Financial Aid

Click on the links for more information:
What is the FAFSA? And why should you care?
Financial Aid Basics
Financial Aid Glossary
Senior Year Financial Aid Calendar
​Tips on how to pay for college

Financial Aid Checklist

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Many parents believe they will not qualify for FAFSA and so they DO NOT fill it out. 
Please DO so anyway! While you may not qualify for a grant at the federal level, many colleges and universities use the FAFSA information to determine financial need, and they have a different threshold for need.

Cal Grant Awards

Cal Grant FAQ
Cal Grant A
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- Will help pay for tuition and fees at four-year colleges

- Award amounts vary by type of college

- GPA requirement
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- Requires that your course of study leads directly to an associate or bachelor’s degree, or qualifies you for transfer from a community college to a bachelor’s degree program
Cal Grant B

- Provides a living allowance of up to $1,648, in addition to tuition and fee assistance after the first year, at a two- or four-year college

- Pays most first-year students a living allowance only, which may be used to pay living expenses, books, supplies and transportation, as well as tuition and fees

- When renewed or awarded beyond your first year, you’ll receive the living allowance as well as a tuition and fee award
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- Requires at least a 2.0 GPA
Cal Grant C
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- Assists with the costs of a technical or career education

- Provides up to $1,094 for books, tools and equipment—and up to $2,462 more for tuition and fees if you’ll be attending a school other than a California Community College (community colleges don’t charge tuition and your fees will be waived as a Cal Grant recipient)

- Available for up to two years
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- If you qualify, you’ll receive an email or letter notification to complete the online Cal Grant C Supplement in Web Grants for Students by the deadline. Even though a GPA is not required to apply for a Cal Grant C, you’re still encouraged to submit yours because it can only help your chances of receiving an award.

California College Promise Grant

For eligible California residents, the California Community Colleges Promise Grant permits enrollment fees to be waived. (Assistance for the purchase of books and supplies must be applied for separately.)​

Cash for College Webinar

www.CaliforniaColleges.edu

CaliforniaColleges.edu is the State of California’s official college and career planning platform.
Lessons and tools help students discover goals for life after high school, make plans to achieve them, and
launch their futures. It’s free for California 6th - 12th grade students, their parents, and educators.

CSS Profile Student Guide

What is Financial Aid and How Do I Get It?

Multiple Children: Financial Aid Links:
US New - Education
How FAFSA Changes for Families with Multiples in College

How Am I Going To Pay For College?
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20 Questions to Ask About Financing College

The IRS Data Retrieval Tool (FAQs)

The IRS Data Retrieval Tool Step-by-Step

20 Things to Know About Financing College

Avoiding College Scholarship Scams

How to Read a Financial Aid Award

What to do When Your Financial Aid Award isn't Enough

Senior Scholarship and Financial Aid Information  
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Check Scholarships on Naviance!

Financial Aid Websites

Links are offered for your convenience in accessing related information, but do not constitute an endorsement. TOHS takes no responsibility for the views, content or accuracy of the information presented by an external source.
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collegeanswer.com
Edvisors Financial Aid
Federal Student Aid
fastweb.com
finaid.org
Hispanic Scholarship Fund

salliemae/financialaidletter.com
simpletuition.com
studentscholarshipsearch.com
WUE for Reduced Tuition

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A Brief Introduction To
Financial Aid

(Senior Scholarship &
Financial Aid Information)
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Financial aid programs provide support for students to help meet the costs of obtaining a college education.  Funding is provided by the federal and state governments, the individual colleges and universities, and a variety of other public and private sources.  Financial aid is split up into two categories:  achievement based aid and need based aid. 

  • Achievement based aid is awarded to students who have a special characteristic, a skill, talent or ability.  Typically achievement based aid is in the form of scholarships.
  • Need based aid is provided to students who demonstrate financial need.  Most financial aid, particularly public funded aid, is awarded on the basis of financial need determined through the application process and in accordance with a prescribed federal formula. 

There are four basics types of financial aid programs available:  grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study.
  1. Grants - federal or state gift assistance with no obligation for work or repayment
  2. Loans - providing funds now, but with a future repayment obligation
  3. Scholarships - gift assistance with no obligation for work or repayment
  4. Work Study - student is offered part-time work while attending the institution
Most often, financial aid comes to you in the form of a package consisting of a combination of the different types of aid available.  The combination of aid offered depends on the availability of funds, your eligibility, the timeliness with which the application process is completed, and your year in school. 

What is Financial Need?  Financial need is determined according to formulas established by the federal government.  Using those formulas, the information supplied on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used to calculate an expected family contribution   This is the amount that the student and family are expected to pay for college costs.  This amount is subtracted from the total cost of attending college, and the difference is financial need. 

Who Should Apply For Financial Aid?  If a student and his/her family need help to pay college expenses, he/she should apply for financial aid.  To be considered for financial aid such as grants, workstudy jobs, and student loans, you must submit the FAFSA.  There is no charge for filing an application.  Even if you think you may not qualify for financial aid, it is a good idea to file the FAFSA anyway.  The application is not long and the potential rewards are great.  All of the information submitted on the application form is confidential and released only to the financial aid office at the campuses the student lists on the form. 

How Can I Get The Most Financial Aid Available?  File the FAFSA as early as possible beginning October 1 and before the March 2 priority filing date, apply for a Cal Grant and submit a verified GPA prior to March 2, and respond promptly to all instructions or requests for additional information from the financial aid office. 

How Do I Apply for Financial Aid?  The U.S. Department of Education's FAFSA website provide for online completion of the student application.  You can access the FAFSA online at Federal Student Aid beginning October 1st each year.  The deadline to apply is March 2nd, so do not delay.  It is recommended that students file online because there are built-in-edits.  It is faster and more efficient. 


**Please use the ".gov" website to fill out the FAFSA form.  If you use a ".com" FAFSA  website, you WILL be charged by a company that is NOT the government program!

Are Grades or GPA Considered in Determining Eligibility for Financial Aid?  While your grades do not play a major role in determining eligibility for financial aid, academic criteria do come into play.  Students must meet the institution's admission criteria that typically include some consideration of grades or other measures of academic achievement or potential.  Financial aid recipients are required to make satisfactory academic progress toward their degree or credential objective.  Institutions establish standards of satisfactory academic progress and monitor the progress of aid recipients.  According to federal regulations, aid recipients must have a C average or a 2.0 GPA at the end of their second year.

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