Financial Aid and Scholarships

Financial Aid

Why file FAFSA or CADAA? Filing for financial aid is the single most important thing you can do to get money for college. It’s the gateway to more than $150 billion in college grants, work-study funds, and federal student loans, as well as Cal Grant aid. Most students receive some type of financial aid, so you should fill out an application even if you don't think you qualify. Some families assume they won't qualify for financial aid and don't even bother completing the FAFSA or CADAA. This could be a huge mistake. In 2022, students left an estimated $3.6 billion in Pell Grants on the table by not submitting the FAFSA. Filing the application is required in order to access the FREE tuition at the California Community Colleges through the Promise Grant.

• Completing the FAFSA is quicker than you think. The time you spend completing an application could translate into hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
• The FAFSA isn’t just for people who want or need federal student loans. Its purpose is also to determine aid you won't have to pay back, like college scholarships, grants, and even work-study funding.
• Some private scholarships require a FAFSA as part of their application process. That's why completing one is so important!
• Finally, filing FAFSA or CADAA is now a requirement for all seniors in California per AB469, which went into effect last year*.

Step by step instructions for filing for Financial Aid (click image for PDF):

If you would like to opt-out of filing FAFSA, please go here.