Can CalFresh pay for college tuition or sponsor education expenses?

CalFresh doesn't directly pay for tuition or books - it's specifically a food assistance program. However, what they might have been referring to is that college students can sometimes qualify for CalFresh while studying, which is normally difficult due to student restrictions. If you're a student, you usually need to meet special exemptions to get CalFresh, like working 20+ hours/week, having a young child, or participating in certain education/training programs. There's also the CalFresh Employment and Training (CFET) program at some colleges that can provide support services like books, transportation, and childcare while you're in approved education programs. That might be what they meant by "sponsorship.

no they dont pay tuition lol! that would be nice tho

There's actually a special program that might be what they meant! I'm in community college right now and participate in the CalFresh Employment & Training Program (CFET). While CalFresh itself is just food benefits, this program does provide some support for students. They've helped me with textbooks, transportation, childcare assistance, and even some school supplies. It's not tuition exactly, but it definitely helps with school costs! The confusing part is that not all colleges offer it, and you have to be CalFresh-eligible first. You should check with your college's financial aid office or student support services to see if they participate in CFET. Total game-changer for me as a single parent.

I tried navigating this last year and it was so confusing! The CalFresh student rules are really complicated. Just to clarify what others said - CalFresh itself only helps with food, BUT if you're a parent of a young child, you're exempt from the strict student rules and can get food benefits while in school. I ended up calling my county office because the online info was super confusing, and they took FOREVER to answer. I spent like 2 hours on hold just to ask a few questions about student eligibility. Super frustrating!

There's a lot of misinformation about this topic! As someone who works with student support services, let me clarify: 1. CalFresh is ONLY for food assistance - never for tuition 2. Most college students CAN'T get CalFresh UNLESS you meet exemptions (having a dependent child under 6 is one) 3. The CFET program mentioned above is available at SOME colleges and provides supportive services (books, supplies, childcare assistance) but again, not tuition 4. What your community college person MIGHT have been referring to is that maintaining CalFresh eligibility could help you qualify for other programs like California College Promise Grant (formerly BOG waiver) which DOES cover tuition for community college I recommend speaking with both your county CalFresh office AND your college financial aid office to understand how these programs can work together. Also look into CalWORKs if you have a dependent child - that program has specific educational supports.

my cousin was told she couldn't get calfresh AT ALL when she started college classes even tho she has 2 kids and works part time... the whole system is messed up if u ask me

Just an update - I checked with my counselor today, and if your community college has a CAFYES/NextUp program (for current/former foster youth) or EOPS (Extended Opportunity Programs & Services), they might be able to help with more substantial financial support for education. This is separate from CalFresh but might have been what the person was referring to when they mentioned "sponsorship." Worth looking into!

Hey Ava! I went through this exact same situation a couple years ago. What really helped me was creating a checklist of all the programs people mentioned here. Here's what I'd recommend doing: 1. Call your county CalFresh office first to confirm your student exemption status (you should qualify with a 4-year-old) 2. Ask your community college's financial aid office about CFET, EOPS, and the California College Promise Grant 3. Look into CalWORKs since you have a dependent - they have a WTW (Welfare-to-Work) program that can actually help with education expenses The key thing I learned is that while CalFresh itself is just food benefits, being CalFresh-eligible opens doors to other programs that CAN help with school costs. It's like a domino effect - one program leads to another. Don't give up on your degree dream! There are more resources available than most people realize, they're just not well-advertised.

I'm currently in a similar situation and wanted to share what I discovered through trial and error. The community college staff sometimes use confusing language about "sponsorship" when they really mean the combination of programs that can support students. What I found helpful was making appointments with THREE different offices at my college: Financial Aid, Student Support Services, and the CalWORKs/TANF liaison (if your school has one). Each office knew about different programs and together they helped me piece together a complete picture. Also, don't forget to ask about emergency grants and scholarships specifically for single parents - many colleges have small pots of money that go unused because people don't know to apply. My school had a "Student Parent Emergency Fund" that helped cover unexpected costs like when my car broke down during finals week. The paperwork can be overwhelming, but having your CalFresh case number and recent notices handy when you make these calls will speed things up significantly. Good luck with school - it's definitely possible even when money is tight!

