Financial Aid (FAFSA)

Advice for students and parents on changes for the 2017-18 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and CA Dream Act Application (CDAA):

1. Apply in Fall - The FAFSA and the CDAA will open on October 1.  This allows students to apply three months earlier than in the past.
   　
2. Applying is Easier - Completing forms for both the FAFSA and the CDAA is easier because applicants will provide income and tax information filed for the tax year (they don't have to estimate).  Many students and parents will find completing the FAFSA easier since they will be able to provide income-tax information directly from the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) that is linked to the FAFSA.*

IRS Data Retrieval Tool

*Please note the CDAA does not support the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.

Unchanged: The priority filing deadline is still March 2 for both applications.  Students may receive information regarding Cal Grant eligibility in the fall, but will still receive their UC financial aid offer(s) after notification of admission in the spring.

What students and parents can begin doing before October 1:

1. Secure a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID for FAFSA applicants or for a CA Dream Act ID for CDAA applicants.
   Federal Student Aid Login (FAFSA)
   CA Dream Act (CDAA)
2. To attend a FREE Cash for College workshop for hands-on application assistance.

After submitting a FAFSA or CDAA students should open an account to check the status of their Cal Grant eligibility

If you are or were in foster care and have not yet reached your 22nd birthday you may be eligible to receive the California Chafee Grant for Foster Youth. You will need to complete the FAFSA and the California Chafee Grant application.
California Chafee Grant

The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) and the California Department of Education (CDE) understand that, in light of recent events, there could be confusion regarding the California Dream Act program, which allows certain undocumented and out-of-state students (“Dreamers”) to receive state financial aid while attending colleges in California. The California Dream Act is a state law, separate and distinct from the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

Regardless of what happens at the federal level, state financial aid for Dreamers remains legal in California. A Dreamer student does not need to be DACA-certified to be eligible for a public education or state financial aid. Losing DACA status will not affect most state financial aid.

AB540
Do you know a student who is undocumented and wants to go to college? Have you heard of the term AB540? Am I AB540?  California Assembly Bill 540 (AB540) passed in 2001 permits qualified immigrant students to pay in-state tuition.
What is AB540:

• Attended a CA high school for 3 or more years;
• Graduated from a CA high school or attained the equivalent
• File an affidavit with your college or university stating that you have or intend to file an application to legalize your immigration status, if applicable.
• Are AB540 students eligible for FAFSA?
• No AB540 students can NOT apply to FAFSA

What types of aid are available for AB540?

• Scholarships
• California Dream Act
  California Dream Act

Become your own advocate:

• AB540 students need to become advocates of their own education in order to gain access to networks, resources, services and opportunities. How can AB540 students become involved?
• Join your campus AB540 support group
• Learn about political issues that affect your status and get involved
• Write your Legislators, Congressmen/woman asking them to support the Federal DREAM ACT
• Attend AB540 Conferences/Summits in order to build your AB540 Network
• Volunteer in the community 
• Organize Fundraisers for AB540 Scholarships
• Research AB540 Friendly Scholarships and share with other AB540 Students.
• Coordinate Informational Parent/Student/Community Workshops in order to make others aware of AB540.