FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIPS

Dear Parents and Guardians of 12th Grade Students,

Students and families are now able to access and submit the 2025-26 financial aid application. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act (CADAA) is required by most colleges and universities. Students that plan to attend Allan Hancock College must complete the financial aid application to be eligible for the Hancock Promise (two years free tuition).

Completing the FAFSA / CADAA application opens doors to federal grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. It’s an investment in your child’s future. 

To assist you with this process, Cabrillo will be hosting a Cash For College events. You can drop in anytime to get help, and the application takes approximately 45 minutes to complete.

• November 5, 2025 from 3:45 - 7:30 pm in room B-8

• February 3, 2026 from 3:45 - 7:30 pm in room B-8

Alternatively, you can attend a Cash For College event hosted by any local high school. Please refer to the Cash For College flier for dates and times.

Here's a list of documents you'll need to bring to a Cash For College workshop:

• Drivers license number

• Student and parent(s)/adoptive parent(s) Social Security Number (or ITIN number for CA Dream Act application)

• Permanent resident number (if applicable)

• Student and parent(s)/adoptive parent(s) 2024 Income tax return

• Student and parent(s)/adoptive parent(s) 2024 W-2 forms

• Parent(s)/adoptive parent(s) marital status

If you prefer to complete the FAFSA on your own, here are some resources that can help:

• 2026-27 FAFSA Walkthrough Video

• FAFSA Tips

• Live Assistance for FAFSA Assistance with Brainfuse

Important Date: March 2, 2026 is the FAFSA/CADAA priority submission deadline to be eligible for California grants.

If you encounter any issues, visit StudentAid.gov for assistance. Thank you for supporting your child’s educational journey. 

FLYERS

• Cabrillo High School Financial Aid Events

• All Cash For College Workshop Events

FINANCIAL AID PARENT PRESENTATION

Monday, September 29 from 5:30 - 6:30 pm 

Spanish translation will be provided

Topics Discussed:

• What is financial aid

• Cost of attendance

• Financial need

• Four sources of financial aid

• Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara

Financial Aid Presentation - English  (slides)

Financial Aid Presentation - Spanish (slides)

CASH FOR COLLEGE

Get help with the FAFSA or CA Dream Act financial aid applications at our Cash For College event. Families can attend any Cash For College event offered at any local high school. Registration is not required. To get help, just attend a Cash For College event (parent/guardian and student) and bring the required documents listed below.

CHS Cash For College Workshops

• November 5, 2025 from 3:45 - 7:30 pm in room B-8

• February 3, 2026 from 3:45 - 7:30 pm in room B-8

Attend any Cash For College Workshop at any local high school! 

Registration is not required and drop in anytime. Completing the application typically takes about 45 minutes.

All Cash For College Workshops - Flyer

What to bring to a Cash For College workshop:

• Drivers license (optional)

• Parent(s) date of birth

• Parents marital status

• Both student and parent(s) social security numbers (if applicable)

• Permanent Resident number (if applicable)

• Student and parent(s)  2024 W-2 forms

• Student and parent(s) 2024 income tax return (if filed)

FINANCIAL AID STEPS

1.  Submit the FAFSA or Dream Act application

FAFSA
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) ensures that all eligible individuals can benefit from federally funded financial assistance for education beyond high school.

CA Dream Act
The California Dream Act allows undocumented and documented students who meet certain provisions of AB 540 law to apply for and receive private scholarships.

2. Login into Web Grants 4 Students and confirm GPA

After your FAFSA or CADAA application is processed (wait approximately 2 weeks after you submit), you’ll receive an email letting you know it’s time to create your WebGrants4Students account. Once you are logged in, confirm that CSAC (California Student Aid Commission) has your GPA as this completes your Cal Grant application.

Web Grants 4 Students will allow you to manage your Cal Grant and/or Chafee account(s) online by letting you:

View updates

Make school changes

Make address changes

Make corrections

Post leave of absence requests

Web Grants 4 Students account does not replace your school or FAFSA accounts. Each account must be monitored and managed independently.

Cal Grant is money for college you don’t have to pay back. To qualify, you must meet the eligibility and financial requirements as well as any minimum GPA requirements. Cal Grants can be used at any University of California, California State University or California Community College, as well as qualifying independent and career colleges or technical schools in California.

