The mission of the California Student Aid Commission (Commission) is to make education beyond high school financially accessible to all Californians by administering state authorized financial aid programs.

The Commission is composed of 15 members: 11 members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, 2 members are appointed by the Senate Rules Committee and 2 members are appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly. Members serve four-year terms except the two student members, appointed by the Governor, who serve two-year terms.

Effective November 1, 2011, the United States Department of Education terminated the Commission's federal student loan guarantor designation for California due to irregularities in the Commission's administration of the program.