Financial Aid

to obtain financial aid in California - You must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act (CADAA).

Applying for financial aid is a crucial step in preparing for college and training after high school, so understanding the timeline ensures your student does not miss out on vital funding. Students can begin applying during their last year of high school when the FAFSA and CADAA applications officially open on October 1st. To qualify for a Cal Grant, you must submit your application by March 2nd, though community college students have an extended deadline until September 2nd.

During the fall semester, the Kern High School District automatically uploads your student's Cal Grant GPA unless you choose to opt out. Because these GPAs are submitted before senior year grades are finalized, merit aid eligibility is based strictly on performance from the 10th and 11th grades. When filling out the forms, families must provide tax information from two years prior, though exceptions exist for students with specific circumstances, such as being a ward of the court or in foster care. To support you through this process, our high schools and local community will host "Cash 4 College Nights," which are free, in-person workshops where experts will help families complete their financial aid applications step-by-step.

FAFSA

You need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form to be eligible for federal student aid such as federal grants, work-study funds, and loans. Completing and submitting the FAFSA form is free and easier than ever, and it gives you access to the largest source of aid to help you pay for college or career school. In addition, many states and colleges use your FAFSA information to determine your eligibility for state and school aid. Some private aid providers may use your FAFSA information to determine whether you qualify for their aid as well.

CADAA

Because undocumented students cannot qualify for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or receive federal aid, CSAC created an alternative, California Dream Act Application (CADAA). Undocumented students and other eligible immigrants who qualify to apply for financial aid with the CADAA may be eligible to receive free state and institutional aid such as: state and university grants, community college fee waivers, Cal Grants, and private scholarships. Additionally, the CADAA allows students to pay in-state tuition at any public college or university in California.

Pell Grant vs Cal Grants

The difference between Pell and Cal Grants is that Pell Grant is money from the federal government, while Cal Grants are monies from the state of California. Both are for students with financial need to help them pay for college. Some Cal Grants have a minimum GPA requirement while Federal Pell Grants do not. Federal Pell Grants have a low income thresold; whereas, Cal Grants and the California Student Aid Commiission (CSAC) awards money to students of various needs and situations. Click here for all aid CSAC offers. From foster youth to the middle class, California supports its students with robust programs for financial aid. Students can qualify for both a Pell Grant and a Cal Grant. To apply for a Pell Grant, students must submit the FAFSA, and for the Cal Grant and other CA financial aid, students must submit a FAFSA/CADAA and their high school must submit a verified Cal Grant GPA by the March 2nd deadline.

A Cal Grant award is free money for college that students do not pay back. California Grants and scholorships must be used at California qualifying private and public colleges and universities with the acception of the Cal HBCU Grant. These include the California Community College, University of California (UC), and California State University (CSU) systems. There are three kinds of Cal Grants—A, B, and C—but students do not apply for a specific one. Students will be considered for the appropriate Cal Grant award based on a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or CA Dream Act Application (CADAA), school-verified GPA, financial need, and college of attendance.

Need Help with FAFSA/CADAA?

Cash 4 College Night

Most schools have “Cash 4 College Nights” where support staff are available to assist families in filling out the FAFSA/CADAA application. See your counselor for Career Center for dates and times.

Career Center

Most school sites have a career center with staff dedicated to helping students and families with college and career questions. If a financial aid event is not for you, the career center can assist your family with questions or point you in the right direction for help.

What is a good SAI?

Understanding Financial Aid

Earning a degree or post-secondary career training can be an expensive undertaking. Most students need some sort of financial aid to help them with the costs of tuition, room and board and other fees. There is no application for a "full ride" at colleges. Financial Aid packages are created by colleges putting together grants, scholarships, and sometines loans to help students bridge the gap between their SAI (Student Aid Index - what a student is expected to pay) and the COA (the cost of attendance). This package is a combination of Federal, State, and Institional Aid (from the college). Financial aid is any money that is designed to assist students in paying for education that is beyond a student's SAI. Financial aid resources available to students include:

1. Federal or California Grants - money that does not need to be repaid

2. Loans – low interest federal loans are available to those who qualify

3. Work study programs – jobs on the school campus - beware, this is contingent on the student interviewing for jobs on campus and being offered a job. Jobs are not given to students; they must go after and apply for them. This program helps employers on campus pay students' income, not give students jobs. It is not guaranteed, so you should not considered this as guaranteed money in your financial aid package.

4. Scholarships – a gift of money to be used for your education

There are two types of aid, need-based and merit-based. Need-based financial aid is awarded based on a student's financial need; whereas, merit-based aid is awarded based on a student's grades, talents, or athletic involvement. All colleges will offer students different financial aid packages, so it is important to compare offers before selecting a school.

The federal government and the state of California use the FAFSA to determine your eligibility for financial aid. It is used to estimate your Student Aid Index (SAI), which is the government’s calculation of the amount a student must contribute in the coming year to your college costs. A lower SAI generally means you have a higher financial need and may qualify for more aid. Your SAI can even be a negative number, going as low as -$1,500.

What About PRivate Scholarships and institutional aid?

KHSD Scholarship Hub

Scholarships are a form of financial aid that does not have to be repaid. Private scholarships are sought out by the student and are available from many sources including community groups and private corporations. Scholarships can pay for a variety of college expenses. Private scholarships can actually reduce parts of your financial aid package as colleges must consider outside scholarships as a student’s financial resource available to pay for educations costs. Colleges, following federal regulations, can adjust your aid package in a variety of ways. It is a good idea to contact the financial aid office of colleges about their policies on outside scholarships.

Institutional Aid can be in the form of scholarships or grants that the student is given or applies for through the college you will attend. It is a good idea to go to your colleges scholarship website and apply for all the scholarships that apply to your situation. In many cases students can apply for institutional aid even before that are admitted to the college, so students should check the college's website for scholarships that they qualify for.

Searching for scholarships is tedious, so trying to do this during senior year is not advised. It is recommended that students search for private scholarships before senior year and keep a list of those they may qualify for with due date and the documents that are needed to apply. This way students have a potential scholarship list planned going into senior year and just need enact the plan while they are keeping up grades, applying for colleges and FAFSA/CADAA, and doing all the things they do to stay active in their school communities.

To Locate Scholarships:

1. Check KHSD's Scholarship Hub and your high school’s college/career center, website, online social accounts, and daily announcements for a list of available scholarships.

2. Search individual colleges' websites regarding scholarship offers specific to that school.

3. Investigate any private sources of scholarships including: Your parents’ employers, fraternal or school organizations, professional organizations, business and service clubs, churches and religious organizations and cultural groups and foundations.

4. Use a scholarship search site to find scholarships that are open to the general population. These are harder to get because everyone is applying for them and not just students in your local area or at your college of choice. Do not get scammed. Be wary of private scholarship search organizations that require a fee upfront or claim that you have been selected to receive a scholarship for which you never applied. The scholarship search sites below are a good place to start, if you would to look for general scholarships.

More Scholarship Search Reources

Fastweb.com - Search engine for scholarships (need to create an account & utilizes ads)

Raise.me - Gives micro scholarships for achievements throughout high school. The college must be a college partner for students to receive award money (site will collect your information)

BigFuture.org - great source for scholarships search (created by the makers of the SAT)

Bold.org - Create a profile and apply within the site (utilizes ads)

Appily.com - formerly Cappex - Search scholarships and plan for college(site will collect your information)

Scholarships.com - Search engine for scholarships (site will sell your info, but you can opt out; utilizes ads)

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