Financial Aid & Scholarships
Financial aid can be one of the most confusing and frustrating parts of the college process. Here are some resources to help you navigate student loans, scholarships, grants, the FAFSA, and overall financial aid planning.
ZOOM LINK FOR ALL MOORPARK COLLEGE FAFSA/CADAA VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS: https://vcccd-edu.zoom.us/j/98871404446?pwd=b1VKVVBxdHBnVDIxeEgrQlJQbGN2Zz09#success
SCHOLARSHIPS IN NAVIANCE
STUDENT SIGNING INTO NAVIANCE
Click HERE to go to Naviance.
Click Login with Clever and use your Google credentials
Click on the Colleges Tab
Find the Scholarships & Money section at the bottom of the page and click on Scholarship List.
Scholarship List is ALL of the scholarship opportunities that MHS has received. These are great opportunities as they tend to be local and they tend to receive a small applicant pool.
Read the description for each scholarship and see if it looks like it might fit.
Read VERY CAREFULLY for dates, details about how and when to turn in, and requirements for letters of rec, essays, etc. One last thing before you start working on that application.
5. Then either download the application or go to the indicated website to get the application.
There are four main types of financial aid for college students including grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study funds.
GRANTS are a type of financial aid that does not have to be repaid. Offered by the federal and state government, as well as by some institutions, grants may be merit-based, need-based or student-specific. Examples of student-specific grants might include grants for minorities, women, and students with disabilities. The federal government offers the following grants:
Pell Grants– Pell grants are usually awarded to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s degree or professional degree. The amount of aid you receive depends on your financial need, the school’s cost of attendance, and other factors.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)– FSEOG are grants for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. FSEOG are administered directly by the financial aid offices of participating schools.
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grants– TEACH grants can help you pay for school if you plan to become a teacher and teach in high-need fields in low-income areas. In order to qualify for a TEACH grant, you must commit to teaching for a certain length of time.
Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants– Iraq and Afghanistan service grants provide money to students whose parent or guardian died during military service in Iraq or Afghanistan.
SCHOLARSHIPS, like grants, do not have to be repaid. They are typically offered by individual institutions and private organizations and can be awarded based on a number of factors, such as academic performance, athletic ability, religious affiliation, and race, among others. In order to apply for a scholarship, you will often be asked to write an essay.
LOANS are borrowed money for college or career school; you must repay your loans, with interest. They are offered by both the federal government and private institutions. Loans provide students and families with immediate access to funds to help cover the cost of college. If you decide to take out a loan, make sure you understand who is making the loan and the terms and conditions of the loan.
Federal Loans - The U.S. Department of Education has two federal student loan programs:
The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program is the largest federal student loan program. Under this program, the U.S. Department of Education is your lender. There are four types of Direct Loans available:
Direct Subsidized Loans are loans made to eligible undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need to help cover the costs of higher education at a college or career school.
Direct Unsubsidized Loans are loans made to eligible undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, but in this case, the student does not have to demonstrate financial need to be eligible for the loan.
Direct PLUS Loans are loans made to graduate or professional students and parents of dependent undergraduate students to help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid.
Direct Consolidation Loans allow you to combine all of your eligible federal student loans into a single loan with a single loan servicer.
The Federal Perkins Loan Program is a school-based loan program for undergraduates and graduate students with exceptional financial need. Under this program, the school is lender.
PRIVATE LOANS are granted by private banks and may help to bridge the gap between the cost of your education and the amount of financial aid you receive from the government. Eligibility for private loans often depends on your credit score, and private loans tend to have higher interest rates than loans that the government offers. Students are encouraged to pursue all options for federal student aid before entering into a private loan.
WORK STUDY is a program where you can earn money that helps you pay for school. Work-study programs provide students with federally funded jobs on campus or at other approved locations. The campus facilities at many colleges and universities, including the student center, career center, athletic department, and residence halls, employ work-study students. However, the positions available and the pay offered vary widely.
RESOURCES
The financial aid you receive could make a big difference in the school you attend and the amount of debt you have after graduation. The sooner you start researching your options for financial aid, the better.
FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid
FSA ID - An FSA ID gives you access to Federal Student Aid’s online systems and can serve as your legal signature.
CSS Profile - The CSS PROFILE is required by many private colleges and universities to determine your eligibility for non-government financial aid, such as the institution's own grants, loans and scholarships.
Resources from Federal Student Aid
CSAC CA Student Aid Commission - CSAC's mission is to Making education beyond high school financially accessible to all Californians.
Webgrants 4 Students - Provide you with the resources, information and tools needed to assist you with the college financial aid process.
CA Dream Act Application - The CA Dream Act application allows students enrolled in eligible California Colleges, Universities and Career Education programs to apply for state financial aid. This application is unrelated to the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Compare Financial Aid Awards - College Board tool for comparing financial aid awards
Student Financial Tech - The financial technology revolution is changing the way students gather information. We help students and parents make complex financial information more accessible, so that they have the best path to success.
Moorpark College Financial Aid
Student Success Completion Grant
40 Money Management Tips Every College Student Should Know - There’s no way around it: College is expensive, but it is possible to pay for your education without sabotaging your financial future. 40 Money Management Tips Every College Student Should Know is a resource that you can refer back to throughout the year when you have money questions.
FastWeb - Fastweb is your connection to scholarships, colleges, financial aid and more.
Cappex - Find colleges and scholarships
Annuity.org- Student financial basics
Scholarships.com - Search over 3.7 million college scholarships and grants.
Going Merry - Going Merry is a scholarship application platform. They match you with scholarships, auto-fill your info from your profile. They were inspired by what the Common App has done for colleges.
Scholarships for Students with Disabilities
Scholarships for Minority Students
Sallie Mae Scholarship Search - The free way to get access to more than 5 million college scholarships worth up to $24 billion.
VCCF Scholarships-The Ventura County Community Foundation Scholarship program is made possible thanks to the generosity and commitment of donors, including individuals, corporations, and organizations. VCCF primarily awards scholarships to Ventura County students who are pursuing higher education and/or career training.
Webgrants for Students - Creating an Account