Financial Aid
This page provides basic information on the FAFSA and CA Dream Act Application. For more on college funding, check out our Scholarships page!
Click to jump to the category you wish to explore:
FAFSA & EFC (Free Application for Federal Student Aid & Expected Family Contribution)
CSS Profile (College Scholarship Service Profile)
California Dream Act (AB540)
CAP Online Resources
Filling out the FAFSA is a task you need complete each year you are still enrolled in college. This assures that you keep getting financial aid from the federal government. If you do not fill out your FAFSA each year, you will lose funding!
CAP Alumni MUST COMPLETE A FAFSA BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2013 AND MARCH 2, 2015.
SOME PRIVATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES HAVE EARLIER DEADLINES (OFTEN February 1ST OR 15TH)–Check with your colleges!
FILE HERE.
APPLY FOR PINS (used to “sign” your forms) FOR YOU AND YOUR PARENT/GUARDIAN HERE.
If your parent/guardian does not have a Social Security Number, you will still apply for a PIN for yourself, but you will not apply for one for him/her. Instead, you need to print the “Signature Page” at the end of the form and mail it. Learn more about the “FAFSA Signature Page” here.
A Refresher: What is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)?
The FAFSA is a form that you fill out online. It enables you to qualify for:
- Federal grants such as the Pell Grant for qualifying low-income students
- State grants such as the Cal Grant and the Chafee Grant for students in foster care
- The Federal Work Study program
- Federal loans
- Scholarships from individual colleges, organizations, and programs
The FAFSA is not a type of aid–it is merely the application you must complete in order to qualify for aid.
What is an EFC?
Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is the amount of money the Department of Education estimates that you and your family can contribute towards your education in the coming year.
Your “financial need” is calculated by determining the difference between your school’s cost of attendance and your Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
Who needs to complete a FAFSA?
All students who are citizens and qualified non-citizens must complete a FAFSA.
Dreamers (AB540), even those who have received approval through the Deferred Action program (DACA) cannot complete a FAFSA. More for these students below.
What will I need in order to complete a FAFSA?
To fill out the FAFSA, you will need records of your income and your parents’ income earned in 2013. You can also use your tax forms from 2012, but REMEMBER you MUST update the form as soon as you file your 2013 taxes (if you file for an extension, you must tell FAFSA).
If you are in foster care, an emancipated minor, a ward of the court, homeless, married, or have a child that you care for, you do NOT have to provide information for parents. If your parents are not married, provide the information of the parent you lived with MORE in 2013. If that parent has remarried, you will need information for their new spouse. If you live with relatives not your parents, provide the information for the parent who has given you the most financial support in 2013.
Information for YOU ONLY:
- Your driver’s license number
- Your alien registration or permanent resident card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
Information for YOU and YOUR PARENTS:
- Social Security Numbers
- 2013 W-2 Forms
- Current bank statements
- 2013 untaxed income records (this includes veterans’ noneducation benefits, workman’s compensation, child support, taxed-deferred pension payments, housing allowances, etc.)
- Records of federal assistance (this includes TANF, WIC, SSI, Food Stamps, and Free/Reduced Lunch
- Current business and investment mortgage information, business and farm records, stock, bond and other investment records. (You do not need these if you and your parents do not have a business or investments)
- Records of other financial information such as child support paid, parents’
financial aid (if parent is enrolled in higher education) or combat pay
How will I receive my financial aid?
Your federal student aid will be paid to you through your school. The financial aid/awards section of your college portal will display your aid package each year. Your aid will likely be distributed each semester, quarter, or other payment period.
Your school will first use the aid to pay tuition, fees, and room and board, if necessary. Money left over for other expenses will be paid to you directly.
CSS PROFILE
What is the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE?
The PROFILE is an online application that collects information used by certain colleges and scholarship programs to award institutional aid funds.
How do I know if I need to file?
Not all colleges and scholarship programs require the PROFILE. Here is a list of those those that do.
When do I need to register and file?
Check with your college to see if you need to fill out the CSS profile for every year you are in college. You can file the PROFILE as early as October 1. However, you should register at PROFILE Online at least two weeks before the earliest college or scholarship priority filing date you need to meet. This date is the college or program’s deadline for submitting a completed PROFILE application.
How much does it cost?
Sending your PROFILE report to one college or scholarship program costs $25. Students who are from low-income families with limited assets will automatically receive fee waivers.
How do I file the PROFILE?
- If you haven’t done so already, create a College Board account
- Go to PROFILE Online and follow the instructions
- Have tax records and financial documents handy (same documents as listed above for FAFSA)
Please note: students who indicate a single parent income or who are in foster or kinship care may be asked by some colleges to complete additional forms (at no cost).
After You File
Print the acknowledgment. This includes the data you entered on your application and your college and scholarship list. You can use the acknowledgment to make changes to your PROFILE. It also provides information about the next steps in the process.
CALIFORNIA DREAM ACT APPLICATION
What is the California Dream Act?
The California Dream Act of 2011 was passed in two laws—AB 130 & AB 131, which allow AB 540 eligible students to apply for and receive…
- Privately funded scholarships at public colleges & universities (available starting January 2012)
- Institutional financial aid like UC Grants, State University Grants, EOP and EOPS grants & fee waivers, and community college BOG fee waivers (available starting January 2013)
- State financial aid like Cal Grants and Chafee Grants
What is the California Dream Act application?
The California Dream Act application is the financial aid application for AB 540 eligible students.
Who is eligible to apply?
The California Dream Act Application can only be completed by students who meet the following qualifications:
- Students who cannot file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and
- Students who attended at least three full years in a California public or private high school, and
- Students who graduated from a California high school or attained the equivalent prior to the start of the college term, for example a High School Equivalency Certificate from the California GED Office or Certificate of Proficiency resulting from the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE), and
- Students who, if they are without lawful immigration status, have or will file an affidavit with the college or university they are attending stating that they have filed an application to legalize their immigration status, or will file an application as soon as they are eligible to do so. This affidavit is filed with the college they attend.
Important Dream Act Dates
January 1: The California Dream Act Application opens
March 2: The priority filing deadline date for most state funded colleges and universities and the absolute deadline for submission of your Dream Act Application and school certified GPA for the Cal Grant program
May 1: When you should receive an email or letter from the Student Aid Commission on your application status (If you submitted a Dream Act Application and school certified GPA by the March 2 deadline). If you are not contacted by then, email caldreamact@csac.ca.gov or call 888-224-7268
Official 2013-2014 Paper Dream Act Application (use for reference only–it’s best to file online)
CAP Loan Information Sheet (to assist in understanding the different types of loans)
Want to search for financial aid? Visit our Scholarships page!
I Heart College 