Dear friends,
I am thrilled to share valuable academic resources designed to uplift students seeking higher education in Assembly District 18 and beyond. With last year’s frustrations with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (“FAFSA”), I encourage our emerging leaders to proactively prepare to ensure they have the opportunities and financial support to envision themselves in higher academic institutions. Our community thrives when we invest in the education and professional development of all.
As a former school board member, I know how transformative education can be. As an active member of the Assembly Committee on Education, I, along with my colleagues, under a difficult state budget deficit, legislated to ensure that this year's budget reflected the priorities of having every student eligible for financial aid, livable wages for teachers and professors, and robust TK-12 priorities reflected in our 2024-2025 state budget.
As we continue to focus on these efforts, I encourage you to share your ideas, mentorship, and words of empowerment to support all students throughout our District. Together, we can cultivate a strong and caring community where young leaders feel valued, supported, and inspired to transform their dreams into reality.
In today’s E-Newsletter, Maximize your Education: Financial Aid and Scholarships you will find carefully crafted academic financial aid, scholarships, and educational support for students pursuing their educational goals.
Yours in Service,
Mia Bonta
Assemblymember, 18th District
In this newsletter, you'll find the following information:
- Section 1: California Student Aid Commission and FAFSA
- Section 2: Scholarships and Financial Management
- Section 3: How to Apply to the University of California and California State University
- Section 4: Student Loan Debt Management
Assemblymember Mia Bonta & staff are committed to keeping AD-18 residents fully engaged and informed. Please send this newsletter to a friend and subscribe!
Stay connected with our office at (510) 286-1670, Email Me, or follow us on social media.
Section 1: California Student Aid Commission, Dream Act, and FAFSA
Section 1A: California Student Aid Commission (CSAC)
Discover information on state financial aid programs, including Cal Grants, Chafee Grants, and Middle-Class Scholarships.
To learn more about California Student Aid Commission click here.
Section 1B: California Dream Act
Explore financial aid opportunities for undocumented and AB 540 students.
To learn more about the California Dream Act, click here.
Section 1C: California Community Colleges Financial Aid
Get details on financial aid for community college students, including federal and state options.
To learn more about California Community Colleges Financial Aid, click here.
Section 1D: California State University (CSU) and University of California
- California State University Financial Aid: Learn about financial aid options for CSU students, including grants, scholarships, and loans.
- To learn more about CSU Financial Aid, click here.
- University of California (UC) Financial Aid: Learn about financial aid for UC students, including various grants and scholarships.
- To learn more about UC Financial Aid, click here.
Section 1E: California Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (CASFAA)
Access resources and information on financial aid and student loan programs.
To learn more about CASFAA, click here.
Section 1F: FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
Apply for federal financial aid, including grants, loans, and work-study programs.
To apply for FAFSA and learn about student financial aid, click here.
Section 2: Scholarships and Financial Management
Section 2A: California Service Corps - $10K College Corps Fellowship
College Corps will provide more than 10,000 college students with opportunities to support and learn from community-based organizations working in three priority areas: K-12 education, climate action, and food insecurity. College Corps Fellows will earn up to $10,000 – which includes a living allowance and an Education Award.
To learn more, click here.
Section 2B: Scholarships
Search a comprehensive database of scholarships and grants, including California-specific opportunities.
To begin your scholarship search, click here.
Section 2C: Fastweb
Find personalized scholarship recommendations through this scholarship search engine.
For personalized scholarship recommendations, click here.
Section 3: How to Apply to the University of California, California State University, and California Community College
Section 3A: University of California Application for Freshman and Transfer Class of 2025
Qualifying Fall 2025 freshmen students can begin their University of California application starting August 1, 2024! Apply before December 2nd, 2024.
To learn more about how to apply to the University of California, click here.
Qualifying Fall 2025 transfer students can begin their University of California applications starting August 1, 2024, if they apply before December 2, 2024.
To learn more about how to transfer to the University of California, click here.
Section 3B: California State University Application for Freshman and Transfer Class of 2025
With 23 universities spanning the state, and thousands of degrees to choose from, the CSU offers you more choices and connections than any other public higher education institution in the nation. One application opens infinite possibilities.
There are varying application due dates.
To learn more about the California State University, click here.
Section 3C: California Community College in Assembly District 18
- Laney College, located at 900 Fallon St, Oakland, CA 94607
- To apply for admission to Laney College, click here.
- Merritt College, located at 12500 Campus Dr, Oakland, CA 94619
- To apply for admission to Merritt College, click here.
- College of Alameda, located at 555 Ralph Appezzato Memorial Pkwy, Alameda, CA
- To apply for admission to the College of Alameda, click here.
Section 4: Student Loan Debt Management
Section 4A: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
Access resources for managing student loans and understanding repayment options.
To access resources for managing student loans, click here.
Section 4B: California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation Student Loans
The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation provides resources, workshops, and information on managing student loan repayment and offers assistance.
To explore and learn more, click here.