For many California high school seniors and prospective transfer students, picking one of the state's private colleges has turned into a riskier option.
The uncertainty stems from a provision in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed budget to cut maximum Cal Grants by 10.5% for low- and moderate-income students entering private colleges. It would be the second reduction in two years for new private college students and is intended to save $7.5 million.
Given that high school seniors and transfer students typically have to choose their colleges in the spring, usually before the state budget is approved, many would be forced to select schools before learning how much Cal Grant money they can receive. The loss in aid could be significant.
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...lawmakers might concede a reduction in Cal Grants while they focus on contesting some of the bigger and higher-profile cutbacks in welfare and healthcare programs in the plan Schwarzenegger unveiled Jan. 10 to close California's $8.6-billion budget gap.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-grants27jan27,0,449515.story?coll=la-home-local