Financial Aid Application Procedures and Deadlines for Students

To be considered for financial aid, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the renewal application at www.fafsa.gov. These applications are usually available beginning in January for the following academic year. If a student is interested in a State of California Cal-Grant, the FAFSA and a GPA verification form must be completed. It is important that California Community College students apply by the March 2nd Deadline or the September 2nd Deadline for the Cal-Grants.  Additional information and eligibility requirements are available at the Financial Aid Office.  By filing a complete application with all required documentation, students will have priority in the awarding of Federal Work-Study and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants if eligible, based on the submission date.

The information reported on the FAFSA may be verified by the Financial Aid Office using the parent’s and/or the student’s Internal Revenue Service tax transcript.

Students must be able to provide a copy of their Social Security Card, Alien Registration Card (if applicable), and Photo ID for identification purposes.

IMPORTANT Deadlines:

• Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) apply by April 1*
• Federal Work Student (FWS) apply by April 1 *
• California Dream Act apply by March 2
• Cal Grant Competitive and Entitlement apply by March 2 or Cal Grant Competitive only by September 2
• Pell Grant and Direct Loans – These funds are not limited, you can apply at any time through the Spring term of the award year.  The absolute deadline for filing a FAFSA for Pell Grant for the 2023-2024 award year is June 30, 2024.

*  SEOG and FWS funds are limited and may be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.

For your application to be processed in a timely manner, all required documents must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office by June 30, 2024.  Due to the 2023-2024 year-end closure, all financial aid supplemental paperwork must be submitted to the financial aid office by Monday, July 15, 2024. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Most Financial aid is based on need. However, recipients must also meet the following criteria.

• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Demonstrate financial need for need-based federal student aid programs;
• Have a valid Social Security number (except students from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau);
• Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate program;
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress in college or career school
• Provide consent and approval to have your federal tax information transferred directly into your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®) form, if you’re applying for aid from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025;
• Sign the certification statement on the FAFSA form stating that you’re not in default on a federal student loan, you do not owe money on a federal student grant, and you’ll only use federal student aid for educational purposes; and
• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Submit the required applications
• AB540 students may qualify for state aid and will need to complete the Dream Act Application

Most students must complete the Free Workshops on Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Click here for the FAFSA website.

The FSA ID is a username and password combination you use to log in to U.S. Department of Education (ED) online systems. The FSA ID is your legal signature and shouldn’t be created or used by anyone other than you—not even your parent, your child, a school official, or a loan company representative. You’ll use your FSA ID every year you fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form and for the lifetime of your federal student loans.

All students who have filed or will file for Federal Financial Aid must create a FSA ID

**FOR Dependent Students – A Parent must also file for a FSA ID **

• Step 1 :  When logging into FAFSA.gov or StudentLoans.gov, click the link to create an FSA ID.
• Step 2:  Create a username and password, and enter your e-mail address.
• Step 3:  Enter your name, date of birth, Social Security number, contact information, and challenge questions and answers.
• Step 4:  If you have a Federal Student Aid PIN, you will be able to enter it and link it to your FSA ID.  You can still create an FSA ID if you have forgotten or do not have a PIN.
• Step 5:  Review you information, and read and accept the terms and conditions.
• Step 6:  Confirm you e-mail address using the secure code, which will be sent to the e-mail address you entered when you created your FSA ID. Once you verify your e-mail address, you can use your FSA ID username and password to log in to the websites.