Topics
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Introduction
What is financial aid?
Sources of financial aid
Limitations of federal aid programs
FAFSA/Dream Act Application & Processing
Whose info goes on a FAFSA/CA Dream Act Application?
Eligibility requirements for Federal and State aid
When & Where to apply for 2015-16?
What happens next?
Where do I get help?
Other information
Consumer Information

Financial aid are funds provided to students and families to help pay for postsecondary educational expenses

 Federal and State Grants
 Student Loans
 Work Study
 Private sources-scholarships

 SLO County High School Graduates
 All future Promise students will be guaranteed fee-free fall & spring
 Deadline- August 3rd, 2015
 Guaranteed to all students who complete
ALL Cuesta Promise steps regardless of income or GPA

3.
4.
5.
6.
1.
2.
Submit your Cuesta College admissions application
Submit your Promise scholarship application
Apply for FAFSA or the Dream Act
Complete the Cuesta College assessment process
Complete the Cuesta College online orientation
Register for your classes
The Promise is yours! Check your email for announcements and updates.

 Pell Grant
 Federal
Supplemental
Opportunity Grant
 Federal Work Study
 Teach Grant
 Federal Loans
-Subsidized
-Unsubsidized
 PLUS- Parent Loan

L imitations of Federal Aid
Programs
 Pell Grant – 6 full-time years
 Direct Subsidized Loans - 150% of the length of academic program before they may lose interest subsidy

 Board of Governors Fee Waiver
 Cal-Grants
 Chafee Grant
 University Grants
 Middle Class Scholarship for UC & CSU
 AB 540 BOGW & Cal Grants

 Waives enrollment fees at California
Community Colleges
 You must complete online FAFSA or
Cal Dream Act

Cal-Grants
 Cal Grant A – Pays tuition at a CSU or
UC
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Cal Grant B - Pays tuition at a CSU or UC and pays an access fee at a California
Community College
Cal Grant C – Pays for vocational programs

 Available for foster-youth in the
Independent Living Program (ILP)
 Must complete an online application
 Limited funds

 Available at private and public universities
 Funds may be limited
 Follow-up with your school of choice

Middle Class Scholarship Program
 New, transfer and returning undergraduate students
 University of California or California
State University
 Family income of up to $150,000
 Complete the FAFSA or Cal Dream Act application

 Residency requirements
 Aid awarded on the basis of both GPA and financial need
 Must complete the FAFSA or Cal
Dream Act application
 Deadline March 2 nd each year

 Allows non-resident students to receive state grant opportunities
 Must complete application at college/university
 Admissions Office determines eligibility
 Student is able to complete the
FAFSA or Cal Dream Act application

 Awarded on the basis of skills, GPA or unique characteristic
 Free money
 Foundations, high schools, businesses, charitable organizations, employers, unions
 Deadlines vary

www.fafsa.gov
© 2014 CASFAA

2015-2016 Application Processing
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Personal Identification Number (PIN)
Access the PIN Website www.pin.ed.gov
Why use a PIN?
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Sign FAFSA electronically
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Access your FSA records online
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Make corrections
Who can apply?
• Students
• Parents
© 2014 CASFAA

FSA ID to Replace FSA PIN!
What this means: Where to use an FSA ID:
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New login process
User-selected username
User-selected password
Replaces the FSA PIN
Eliminates need to supply
SSN and date of birth for login
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FAFSA on the Web
NSLDS Student Access
StudentLoans.gov
StudentAid.gov
TEACH Grant website
© 2014 CASFAA
Available in Spring 2015
(after March 2 nd )

http://www.csac.ca.gov/dream_act.asp

 Only for AB540 students who do not have a SSN
 Students complete this instead of the
FAFSA

DOMA and FAFSA/CA Dream Act applications
FAFSA & CA Dream Act applications: Language is gender neutral – Parent 1 , Parent 2 as designated by filers, not processor.
FAFSA/CA Dream Act applications now collect the information of unmarried parents living together and parents or parent/step-parent in a legally recognized same-sex marriage.
© 2014 CASFAA

The FAFSA & CA Dream Act applications now use the relationship of the parent to the student , vs. the legal relationship between parents for the basis of collecting information
Relationship of Student to Parent
Parents married, living together
Parents not married, living together
Includes both parents’ incomes on the app?
YES
YES
Only includes one parent’s income on the app?
NO
NO
Parent is widowed, not remarried
Parents are divorced or separated, not living together
Parent and step-parent, living together
Legal guardians
*
Foster Parents
*
Grandparents, brothers, sisters, uncles, or aunts
*
NO
NO
YES
NO
NO
NO
YES
YES (include the parent the student lived with most during the last 12 months. If equal time, include the income and assets from the custodial parent who provided most of the student’s financial support during the last 12 months)
NO
NO
NO
NO
*Students living with legal guardians, foster parents, or relatives are usually considered to be independent students, unless adopted.

Eligibility Requirements for
Federal and State Aid
 Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
 ***Have a valid social security number***
 Register with Selective Service
 High school diploma/GED/home schooled
 Enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program

 Complete the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.gov
or
 Cal Dream Act Application online at www.csac.ca.gov/dream_act.asp
 Applications are available starting
January 1 st
 Colleges may set their own deadlines

 Transposed Social Security Numbers
 Marital status
 Income information
 Taxes paid
 Household size
 Number in college
 Asset information missing
 Missing student/parent signatures

 Student will receive a Student Aid
Report (SAR); make corrections
 Student will have an Expected Family
Contribution (EFC)
 School may require student/parent to submit additional documentation

1
2
Cost of
Attendance
(Variable)
3
EFC
Expected Family
Contribution
(Constant)
X
Y
EFC
Need
(Variable)
Z

 Complete income taxes early
 Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool
 Request IRS Transcripts
 Online: www.irs.gov
Transcript Type: Return Transcript
Phone number: 1-800-908-9946
 Have your son/daughter follow-up with the financial aid office!

Cash for College Workshop:
 February 10 th Cuesta SLO Campus
(from 5pm to 8pm at Bldg. 3400)
 FAFSA, Cal Dream Act, Cuesta
Scholarship Application

 Change in employment status
 Medical expenses
 Unusual dependent care expenses
 Loss of parent or student income
 Any other unusual circumstances that affect a family’s ability to contribute to higher education

Students have options to receive financial aid disbursements or tuition refunds:
 Receive disbursement on a debit card
 Direct deposit into a personal bank account
 Request a paper check

© 2014 CASFAA
 College Navigator http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
 College Scorecard http://scorecard.cccco.edu/scorecardrates.aspx?CollegeID=641
 Shopping Sheet
Your student portal
 StudentAid.gov
https://studentaid.ed.gov/
 FSA Social Media http://www.financialaidtoolkit.ed.gov/tk/outreach/social-media.jsp
 Net Price Calculator http://www.cuesta.edu/student/aboutmoney/finaid/resources/Net_Price_Calculat or.html

© 2014 CASFAA
CollegeNavigator.gov

© 2014 CASFAA
collegecost.ed.gov

© 2014 CASFAA

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Standardized, clear, and concise format for personalized financial aid offers
Better understanding of the costs of college before making a final decision on where to enroll
Identifies the types and amounts of aid qualified for and allows for easy comparison of aid packages
Consumer comparison tool
Transparently provides information to students
© 2014 CASFAA

© 2014 CASFAA

© 2014 CASFAA

© 2014 CASFAA

© 2014 CASFAA