Student financial aid: Cal Grant Program: cost of attendance.

Assembly Member Berman's proposal to modify California's Cal Grant Program would require postsecondary institutions to implement standardized cost of attendance (COA) policies by the 2026-27 academic year. The measure addresses how qualifying institutions calculate and adjust student expenses for financial aid purposes.

Under the bill, institutions must set off-campus housing budgets at minimum levels tied to regional median rents and establish processes for adjusting COA components including housing, food, transportation, and dependent care expenses. The legislation mandates that institutions accept both electronic and hard copy adjustment requests from students, complete reviews within 14 days, and provide second-review options for denied requests.

The measure also requires institutions to publicly display their COA calculation methods and assumptions online. When reviewing student adjustment requests, institutions must consider circumstances like housing costs exceeding standard allowances, computer purchases, medical expenses, and disability-related needs. The bill allows students to submit adjustment requests throughout their enrollment without numerical limits.

These changes would apply to all institutions participating in the Cal Grant Program, including California public universities, qualifying private institutions, and community colleges. The bill builds upon existing federal standards for COA calculations while adding state-specific requirements for implementation and student appeals processes.