2025-26 Financial Aid Application Info

Financial aid may come from sources such as the government (state and federal), the college you attend, and private organizations. Monies may be in the form of grants, scholarships, work-study, or loans. Financial aid is meant for use at 2 and 4-year colleges, trade or career schools, and graduate school. 

Even if you don't think you will qualify for financial aid, several loans, grants, and scholarships require that you complete a FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application. 

Additionally, there is the FAFSA/CADAA Completion Requirement AB 469:

The AB 469 requirement per the California Education Code 51225.7  Local Educational Agencies (LEAs), such as school districts, are required to confirm that high school seniors complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA). Or complete an “opt-out” form. These requirements apply beginning with the 2022-23 school year for the 2023-2024 FAFSA/CADAA application cycle that starts on October 1, 2022.

Financial Aid Quick Links

FAFSA Instructions

California Dream Act Link

California Student Aid Commission

FinAid: The Smart Guide

All students that complete a FAFSA or CADAA need to create a WebGrants 4 students account to view their Cal Grant award.  Go to:  https://mygrantinfo.csac.ca.gov.  In the student account, you need to log back in in June to verify your graduation and select the college you plan to attend.  

The Middle Class Scholarship is an extension of the Cal Grant and is only used for public California universities (UC's and CSU's), if the family income is higher than the Cal Grant income ceiling.  Students must attend college at least half time.

Estimate your Federal student aid to get an estimate of what your federal student aid would be.  Click:  https://studentaid.gov/aid-estimator/estimate/student-information

Net price calculators are available on a college’s or university’s website and allow prospective students to enter information about themselves to find out what students like them paid to attend the institution in the previous year, after taking grants and scholarship aid into account.