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What is Finacial Aid?
What is Finacial Aid?
Financial aid is a state and federal government system of loans and grants available to all qualified individuals seeking college funding. All graduating high school students and adults with a GED or High School Diploma can access grants through FAFSA or CSAC (see below).
This system was set up to support potential college students who need access to the financial resources required to pay for college. Filing for financial aid on time could get you or your student access to enough grant money to cover the entire cost of college, but that depends on where your student goes to college (state school vs. private school) and household income.
The College and Career Center is always ready to help students and parents pursue these resources!
FAFSA
FAFSA
The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It's U.S. Government online application that provides access to subsidized and unsubsidized student loans (more on those below), as well as federal grants. The application is free and will never ask you for your credit or debit card numbers or any payment form. The application may ask you for dollar amounts in your banking account but will never ask for your bank account numbers. Some websites look like the FAFSA website but are actually a private service that will charge you to complete the FAFSA on your behalf.
Again-- the FAFSA IS ALWAYS FREE! If you're being asked to pay, you're on the wrong website.
Student must have a valid Social Security Number
CSAC
CSAC
CSAC stands for the California Student Aid Commission. FAFSA is managed by the federal government, while the State of California governs CSAC. CSAC provides access to state grants (free money that does not need to be repaid). These grants are available to all eligible California resident students. Additionally, CSAC provides access to the Dream Act application and Dream Act funding.
CA Dream Act
CA Dream Act
If the student does not have a social security number or has a work-only social security card, they will likely not be eligible for FAFSA funding. Still, they will be eligible for Dream Act funding through CSAC.
For more on the Dream Act, click here.
Grant
Available through the FAFSA and the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC)
Free money! You do not have to repay grants.
Pell Grants (FAFSA) are available to students demonstrating a financial need
Scholarship
Free money from a private funding source
The funder determines the criteria that must be met to qualify for the scholarship
Can be competitive
Most use information from the FAFSA to determine scholarship rewards
Subsidized Loan
Available through FAFSA
For students who demonstrate a financial need
The government pays the interest while the student is enrolled at least part-time, and for six months after graduation or during any deferment periods
Unsubsidized Loan
Available through FAFSA
Available to all students, no matter financial need.
Interest accumulates upon loan disbursement and will be included in payments charged to student once in repayment
English
English
Spanish
Spanish
California Dream Act
You dont have to watch the entire video here is minute-by-minute topic map
18:00–22:20 — Registration process step-by-step
18:00–22:20 — Registration process step-by-step
Start with CADA if unsure: AB 540 skip logic helps determine eligibility
If not eligible: prompted to speak to counselor/college financial aid office
Registration details: legal name, username rules, email password link (24-hour window)
Security questions + tip: save answers in phone contact notes
Two-factor email verification code for each login
22:20–29:40 — Application structure + key “common mistakes”
22:20–29:40 — Application structure + key “common mistakes”
5 sections: student / spouse / parent / other parent / sign & submit (varies by situation)
Reminders: student section vs parent section answers
Opt-in for CSAC texts encouraged
FAFSA-eligible students message + MSF exception explained
State residency date entry guidance
Dependency and marital status basics
Big warning: grade level question can reduce Cal Grant duration if answered incorrectly
Help icons explain unusual circumstances / inability to contact parents
29:40–36:40 — Family size + demographics + tax basics (student section)
29:40–36:40 — Family size + demographics + tax basics (student section)
Independent student family size rules
High school completion status (diploma/GED alternatives)
SSID optional but helps match records/GPA
High school search tips
Parent college attendance question definition (bio/adoptive parents)
Student tax questions: 2023 tax year, IPA amount, basic assets/investments notes
Q&A reminder + break announced at ~36:40
Second Half (Mina Tran) — Parent/college sections + signing
Second Half (Mina Tran) — Parent/college sections + signing
37:26–40:30 — College list + DSIG intro
37:26–40:30 — College list + DSIG intro
New question: interested in DREAM Act Service Incentive Grant (DSIG) info
DSIG overview: potential extra money for service hours (separate process)
Add up to 20 colleges; each UC/CSU counts separately
Important: list at least one Cal Grant–eligible school (even as backup)
40:30–44:47 — Embedded AB 540 affidavit section
40:30–44:47 — Embedded AB 540 affidavit section
AB 540 affidavit now embedded (reduces missed step)
Graduation/transfer eligibility questions (answer yes to at least 1)
Attendance/coursework requirements (answer yes to at least 1)
Enter school(s) + dates + units/hours; must click Add for it to count
Unit type guidance + eye icon help
44:47–52:20 — Parent section overview + who counts as “parent”
44:47–52:20 — Parent section overview + who counts as “parent”
Parent section mirrors student questions (marital status, residency, household, taxes, assets)
Which parent info to include depends on marital/living situation
If remarried: include stepparent info (even if not supporting)
Parents must manually enter tax info (no IRS retrieval tool)
Household size rules (dependents, siblings in college, other supported individuals)
If no taxes filed: still report income; IRS filing threshold guidance + ITIN mention
Parents abroad: still required if student is dependent (convert currency to USD)
No contact with parents: complete best possible; college FA office can consider professional judgment/dependency override
52:20–56:10 — Sign & submit (student + parent signature options)
52:20–56:10 — Sign & submit (student + parent signature options)
Student signs and submits (confirm statements → name auto-populates)
Parent signature improved: can sign immediately next to student OR remotely
Remote parent signature requires student identifiers (name, DOB, zip, email)
Confirmation popup: parent signature submitted
56:10–1:01:40 — Confirmation page + errors + DREAM Act ID number
56:10–1:01:40 — Confirmation page + errors + DREAM Act ID number
Confirmation page shows missing signatures or errors
Example error codes (parent didn’t sign; numbers inconsistent like tax > AGI; AB 540 verification by college)
DREAM Act ID number shown; tip: save in phone contact with username/password/security answers
Submission summary report: transactions + printable record
Student Aid Index (SAI) explanation + range mention
Confirmation email reminder: use a personal email, not school email
1:01:40–1:05:30 — Special circumstances + what students do next
1:01:40–1:05:30 — Special circumstances + what students do next
Use required tax year; then appeal through college FA office for changes (job loss, death, medical, disasters, etc.)
Next steps: sign up for alerts; check WebGrants regularly
Pending tasks after award: confirm school of attendance + confirm graduation date
Correct errors, contact support line, follow up on verification requests
Cash for College workshops as support option
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