3.  Apply for Scholarships (optional)

Scholarships & scholarship finder websites are posted on this page and in the Senior Class of 2026 google classroom. 

Resources:

• Financial Aid in 5 Steps

• Financial Aid Application Checklist

• FAFSA / Dream Act Info

• Application Helpful Videos

• Financial Aid Programs & California Grants

FAFSA HELP

Check out these videos for instructions on how to complete sections in the FAFSA application. 

FAFSA Help Videos

CALIFORNIA GRANTS

Here is a list of Financial Aid Programs administered by the California Student Aid Commission:

• Cal Grants

• California Grant for Foster Youth (CHAFEE)

• Middle Class Scholarship (MCS)

• California Military Department GI Bill Program

• Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents Grants Program (LEPD)

• Golden State Teacher Grant Program (GSTG)

• California Dream Act Service Incentive Program (DSIG)

California Financial Aid  (flyer)

CalKIDS - COLLEGE SAVINGS ACCOUNT

The State of California is proud to announce the launch of the California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program (CalKIDS). The program provides a minimum of $500 in a college savings account for eligible low income public school students, with additional financial awards for students identified as foster youth and/or homeless. CalKIDS gives children in California a jump start on saving for college or career training. 

To be eligible for CalKIDS, participants must be:

1. Born in California on or after July 1, 2022; or

2. An eligible low-income public school student in grades 1-12* in California.

All participants receive a seed deposit in a CalKIDS account to help pay for future education after high school.

To ensure that your child has access to the CalKIDS account, you must register on the program’s online portal. The easy registration process does not require you to disclose any taxpayer identification numbers.  Register your account on the CalKIDS Portal.

For more information, visit the CalKIDS website.

AB 288 - SCHOLARSHIP DISPLACEMENT

WHAT IS AB 288

Assembly Bill 288, the California Ban on Scholarship Displacement Act is a bill signed into law on September 30, 2022.  This means starting with the 2023-2024 academic year, all public and private colleges in California will be prohibited from displacing student's private scholarships if they are eligible for the federal Pell Grant or financial aid via California Dream Act (CADAA).  

WHAT IS SCHOLARSHIP DISPLACEMENT?

Scholarship displacement happens when a college or university reduces a student's financial aid after the student has received a private scholarship.  Colleges typically reduce institutional gift aid by an amount equal to the dollar amount of the scholarship, leaving students with zero-net benefit for their effort and forcing them to seek alternative funding sources.

AB 288 - Guide To Prevent Scholarship Displacement

AB 288 - Know Your Rights Student Guide

LIST OF LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS 2025-26

Click the link above to get a list of local scholarships. The scholarship list is updated throughout the school year with most scholarships posted in the spring semester.

OCTOBER SCHOLARSHIPS

Spirt of the Sport Award & Scholarship - Fall Sport Season

Due: October 24, 2025

Application Link

JANUARY SCHOLARSHIPS

Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara

Due: January 31, 2026

Application Link

FEBRUARY SCHOLARSHIPS

CIF Central Section Scholar Athlete Award & Scholarship

Due: February 13, 2026

Application Link

MARCH SCHOLARSHIPS

CIF State Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Due: March 2, 2026

Application Link

Caneli Scholarship, In Memory of Selina Lopez Bustos

Due: March 10, 2026

Application Link

APRIL SCHOLARSHIPS

Vandenberg Village Veterinary Clinic Scholarship

Due: April 17, 2026

Application Link

MAY SCHOLARSHIPS

Derek Argel Memorial Scholarship

Due: May 1, 2026

Application Link

JULY SCHOLARSHIPS

2024-25 Local Scholarships

Cappex

Look for scholarships for college students that are dedicated to your major, extra curriculars, location, life circumstances, and much more.

Career One Stop

Search more than 8,000 scholarships, fellowships, grants, and other financial aid award opportunities. 

CollegeBoard

Find scholarships, other financial aid and internships from more than 2,200 programs, totaling nearly $6 billion.  Enter as much information as possible to find the most matches.

Fastweb

Fastweb is an online resource in finding scholarships. Once you complete a profile you'll have access to Fastweb's database of more than 1.5 million scholarships.

