Why California Must Strengthen Cal Grant B Access Awards in the FY 2026-27 State Budget

This analysis illustrates why the state needs to increase Cal Grant B access awards, including supplements for student parents and recent foster youth, to close higher education affordability gaps and bring the state closer to its 2030 attainment goal of 70 percent. State leaders can accomplish this in several ways, including growing awards in line with inflation or increasing the maximum award amounts, which would provide Californians with more support to afford continually increasing living expenses.