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What exactly is Financial Aid?
Financial Aid is the money you and your family can get for educational expenses. It’s designed to supplement the amount you and your family contribute. There are four basic types of financial aid: Grants, Scholarships, Work Study and Loans.
How Financial Aid Works
How Financial Aid Works
Types of Financial Aid
Types of Financial Aid
Applying for Financial Aid
Students only need to complete one financial aid application. Information regarding which application a student will qualify for can be found below.
CADAA (California Dream Act Application)
CADAA (California Dream Act Application)
The California Dream Act allows undocumented students, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients (valid or expired), U Visa holders and students under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), who qualify for a non-resident exemption under Assembly Bill 540 (AB 540), Senate Bill 2000 (SB 2000) and Senate Bill 68 (SB 68), to receive certain types of financial aid such as: private scholarships funded through public universities, state administered financial aid, university grants, community college fee waivers, and Cal Grants. In addition, the California Dream Act, allows eligible students to pay in-state tuition at any public college in California.
california_dream_act_faq.pdf
Click Here to access the application.
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
Apply for federal student aid—grants, work-study, and loans—using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form.
This is the official FAFSA website. Do not go to a .com website. If you go to a .com site, you may be asked to pay to submit the FAFSA. Remember, the first F in "FAFSA" stands for "free" – Use the official government site to submit your application.
The FAFSA form you fill out should correspond with the school year you’re planning to seek aid for. For example, if you’re applying for financial aid for the 2023‒24 school year, fill out the 2023‒24 FAFSA form. If you plan to take summer classes, contact your school's financial aid office to determine which FAFSA form you should fill out.
File a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) in October or November of the Senior year. This establishes eligibility for grants and loans from the federal and state government such as Cal-Grants. Eligibility for this money is based primarily on parents’ income and assets in the year prior to the student’s freshman year in college.
You have nothing to lose by filing the FAFSA – it’s free!
Even if your family has middle to high income, don’t rule yourself out. Factors other than income are weighed when calculating need. For instance, an applicant may have siblings who are also in college, parents who are older, or the family may have had a recent financial setback. Also, most colleges use FAFSA information to award their financial aid.
The FAFSA is completed using parent tax information from TWO years prior.
The due date for the FAFSA, if you want to be eligible for Cal Grant, is March 2nd each year. BUSD electronically files GPA verifications for ALL current Seniors and last year's Seniors.
What information will you need to correctly fill out the FAFSA?
Your Social Security card and driver's license
W-2 Forms or other records of income earned
Your Federal Income Tax Return
Your parents' Federal Income Tax Return, if you are a dependent student
Records of other untaxed income received such as welfare benefits, Social Security benefits, TANF or ADC, veteran's benefits, or military or clergy allowances
Current bank statements and records of stocks, bonds, and other investments
Business or farm records, if applicable
Your permanent resident card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
Financial Aid process
Financial Aid process
Step 1: Visit - https://www.californiacolleges.edu
Step 2: Sign in.
Step 3: Hover Over Financial Aid – and select the Proper Application.
Step 4: You will be redirected to FAFSA or Dream Act Website.
Step 5: Use your FSA ID information to Log in for FAFSA.
Step 6: Read disclaimer and click accept.
Step 7: Be sure to select “START 2025-2026 FAFSA”
Step 8: Create a Save Key (Write it down, this is your PIN/Password to submit).
Step 2: Create FSA ID
Step 2: Create FSA ID
The FSA ID serves as a login and legal signature for current and future FAFSA applications. Parents and students each create FSA IDs. Only create an FSA ID using your own personal information and for your own exclusive use. You are not authorized to create an FSA ID on behalf of someone else, including a family member.
Your FAFSA and Cal Grant will need to be renewed every year. Save your FSA ID!
Step 3: Documents and Information Needed to complete the fafsa
Step 3: Documents and Information Needed to complete the fafsa
Your FAFSA Checklist
Your FAFSA Checklist
The information below will be available in your FAFSA Checklist. You get the checklist once you complete the slides.