JVL Scholarships

Scholarship database that lists scholarships in different categories.

Niche College Scholarship

Find College Scholarships. Search lists of scholarships by choosing a category or get matched to college scholarships you are eligible for.

Petersons

Start by entering to win Peterson’s World’s Easiest Scholarship and then search our scholarship database that houses over $10 billion in private aid.

Scholarships.com

Scholarships.com connects you with a database to national scholarships. This website has been featured on Forbes, abc News, CBS, CNN, MSNBC and Money.

Scholarship 360

Scholarships360 uses data-driven matching and expert advice to help you pay for college.

Student Scholarships.com

With one of the largest databases of scholarships online and a speedy scholarship matching tool, Student Scholarship Search helps students find scholarships that are most relevant to their background, field of study, sport, skill, interest, achievement, or other attribute. 

TUN - The University Network

Search for scholarships by grade level, major, month, state and more. 

Unigo

Find over 3.6 million scholarships and grants.  

CASH FOR COLLEGE

Get help completing your financial aid application (FAFSA or CA Dream Act) by attending a Cash For College workshop. Trained employees from Allan Hancock College will be at the workshop assisting families with their application. 

Cabrillo will host Cash For College workshops on these dates:

• Wednesday, November 5, 2025 from 3:45 -7:30 pm in room B-8

• Tuesday, February 3, 2026 from 3:45 - 7:30 pm in room B-8

Be sure to bring these required documents that are applicable to you to the Cash For College workshop:

   *  Drivers license (optional)

   *  Parent(s) / adoptive parent(s) date of birth

   *  Parent(s) / adoptive parent(s) marital status

   *  Both student and parent(s) / adoptive parent(s) Social Security Number (do not use ITIN # for FAFSA application).

   *  Permanent Resident number (Green Card), if applicable

   * Student and parent(s) / adoptive parents(s) 2024 W-2 forms

   *  Student and parent(s) / adoptive parent(s) 2024 income tax return (if filed)

For more information, contact:

• Amber Manko, Cabrillo Counselor, at munden-manko.amber@lusd.org or 805-742-2916

• Diana Perez, Central Coast Cal-SOAP, at dperez@hancockcollege.edu or 805-922-6966 ext. 3710 

Families can attend any Cash For College workshop at any local high school!

• Local Cash For College Workshops 

SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION OF SANTA BARBARA & FINANCIAL AID - APPLICATION WORKSHOPS

The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara application opens on October 15th.  

Sign up to get assistance with your financial aid application (FAFSA or CADAA) and/or the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara application.

Workshops will be held in the CHS Career Center

• Tuesday, October 21 from 11:00 - 1:00 pm

• Tuesday, November 4  from 12:00-2:00 pm

• Tuesday, November 18 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm

• Tuesday, December 2 from 11:00 - 1:00 pm

• Tuesday, December 9 from 12:00 - 2:00 pm

• Thursday, December 11 from 4:00 - 6:00 pm (in Room B-8)

• Wednesday, January 14 from 11:00 - 2:00 pm

• Tuesday, January 27 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm

• Tuesday, February 10 from 11:00 - 1:00 pm

• Tuesday, February 24 from 12:00 - 2:00 pm

Deadlines

• The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara application is due January 31.

• The FAFSA and CADAA (financial aid application) priority application deadline is March 2 to be eligible for Cal Grants (free money).

Sign up with the google form (link below) or on a sign up sheet located in the counseling office.

SFSB Application & Financial Aid Workshop

Contact Mrs. Manko, Counselor, if you have any questions.

munden-manko.amber@lusd.org 

WUE Provides Students Greater Access to College with Reduced Tuition Rates at Participating Schools

Going to college out of state may mean paying up to three times more than attending a school or university in your home state/territory*. The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) was established in 1987 to make college more affordable and accessible to students in the West.  

Through WUE, students from the WICHE region* can choose from hundreds of undergraduate programs across the West and pay no more than 150% of the institution’s resident tuition rate.

Today, more than 170 public colleges and universities offer reduced tuition rates through WUE to qualifying students. Participating schools offer these discounted rates to help students avoid the full cost of pursuing higher education outside their home state and minimize the impact of student loan debt.

WUE Website Link