Applying for Applying for Financial AidFinancial Aid2015-20162015-2016

Presenter:

Raymond M N Hart, MS, MFT

Sources of Financial AidSources of Financial Aid

Grants, Fee Waivers, Loans, Work Study, Scholarships

Federal government PELL Grant Currently $5,775

State government CalGrants from $1,557 - $13,000

Colleges and universities

Private agencies, companies, foundations, and parents’ employers

CA Dream Act Financial AidCA Dream Act Financial Aid

Cal Grant Entitlement GrantsChafee Grant for Foster YouthMiddle Class ScholarshipUC GrantsState University GrantsCalifornia Community College

(CCC) BOG Fee WaiverEOP/EOPSSome University scholarshipsSome private scholarships

administered by campuses

How to Apply: FAFSAHow to Apply: FAFSA

Free Application for Federal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)Student Aid (FAFSA)www.fafsa.gov• Primary application for federal

and most types of state financial aid.

• Sophisticated online edits and skip logic help avoid errors

• Online help is available for each question

• Student and parent Federal FSA ID serves as an electronic signature

• Apply for FSA ID at www.FSAID.ed.gov

How to Apply How to Apply (cont.)(cont.)

CA Dream Act ApplicationCA Dream Act Applicationwww.caldreamact.orgwww.caldreamact.org

• For students who are ineligible to submit a FAFSA, but meet AB 540 criteria

• Used to apply for CA Dream Act financial aid

• Online application similar to FAFSA• Electronic student and parent signature

What is AB 540?What is AB 540?

Assembly Bill (AB) 540 exempts certain students from paying nonresident tuition (higher than resident tuition) and allows them to apply for different types of California Dream Act financial aid. To qualify students need to meet the following qualifications:Attend a California high school for a minimum of 3 years;Graduate from a California high school or pass the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE) or get a General Equivalency Diploma (GED);Enroll in an accredited and qualified California college or university; and,If applicable, fill out an affidavit stating your intent to legalize your immigration status as soon as possible.

How to Apply How to Apply (cont.)(cont.)

Cal Grant GPA Verification Done Cal Grant GPA Verification Done Electronically by the AVUHSDElectronically by the AVUHSDRequired to apply for Cal Grant

CSS/Financial Aid ProfileCSS/Financial Aid ProfileUsed at some universities to

award institutional grants and scholarships

Part of the College Board SystemCalifornia Chafee Grant California Chafee Grant

Program ApplicationProgram ApplicationScholarship ApplicationsScholarship Applications

2015-2016 Cal Grant2015-2016 Cal GrantApplication RequirementsApplication Requirements

Check with your high school or college counselor for more details on how to file the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form, required of all students

Free Application for

Federal Student Aid

(FAFSA) OR

If eligible under AB540 or DACA, students should complete the California Dream Act Application: www.caldreamact.org

Cal Grant GPA

Verification Form

OR

Release Form

• By March 2, 2016, complete and submit:

www.calgrants.org

FAFSA / Cal GrantsCal Grants

2016

2015

FAFSA / Cal GrantsCal Grants

2015-2016 Cal Grant2015-2016 Cal GrantApplication RequirementsApplication Requirements

2015-2016 FAFSA / Cal 2015-2016 FAFSA / Cal GrantGrantApplication RequirementsApplication Requirements

• The FAFSA yields a number called the EFC (Expected Family Contribution)

• Considers assets of the family and the student themselves)

Anticipated Cost Of Attendance - EFC = Eligibility For Financial Aid

EXAMPLE FOR ILLUSTRATION

Full Time attendance at Cal State Northridge, living on campus = $21,224

Expected Family Contribution = $2,475

Un-Met Financial Need = $18,749

Special CircumstancesSpecial Circumstances

Contact the Financial Aid Office if there are circumstances which affect a family’s ability to pay for college such as: Loss or reduction in parent or student income or assets Death or serious illness Natural disasters affecting parent income or assets such as

the recent California wind storms, wild fires, floods, or mudslides

Unusual medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance

Reduction in child support, Social Security benefits or other untaxed benefit

Financial responsibility for elderly grandparents, or Any other unusual circumstances that affect a family’s

ability to contribute to higher education

Estimated Cost of Estimated Cost of AttendanceAttendance

Cost of Attendance includes most everything related to college expenses for one academic year.

