recipients are awarded from $500 to $4,000 during each academic year, based on available federal funding.

Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarships are administered by your state of residence on behalf of the U. S. Department of Education. Byrd scholarships provide funding for four years of undergraduate study.

The National Science & Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART Grant) is a new federal grant programs that provides up to $2,000 per year for needy students.  It is available during the third and fourth years of undergraduate study to full-time students who are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant and who are majoring in physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, or engineering or in a foreign language determined critical to national security. The student must also have maintained a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 in coursework required for the major. SMART Grants replace, dollar for dollar, Occidental Need-Based Scholarship.

Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)  will provide up to $750 for the first year  of undergraduate study and up to $1,300 for the second year of undergraduate study to full-time students who are U.S citizens, eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, and who have successfully completed a rigorous high school program as determined by the state or local education agency and recognized by the Secretary of Education. Second year students must also have maintained a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0.  An ACG replaces, dollar for dollar, Occidental Need-Based Scholarship.

Cal Grants

The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC)  awards Cal Grants A and B to California residents as determined by eligibility requirements set by the state of California. Cal Grants replace, dollar for dollar, the Occidental Need-Based Scholarship. All Occidental students who are California residents must apply for a Cal Grant. The College will not replace funds for students who do not apply or fail to properly complete the Cal Grant application process.

Cal Grant A Entitlement requirements include financial and basic eligibility criteria and a minimum high school GPA of 3.0. Full-time students awarded a Cal Grant are eligible to receive between $7,449 and $9,708 (based on the state budget) as long as they maintain eligibility under state criteria. 

Cal Grant B Entitlement  requirements include financial and basic eligibility criteria and a minimum high school GPA of 2.0. First‑year students receive a living stipend. Second‑, third‑ and fourth‑year students receive both a living stipend and a tuition grant. Currently, the living stipend is $1,551 and the tuition grant is between $7,449 and $9,708 (based on the state budget) for full-time students. 

Competitive Cal Grant A and B Awards awards are similar to the entitlement awards, except that they are not guaranteed. Each year competitive awards are available to those students who did not receive an entitlement award.