Financial Aid

Financial Aid includes all the different sources of money that help you pay for college, excluding the amount your family actually pays. Financial aid, which can be “need-based” or “non-need based,” can be given to you from the government, the college you’re going to, or private sources:

  • GRANTS: This is completely FREE money for college that you don't have to repay and are typically based on financial need (per your FAFSA or the CSS Profile Form). They are given by the federal/state government as well as colleges.

  • SCHOLARSHIPS:  Also FREE money for college, and often based on things like having good grades, athletic, musical or other special talents, leadership, community service, a community you belong to, and financial need. They are given by local, state or national private organizations such as PTSAs, Afro-American Cultural & Historical Society, Chinese Service Club, Rotary Club, United Negro College Fund, Hispanic Scholarship Fund, etc.

  • WORK STUDY:  A government program that allows you to earn money during college by working. You get paid directly like any other job, so you can choose to use it to pay for tuition or any other expenses. Some jobs on campus will be only for work-study students.

  • LOANS:  This is BORROWED money that you have to pay back WITH INTEREST (this is really important to note!) You will have to pay all the loan money back in ADDITION to the interest, so be really careful of private loans with high interest rates.

For more details, read this Federal Student Aid document Do You Need Money for College or Career School? (studentaid.gov)

Here is a helpful Financial Aid Overview video for California seniors: 2024-25 Cash for College Pre-recorded Webinar by California Student Aid Commission

Calculate How Much Financial Aid You Might Get

Before you complete the FAFSA form, the Federal Student Aid Estimator can give you an early estimate of your Student Aid Index (SAI), a number that colleges use to determine how student aid you’d be eligible for. The equation is College’s Cost of Attendance (COA) - SAI = Financial Need.

But for a more exact amount that you’d be expected to pay, you should check the individual college’s Net Price Calculator. The College Board website has links to each school’s NPC.

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/get-started/net-price-calculator

UC Financial Aid Calculators - These calculators are quick and let you estimate the amounts and types of financial aid you MIGHT get from the different UCs. However, they may not be the exact amounts as a lot will depend on how much total funding they have to give that year and how many students need it.

Estimate your aid | UC Admissions (universityofcalifornia.edu)

Financial Aid Forms

To apply for financial aid, fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Due date is March 2, 2026 to 1) apply for a Cal Grant 2) apply for the California Dream Act (CADAA)

Priority FAFSA Application Deadline

Senior students and parents/guardians: December 1st is the first day you could submit your Free Application For Student Aid (FAFSA) form. You can use the same form for the CSUs, UCs, community colleges, and private colleges/universities. Financial aid is first come, first served, so make sure you submit your application as soon as you have your college list narrowed down (usually in November) and for the correct academic year. Typically, submitting the annual FAFSA application before December 31st would be ideal, unless you are applying Early Action (with November 1st or 15th deadlines) to some private universities in which they may require the FAFSA sooner, so double check on the university's website.

The first step to determine if you qualify for financial aid for college is to complete the FAFSA between December 1st and March 2nd of senior year in high school.

In order to open up as many funding avenues as possible, it is strongly advised that you complete the FAFSA, even if you decide to attend a community college, which you can opt to use the funds for or save them until later for transferring to the CSU or UC. It's like an insurance policy because your financial need may change from year to year or semester to semester. Some colleges may not offer merit (non need-based) aid to students who have not filled out the FAFSA, so check with individual colleges to be sure. Additionally, some private/outside scholarships require the FAFSA, too.

STARTING YOUR FAFSA FORM

The 2025-2026 FAFSA application is now open! To get started:

1. Create an FSA ID (studentaid.gov account): Go to https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch to create your FSA ID. Then, ONE parent/guardian will need to creat their own FSA (Federal Student Aid) ID#. It could take 1-2 days to process. These usernames/passwords are needed for starting and signing your FAFSA form. If you have trouble getting your FSA ID, here is the CSAC User Reference Guide.

2. Before starting, it’s a good idea to gather the information needed to complete the FAFSA, per the studentaid.gov website. You’ll need information on income, assets, and demographics.

3. Identify your Contributors: Once you start your FAFSA, you’ll need to invite contributors like parents/guardians, who must provide additional information. Not sure who counts as a parent? Click here “Who is My Parent?” to learn more.

MORE INFO ON THE FAFSA:

Here is a 6 minute video of how to create a FSA ID: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTb7hMVtzco&ab_channel=FederalStudentAid

How to Complete Your FAFSA - Watch this video: Event Recordings | Coalition for College (coalitionforcollegeaccess.org)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you are Undocumented..

California Dream Act Application (CADAA) is for California undocumented students applying for financial aid, an alternative to the FAFSA. A student who meets all of the below requirements can still pay in-state tuition at California State University (CSU), University of California (UC), and California Community Colleges:

(1) Attended high school in California for three or more years,

(2) Graduated from a California high school, passed the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE), or earned a General Equivalency Diploma (GED),

(3) Enrolled in an accredited and qualified California college or university, and

(4) If applicable in the case of a person without lawful immigration status, the filing of an affidavit with the institution of higher education stating that the student has filed an application to legalize his or her immigration status, or will file an application as soon as he or she is eligible to do so.

California Dream Act FAQ's for Students and Parents.PDF

California Nonresident Tuition Exemption - California Student Aid Commission

Financial Aid and Undocumented Students (studentaid.gov)

March 2nd is the deadline for FINANCIAL AID from the state of California (Cal Grant & CADAA)!

CAL GRANT:

The Cal Grant is a grant for California students specifically and the amount you get is based on your FAFSA or CADAA form, so there’s no separate application you have to fill out. After you’re done filling out the FAFSA/CADAA, you should create an account at WebGrants4Students to check your Cal Grant status. https://www.csac.ca.gov/cal-grants

 

CSS PROFILE FORM:

The CSS Profile form is another form besides the FAFSA that is required by some private colleges in order to get more personal info from you that’s not on the FAFSA. Visit Home – CSS Profile | College Board.