Also known as the “Student Budget.”

Estimated Cost of Estimated Cost of AttendanceAttendance

Cost of Attendance includes most

everything related to college expenses for one academic year. Also known as the “Student Budget.”

Use www.collegedata.com to

find the Cost of Attendance for other

Colleges and Universities

Estimated Cost of Estimated Cost of AttendanceAttendance

www.collegedata.com Cost Of Attendance Results for UC San Diego

CCC BOG Fee Waiver CCC BOG Fee Waiver (BOGFW)(BOGFW)The Board of Governors Enrollment Fee Waiver (BOGFW) waives the $46 per unit enrollment fee at any California Community Colleges. To qualify students must:

Be a CA resident or be exempt from non-resident fees under AB 540; AND

Have financial need, based on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); OR

Be receiving TANF, SSI/SSP or General Assistance; OR Meet specific income standards.

Cal Grants/AwardsCal Grants/Awards

• Cal Grant A Awards – up to $12,192 at a U.C., $5,472 at a CSU, and $8,056 at an independent or private college. If attending a Community College, award will be held in reserve for up to 3 years until you transfer to a four-year college. Entitlement and competitive grants available.

• Cal Grant B Awards – for students with a GPA of at least 2.0, who come from disadvantaged or low income families, additional living allowance of $1,648 and up to the same award amounts of Cal Grant A for the second year. Entitlement and competitive grants available.

• Cal Grant C Awards - for students from low income families pursuing vocational programs of study. Awards up to $547 for books, tools, etc. and up to $2,462 for tuition and fees at a private college.

• California Community College (CCC) Transfer Entitlement Grant – CCC students who meet all the Cal Grant eligibility requirements, have at least a 2.4 community college GPA, and meet the awards additional requirements are guaranteed a Cal Grant to attend a four-year college.

Eligibility for Cal Eligibility for Cal GrantsGrants

To be considered for a Cal Grant award, the student must also:

be a U.S. citizen, eligible noncitizen, or AB540 student, and

be a California resident, and attend an accredited California

college or university at least half-time in 2015-16

meet other award specific criteria if applicable

Middle Class ScholarshipMiddle Class Scholarship

Undergraduates with family incomes of up to $150,000 who: Submit 2015-16 Free Application for Federal

Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 2, 2015 attend a UC or CSU are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or

have AB540 status are California residents, and maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA

Annual award amounts: To be determined by the California Student

Aid Commission

California Chafee GrantCalifornia Chafee Grant

•Provides up to $5,000 annually to current and former foster youth for college or vocational training at any accredited college in the U.S., based on available funding

•To be eligible, foster youth must have been in California foster care on their 16th birthday and not have reached their 22nd birthday before July 1, 2015

•Foster youth are encouraged to apply during their senior year of high school

• To apply, the foster youth must complete:• 2015-2016 FAFSA• California Chafee Grant Program Application• AB540 students may also be eligible

To apply for a Chafee Grant, go to:

www.chafee.csac.ca.gov

Private Scholarship Private Scholarship SearchSearch

•Search for targeted scholarships at

•www.mycollegedollars.com

Private Scholarship Private Scholarship SearchSearch

•Search for targeted scholarships at

•www.cappex.com

Private Scholarship Private Scholarship SearchSearch

•Search for targeted scholarships at

•www.fastweb.com

FAFSA TIPSFAFSA TIPS

Free Application for Federal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)Student Aid (FAFSA)

FAFSA TIPSFAFSA TIPS

FAFSA TIPSFAFSA TIPS

FAFSA TIPSFAFSA TIPS

FAFSA TIPSFAFSA TIPS

FAFSA TIPSFAFSA TIPS

FAFSA TIPSFAFSA TIPS

If You Need Federal If You Need Federal Student Aid HelpStudent Aid Help

FAFSA on the Web – Live Help Phone 1-800-4-FED-AID

(1-800-433-3243) E-mail the U.S. Department of

Education at: FederalStudentAidCustomerService@ed.gov

If You Need Cal Grant If You Need Cal Grant HelpHelp

California Student Aid California Student Aid CommissionCommission

Cal Grant Program Cal Grant Program By e-mail:

studentsupport@csac.ca.gov

By phone: (888) 224-7268