Are you enrolled in a college or vocational school?
If so, you may be eligible to get between $23-$292 a month from CalFresh to buy food.
How CalFresh works:
- It’s free: You don’t have to pay it back. It won’t affect your financial aid, student loans, or credit scores.
- Easy to use: You get an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, which works like a debit card, to buy food at grocery stores, farmer’s markets, Amazon, Dashmart, Thrive, Forage, and even DoorDash.
Your EBT card also gives you access to:
- Twice the produce for every CalFresh dollar you spend at some farmer's markets.
- Free or discounted museum tickets, Amazon Prime membership, phone, and more.
- Restaurant meals if you are experiencing homelessness or have a disability.
Ready to apply?
Go to getcalfresh.org to start your application with just your name, signature, and address (unless you’re experiencing homelessness).
More about CalFresh student applications
As part of the application process, we will interview you to confirm the information in your application such as:
- The number of people in your home who you buy and prepare food with
- Your earnings from your job or other sources including unemployment and child support
- Your housing costs, including rent, mortgages, and utilities
- Your student status and financial aid
Don't forget to ask if you meet the eligibility requirements for the Local Program that Increases Employability (LPIE).
The colleges below have basic needs programs that help students access support services, such as CalFresh. Visit their websites for more information.
- University of California San Francisco (UCSF)
- San Francisco State University (SFSU)
- Community College of San Francisco (CCSF)
- University of San Francisco (USF)
If your school is not listed above, we encourage you to check if they have a basic needs program.