financial aid

It is very important that ALL students sign up for California Colleges (CCGI) student accounts! The FAFSA/CA Dream Act application will be launched from this platform. Click here for instructions on how to register if you do not have an Account. Launch your FAFSA/CA Dream Act application from CaliforniaColleges.edu.

What should you do before starting the FAFSA?

Are you nervous about filling out your FAFSA? You’re not alone. A little preparation will make the process much easier.

Plan ahead.

Start early and keep track of important deadlines.
The FAFSA opens sometime in December for the 2024–2025 school year.
To be considered for a Cal Grant, fill out your FAFSA by March 2.
Grants or scholarships your college gives out may have earlier deadlines. Talk to the financial aid office.

If you miss the March 2 Cal Grant deadline, finish the FAFSA as soon as you can to still be considered for federal student aid. Some aid is first come, first served, so the earlier you apply, the better. The last day you can fill out your FAFSA for the 2020-21 school year is June 30, 2021.

Gather important information.

You’ll need this information for both you and your parents:

Social Security Number (SSN) or Alien Registration Number (if you aren’t a U.S. Citizen).
- If your parents aren’t U.S. citizens, see the Tip below.
2022 tax returns.
- You may not need to track down any tax returns. If you fill out the FAFSA online, try using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. It transfers your tax information right into the FAFSA. (See the Parent and Financial Info tab to learn more.)

Tip for students with non-citizen parents: Your parents’ citizenship status doesn’t affect your ability to get federal financial aid. The FAFSA form doesn’t even ask about their status. If your parents don’t have an SSN, enter all zeros (000-00-0000) on the FAFSA. DO NOT enter an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).

Know which schools you’re interested in attending.

The FAFSA asks you to list which schools should get your FAFSA information. These schools will use your information to figure out how much financial aid to offer you.

You can list up to 10 schools on your FAFSA.
Be sure to list at least one eligible California college (pdf) so you can receive state aid.
List every school you’re considering, even if you’re not sure you’ll get accepted or attend.

You can add schools after you complete your FAFSA, but you may miss out on first-come, first-served financial aid. So, it’s best to think it through now. Learn more about building your college list.

Source: CaliforniaCollege.edu

How to complete the FSA ID ?

FSAIDworksheet-FAFSAsteps (1).pdf

How to Complete the FAFSA ?

FAFSA Checklist.pdf

Financial Aid tutorial videos

CAlifornia Dream act

Financial Aid for Dreamers

(MUST BE AB 540 Eligible)

Cal Grant, Chafee Grant, Middle Class Scholarship
UC Grants, State University Grants
California Community College (CCC) California Promise Grant
EOP/EOPS
Some University scholarships
Some private scholarships administered by campuses

Application deadline for all Dreamer Cal Grants and most of the other aid listed above is March 2.

10_things_you_need_to_dream_act.pdf

WebGrants 4 Students

After you complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or your California Dream Act Application (CADAA) be sure to create your account with WebGrants 4 Students (WGS) with the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC).

The goal is to provide you with the resources, information and tools needed to assist you with the college financial aid process. WGS 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, and post leave of absence requests. It is important for you to understand that your WGS account does not replace your School or FAFSA accounts. Each account must be monitored and managed independently.

What to expect after you submit your FAFSA

Page updated

Report abuse