Most high school seniors need their parents' information. That's because they are dependent students. Some cases can make you independent.
Your Information and Documents
Your Information and Documents
Gather everything that applies to you.
Make sure your full name matches your Social Security card. Do you use a different name at school? Fill out and turn in the demographic form to your high school.
Your name needs to be the same on your high school record and college applications.
Permanent mailing address.
It needs to be the same on your high school record and college applications. If it isn't, fill out and turn in the demographic form to your high school.
Social Security Number.
Permanent resident number/USCIS number (if you're not a U.S. citizen).
It is also known as the "green card" number. The FAFSA calls it the Alien Registration Number or A-Number.
You must provide consent to retrieve and disclose federal tax information transferred directly into the FAFSA form.
If consent is not given, you won't be eligible for aid.
Your federal income tax returns are transferred right into the online FAFSA with the Direct Data Exchange.
2023 federal income tax returns and tax information (if you had a job in 2023).
IRS 1040 form and W-2 form.
These documents are not required. It will help you know if you need to manually update tax information on the FAFSA form.
Cash, savings, and checking account balances.
Records of investments in your name.
2023 totals of untaxed income, interest income, workers' compensation, disability benefits, or veterans noneducation benefits.
Your Parents' Information and Documents
Your Parents' Information and Documents
Gather everything that applies to your parents.
You'll need the following information to invite your parent(s) to be contributors to your FAFSA form.
First and last name.
Date of Birth.
Email addresses.
Social Security Number
If your parent(s) don't have one, you'll enter their permanent mailing address.
Your parent(s) need the following information to complete their section of the FAFSA form.
Every contributor needs an FSA ID.
Your contributors can create an FSA ID using their Social Security Number.
If they don't have a Social Security Number, they can still create an FSA ID by providing information to confirm their identity through a separate process.
Parents with an ITIN will enter it in the Parent Identity Information section of the FAFSA form.
Parents without an ITIN should leave the ITIN field blank.
Creating an FSA ID is free and safe.
Your parents must give consent to have federal tax information transferred directly into the FAFSA form.
If consent is not given, you won't be eligible for aid.
Your parents' federal income tax returns are transferred right into the online FAFSA with the Direct Data Exchange.
Your parents can use the IRS Interactive Tax Assistant to find out if they need to file.
Your family's financial situation may have changed since 2023. If it has, talk to the financial aid office at each college after submitting your FAFSA.
2023 federal income tax returns and tax information.
IRS 1040 form and W-2 form.
These documents are not required. It will help you know if you need to manually update tax information on the FAFSA form.
Cash, savings, checking account balances, and annual child support received.
Records of investments, like stocks, bonds, or real estate (except the home you live in).
2023 totals of untaxed income, interest income, workers' compensation, disability benefits, or veterans noneducation benefits.
Benefits from certain programs in 2023 or 2024.
Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Cal Fresh.
Free or Reduced Price School Lunch.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or CalWORKS.
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
Step 2: Complete FAFSA or Dream Act Application
Step 2: Complete FAFSA or Dream Act Application
2024-2025 FAFSA– Application opens in December 2024.
DREAM Act Application– For students who are undocumented and unable to file a FAFSA application.
To be completed at least 7 days after submitting the FAFSA form. This is for financial aid from the state of California.
Step 4: Follow Up
Step 4: Follow Up
Monitor all of your personal email accounts to ensure you receive any communication sent by FAFSA or CSAC
Grant Information
Cal Grants
Two things are required for students to be considered for a Cal Grant: 1) Student submits his/her FAFSA and 2) Student submits GPA to California Student Aid Commission (CSAC). Roseville Joint Union High School District electronically submits GPAs for ALL Seniors. Therefore, once a student submits his/her FAFSA, they will be automatically considered for a Cal Grant. Please do not try to submit GPA Verification Forms.
Once your FAFSA is complete, wait a couple of weeks, and then go to www.webgrants4students.org to check the status of a potential Cal Grant award.
Additional Resources
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