California Dream Act and AB 540

The Dream Act are two laws that passed in 2011 that allow AB 540 students to apply for and receive several types of financial aid, including:

• California College Promise Grant Fee Waiver
• Promise Scholarship
• State financial aid such as Cal Grants and Chafee Grants
• Assistance from EOPS, CARE, or CalWORKs
• Privately-funded scholarships

Who is Eligible?

You are an AB 540 student, and exempt from paying non-resident enrollment fees, if you meet all of the following criteria:

Attendance Requirement	Completion of a Course of Study
3 years of high school, adult school, community college (credit courses: only 2 Full-time years are considered) or any combination of the above in California (CA) OR 3 years of high school coursework and attended a combination of CA elementary, secondary, and high school	CA high school diploma, CA adult school, GED or the equivalent (HiSET, TASC, CHSPE) Degree from a CA Community College Fulfilled minimum transfer requirements to a UC or CSU Campus

• For more information, please view Quick Guide to SB 68 by Immigrants Rising
• You will need to submit documents to Admissions and Records to establish AB 540 status. 
• If required, complete an AB 540 affidavit saying you have filed (or will file when you are eligible to do so) for an immigration status. 

Please contact Admissions Office to determine if you are AB 540 eligible.

Tuition Difference After You Establish AB 540 Status

Institution	CA Resident Tuition for Fall and Spring  Semester	Nonresidents (taking 12 semester units) for Fall and Spring Semester
Las Positas College	$1,104	$8,064
CSU	$5,742	$16,812
UC	$12,570	$47,293

 

Types of Aid Available for AB 540 Students

Several types of state and institutional aid are available to AB 540 students as a result of the California Dream Act.

California College Promise Grant Fee Waiver

Waives community college's $46/unit enrollment fees for eligible students
*CA College Promise Grant Fee Waiver or California Dream Application.
*If you require a paper Fee Waiver application, please ask.

California Promise Scholarship at LPC

If your Expected Family Contribution is more than 3,100 and you meet the Promise Scholarship requirements, you may be considered for the Promise Scholarship. You can receive $600/semester if you take 12 units or $450/semester if you take 9 units. Just submit your California Dream Act Application  and we will consider you for the grant. You can find the eligibility requirements here: AB 19 The California College Promise Scholarship

Assistance from EOPS, CARE, or CalWORKs

Services offered varies; may include services such as tutoring, book vouchers or other types of financial aid for those who meet specific eligibility requirements
See department for Institutional application.

• Extended Opportunity Programs & Services (EOPS)
• CalWORKs
• CARE Program

Cal Grant A or Cal Grant B

COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRANSFER ENTITLEMENT

Deadline March 2 and September 2
Financial Aid Office, or California Student Aid Commission Grant award covering tuition and education-related expenses when transferring to an eligible Baccalaureate degree granting institution. California Dream Application* and GPA Verification Form. LPC will provide a GPA Verification ONLY if you have completed 16 units (this does NOT include Basic skills or ESL courses) prior to Spring term. If not, your high school must send in a GPA verification.

Cal Grant B -Entitlement

Complete FAFSA or DREAM Application by March 2
Grant award to help education-related expenses for recent high school graduates
*California Dream Application and GPA Verification Form

Cal Grant C

Complete by March 2
Financial Aid Office, or California Student Aid Commission
Grant award covering education-related expenses for occupational or career technical programs. California Dream Application*, Cal Grant C Supplemental Application, and High School or Community College GPA Verification Form.

Chafee Grant

Apply as soon as possible (awards are limited)
Grant award covering education-related expenses for foster youth
California Dream Application and Chafee Grant Application

* To apply for any or all of the financial aid programs requiring the California Dream Application, you only need to complete and submit ONE application.

Resources for Dreamers

CSAC Resources for California Dream Act Application - FAQs, Parent Signature Forms, etc.

Financial Aid Support for Dreamers Brochure

New Student Checklist for Dreamers at LPC

I Can Afford College