SAN DIEGO - Thousands of dollars in free money for college is up for grabs and you still have time to apply.
Walter Robles is a second-year student at San Diego City College. He's studying psychology with plans of transferring to San Diego State.
"I want to work in a clinical setting," he said.
Robles said he hasn't paid a dime to attend class.
"I've never gotten a loan for school and I hopefully I don't plan to."
As a father of three boys he looks for federal help, reserving his income to put food on the table. Grants help pay for anything education-related.
"Whether it be for books, whether it be for transportation."
Students planning on going to a four year college can apply for a Cal Grant, getting between $10,000 and $12,000 in free money.
The Department of Education said 89% of San Diego families qualify for free tuition at Cal State or UC. The percentage of families that don't apply for this 47%.
Ron Caruthers is a college planning expert. He said to apply, you need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form, otherwise known as FAFSA.
They need their 2015 taxes, they need to create FSA IDs, their federal student aid IDs," Caruthers said, "Social Security Numbers, drivers licenses, dates of birth and things like that. That's it."
The process can take up to an hour, but Robles said it's well worth your time.
"It's really not impossible,' he said, "Financial aid really opens that gate for you to have that education and it also makes you want to thrive more."
The deadline to apply for a Cal Grant is Thursday, March 2, 2017.
