Financial Aid and Scholarships

  • Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
     
    The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form that should be filled out by every student who plans to attend college.  FAFSA determines eligibility by asking questions about a family's financial situation.  Based on this information, Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is calculated and helps identify other forms of financial assistance.  This can include scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study programs.
    The official FAFSA website: How to apply - FREE and online
     

     
    Grants

    Grants are financial awards that you can use to help pay for college costs (books, housing, etc.), and that you do not need to repay. To apply, you just need to fill out a FAFSA.  A Cal Grant is one type of grant given by the state; talk to your counselor for more information. 

    California Student Aid Commission: Cal Grant Overview

     
    Scholarships
     
    You can apply for scholarships which you can use to pay for college expenses, and you don't have to pay the money back!  Scholarships are often based on specifics, such as a subject that you will study, your background or heritage, your community service experience, or merit (like good grades, test scores, or athletic success). 
     
     
    Student Loans
     
    Student loans can come from federal, state or private sources. They do have to be paid back with interest, although most lenders will allow you to begin repaying after graduation.  Payments are usually in small monthly amounts, so you don't need to worry about repaying the loan while in school.
     
     
    Work Study
     
    You can earn money by working on campus while you're a student to help reduce your college costs.  You may be eligible for work-study based on your financial need.  Most colleges provide work-study programs and the jobs can vary depending on the school.
    Additional Resources
     
    For an estimate of whether your family will qualify for need-based aid and the EFC (Expected Family Contribution), you can use this online calculator from www.finaid.org.

    Download the Invierta en su futuro (en Espanol) here!