$500 on Us is a grant for CoA students enrolled for Fall 2022.  

You get to decide how you want to use this money.  These funds are flexible and are intended to be used by students for any component of their cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care or childcare. You get to determine how to use this money. 

To receive CoA’s $500 On Us grant you must complete all the following: 

• Take and enroll in at least 3 units at CoA by Oct 30, 2022
• Submit your FAFSA or California Dream Act Application by Oct 30, 2022 (CoA school code: 006720) 
• Declare a major or course of study at CoA 

Students who are ineligible for this grant are: 

• Special Enrollment students (middle/ high school dual or concurrent enrollment students or specially-enrolled adult school students who have their enrollment fees waived);  

• international students  
• Peralta employees (student workers CAN receive the grant).  

There is no separate application for this grant. As long as you meet all the requirements you will receive this grant.

Yes, out–of–state students and AB 540 students can participate. International students are not eligible. 

Yes! As long as you meet all the requirements for $500 on us you will receive this grant.  The $500 On Us grant is in addition to financial aid, fee waivers, etc.  

Yes! Applying for financial aid is a requirement—however, if you don’t qualify for financial aid for reasons such as income, academic progress, etc. you can still receive this grant if you meet all the requirements. 

Yes! If you meet all the requirements, you will receive this grant.  

If you meet all the requirements for $500 On Us, you will receive this grant.  For students who are taking classes at another PCCD college, please double check that your declared major is at College of Alameda.  

To update your major or home college complete and submit a Request to Change Major form to Admissions and Records (A building) or email COAAdmissions@peralta.edu. IMPORTANT: you are interested in receiving federal financial aid, you must choose a Financial Aid Eligible Major. If you are not interested in federal financial aid, you can see a full list of our Degrees and Certificates here. 

Students will receive the $500 grant between mid-September to end of October. 

College of Alameda (CoA) delivers refunds, grants, and financial aid awards via BankMobileDisbursements, a technology solution, powered by BMTX, Inc.   Once your grant money is available, BMTX, Inc. will send an email to your @peralta.edu with directions on how to
select your refund preference. Visit this link for more information: https://bankmobiledisbursements.com/refundchoices/.

Visit our Future Students page to get started. You can also visit the Virtual Welcome Center M-F 8:30am-4:30pm on Zoom https://us06web.zoom.us/my/coa500

Visit the Welcome center in the A-Building for assistance with applying or enrolling. We are open Monday – Friday from 8:00am-4:30pm, Phone: (510) 748-5207. You can also visit the Virtual Welcome Center M-F 8:30am-4:30pm on Zoom https://us06web.zoom.us/my/coa500

Visit Financial Aid in the A-Building for assistance with your application. In-person and online appointments are also available. To schedule please call (510) 748-2391  

Please call or drop by the Counseling Department in the A-Building to schedule an appointment with a Counselor. Online appointments are also available. We are open Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm, Phone: 510-748-5207 

The program is funded in part by the federal government’s Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, which is intended to help students get an education and reach their academic and career goals during the pandemic.  

You can call (510) 295-0733 or email COA500@peralta.edu. You can also visit the Virtual Welcome Center M-F 8:30am-4:30pm on Zoom https://us06web.zoom.us/my/coa500

Emergency aid and other forms of assistance can be found here.