State Grants & ProgramsFormula-based

Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents (LEPD) Grant

Offered by California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) · Free to apply

Award
$100 to $12,192 per year, for up to 4 years
renewable in later years
Deadline
June 30, 2027
deadlines recur around June each year
Estimated odds
Formula-based
allocated by formula
Application effort
~3 hrs
paperwork, not a competition

The LEPD Grant supports dependents and spouses of California peace officers, firefighters, law enforcement officers, CDCR and Division of Juvenile Justice employees and tribal firefighters who were killed or totally disabled in the line of duty. The award matches the Cal Grant amount or the student's remaining verified unmet need, with published values ranging from $100 up to $12,192, for up to four years. Almost nobody surfaces this program, which makes it one of the most valuable things a qualifying California family can be told about. It requires a separate LEPD application in addition to the FAFSA or CADAA, filed each award year.

How hard is the Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents (LEPD) Grant to win?

This is not a competition, but the funding is rationed: eligible students are routinely turned away once the money runs out, so filing date decides the outcome.

Estimated odds
most eligible students who file early receive it
Paperwork
~3 hrs to file

What drives the odds here

Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.

  • Fewer rivalsOpen only to California residents
  • More rivalsA five-figure award attracts a bigger field

How Solyo estimates this: State programs that allocate by published formula are modelled on qualification and filing, not on competition, because there is no selection committee choosing between applicants. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.

Who can apply for the Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents (LEPD) Grant?

These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.

  • Must be a resident of California
  • Open to high school seniors, current college students, and transfer students
Confirm these before applying
  • Requires a parent or spouse who was a California peace officer, firefighter, law enforcement officer, CDCR or Division of Juvenile Justice employee, or tribal firefighter, and who lost their life or was totally disabled in the line of duty.
  • Requires a separate LEPD application IN ADDITION to the FAFSA or CADAA, filed every award year.
Good to know
  • The award equals the Cal Grant amount or your remaining verified unmet need, whichever applies.
  • Undocumented and AB 540 students apply using the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) instead of the FAFSA. CADAA data is protected by state privacy law and is not shared with federal immigration authorities. The window runs October 1 to March 2.

What the application takes

No essay, recommendation letters, or transcript are required. This is one of the lighter applications in the directory.

Deadline and application cycle

The current deadline is June 30, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around June 30 each year. Applications open July 1. The window runs July 1 to June 30 of the academic year. Apply early, and remember it must be refiled annually.

Applications open
July 1, 2026
Applications close
June 30, 2027
Apply on the official site →Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee.

Does your student actually qualify?

See if your student qualifies in 30 seconds. Solyo checks 20+ criteria against their real profile: GPA, state, grade level, intended major, and more, across every award in this directory at once.

Common questions about the Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents (LEPD) Grant

How much is the Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents (LEPD) Grant worth?

The Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents (LEPD) Grant awards $100 to $12,192 per year, for up to 4 years and is renewable in later years.

When is the Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents (LEPD) Grant deadline?

The current deadline is June 30, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around June 30 each year. Applications open July 1. The window runs July 1 to June 30 of the academic year. Apply early, and remember it must be refiled annually.

When do Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents (LEPD) Grant applications open?

Applications open July 1, and close June 30, 2027. The window runs July 1 to June 30 of the academic year. Apply early, and remember it must be refiled annually.

Who is eligible for the Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents (LEPD) Grant?

Key requirements: Must be a resident of California; Open to high school seniors, current college students, and transfer students.

Does the Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents (LEPD) Grant require an essay?

No essay is required. The application is light on requirements. Expect to spend about 3 hours on it.

How hard is it to win the Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents (LEPD) Grant?

This is not a competition, but the funding is rationed: eligible students are routinely turned away once the money runs out, so filing date decides the outcome. Solyo classifies this award as formula-based, meaning most eligible students who file early receive it. Plan on about 3 hrs of paperwork.

Is the Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents (LEPD) Grant free to apply?

Yes. The Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents (LEPD) Grant is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.

More state grants & programs

Lists this award appears on

Award details are curated by Solyo and verified against the official scholarship page. Deadlines and requirements can change between cycles, so always confirm on the provider's site before applying.