Frequently Asked Questions
In addition to tuition, students pay for basic needs that comprise their full educational expenses. According to the California Student Aid Commission, California college students who live off-campus spend close to $27,500 per year on necessities including food, housing, transportation, books, and supplies per year (9-month academic calendar). Of note, housing costs can differ substantially by region in California.
California Student Aid Commmission 2021-22 Student Expenses and Resources Survey: Insights Brief
According to the California Student Aid Commission, in the 2022-23 academic year, approximately 900,000 California Community College students submitted a Free Application for Federal Students Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA).
Some financial aid programs, such as the California College Promise Grant and other institutional aid programs, do not require students to complete a FAFSA or CADAA.
In 2022-23, approximately 19% of California community college students received a Pell Grant, 7% received a Cal Grant, and 38% received a California College Promise Grant.
In 2022-23, 1% of students received a loan (including federal, institutional, and private loans).
According to the 2023 #RealCollege survey conducted by The RP Group and the Chief Executive Officers (CEO) Affordability, Food & Housing Access Taskforce, a significant proportion of students at California Community Colleges face basic needs insecurities. In 2023, 68% of survey respondents reported experiencing at least one form of basic needs insecurity. Among these, 47% faced food insecurity within the past 30 days, 58% experienced housing insecurity over the past year, and 24% experienced homelessness at some point during the previous year, which shows an increase from 19% in 2019.
