California colleges and universities will have to spell out how students can ask for more financial aid when their awarded amount falls short, and show how they arrive at their cost-of-attendance estimates, under a law Gov. Gavin Newsom signed in September, CalMatters reported Monday.
Schools have until fall 2027 to comply with AB 2251, a bill from two Assembly Democrats: Celeste Rodriguez, who represents part of the San Fernando Valley, and Menlo Park's Marc Berman.
Why the cost estimate matters
Each campus sets a cost of attendance covering tuition and fees plus housing, food, transportation and other expected expenses. Students cannot be awarded more in grants, loans and some scholarships than that figure. When their real costs run higher, they can request an adjustment, but CalMatters found many do not know the option exists.
The law's lead sponsor, John Burton Advocates for Youth, reported in 2024 research that more than half of the state's colleges use estimates below what students actually pay, some by more than $10,000.
The group also found that 83% of campuses across the UC, Cal State and community college systems do not break out what they assume for each expense category, and that the share explaining where their numbers come from is 17% at UCs, 26% at Cal State campuses and 22% at community colleges.