I went through this exact confusion last year! The person at your community college was probably referring to a combination of programs, not CalFresh directly paying for tuition. Here's what I learned: CalFresh itself is only for food, but being eligible opens doors to other educational support. Since you have a 4-year-old, you should definitely qualify for CalFresh as a student (that's one of the main exemptions). What really helped me was contacting my college's DSPS (Disabled Students Programs & Services) office - even if you don't have a disability, they often coordinate with other support programs and know about resources that aren't widely advertised. They connected me with book vouchers, emergency childcare assistance, and even pointed me toward some single-parent scholarships I never would have found on my own. Also check if your college participates in the "Basic Needs" initiative - it's a statewide program that helps students with food insecurity, housing issues, and connects them to financial resources. Some campuses even have on-site food pantries that accept CalFresh EBT. The key is that while CalFresh won't pay tuition, it can be part of a larger support network that makes college financially possible. Don't give up on that degree!

I'm a current community college student who was in almost the exact same situation! What helped me the most was understanding that it's not CalFresh directly helping with tuition, but rather that CalFresh eligibility (which you should qualify for with your 4-year-old) can connect you to a whole network of educational support programs. Here's what I wish I had known when I started: make sure to apply for CalFresh first if you haven't already, then use that as your "key" to unlock other programs. The California College Promise Grant can cover your enrollment fees, CFET might help with books and supplies, and CalWORKs has education programs that can provide more substantial support. One thing that really made a difference for me was asking specifically about the "Student Equity" programs at my college - they often have emergency grants for single parents that can cover unexpected costs like childcare when your regular sitter falls through or car repairs so you can get to class. Also, don't be discouraged by the confusing information out there. Even the staff sometimes mix up program names or don't know about all available resources. I found it helpful to print out a list of questions before calling or visiting offices so I didn't forget anything important. You've got this! Having a degree will make such a difference for you and your child's future. The financial puzzle pieces can definitely fit together with some patience and persistence.

Hey Ava! I just wanted to add one more resource that hasn't been mentioned yet - look into your college's Financial Aid office specifically about the "Student Parent Success Initiative" if they have one. I'm a single mom who went back to school last year, and this program was a game-changer for me. While CalFresh definitely won't pay tuition directly, what I found is that having CalFresh benefits actually helped me qualify for need-based aid calculations. The combination of CalFresh + California College Promise Grant covered my enrollment fees completely, and then EOPS helped with textbooks and parking passes. One practical tip: when you call these offices, specifically mention that you're a "student parent" rather than just a student - there are often special funds and programs designated specifically for parents that have less competition than general student aid. Also, ask about payment plans for any remaining costs - most colleges will let you spread expenses over the semester instead of paying everything upfront. The whole system is definitely confusing at first, but don't let that discourage you! I was overwhelmed too, but now I'm in my second year and it's totally worth the initial paperwork hassle. Your kiddo will be so proud to see you graduate!

I'm a college advisor and wanted to chime in with some official clarification since there's been great advice here but also some confusion. CalFresh absolutely does NOT pay tuition - it's strictly food assistance. However, what your college contact likely meant is that CalFresh eligibility can be a pathway to other educational support programs. Since you have a 4-year-old, you should qualify for CalFresh as a student under the dependent child exemption. Once you have CalFresh, you become eligible for several education-related programs: CFET (books/supplies assistance), California College Promise Grant (covers community college enrollment fees), and potentially CalWORKs education programs. Here's my recommended action plan: 1) Apply for/maintain CalFresh first, 2) Apply for California College Promise Grant through your college's financial aid office, 3) Ask specifically about CFET and EOPS programs, 4) Inquire about any "Basic Needs" or "Student Parent" specific programs your campus offers. The terminology around "sponsorship" is confusing because there's no single program that covers everything - it's really about layering multiple support programs together. Don't let the complexity discourage you though - these programs exist specifically to help students like you succeed! Your financial aid office should be able to help coordinate applications for multiple programs at once.