SACRAMENTO, CA. — As California students finalize financial aid applications and college plans this spring, more than 100,000 students have claimed over $50 million in CalKIDS Scholarships in the past six months, helping families access money already set aside to support higher education and career training.
The milestone reflects expanded collaboration between the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) and CalKIDS, a program of the ScholarShare Investment Board (SIB), which is administered by the California State Treasurer’s Office.
“Collaboration across state agencies helps make programs like CalKIDS work more efficiently for California families,” said California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, CPA, chair of the SIB. “By coordinating efforts and sharing data, we’re not only connecting more students with scholarships already waiting for them—we’re creating a more seamless pathway to financial security for California families, helping them cover costs like tuition, books, and career training.”
Launched in 2022, the CalKIDS Program provides scholarship accounts to eligible California children and public school students to help pay for higher education or career training. Eligible public school students can receive scholarships worth up to $1,500, and every child born in California on or after July 1, 2022, receives a CalKIDS Scholarship worth up to $175.
Students can use their CalKIDS Scholarships between the ages of 17 and 26 for qualified higher education expenses, including tuition, fees, books, supplies, and computer equipment at accredited community colleges, universities, and career training programs.
