Funding Your Future Financial Aid Overview
Dec 22, 2015
Topics
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
What is financial aid?
Financial aid are funds provided to students and families to help pay for postsecondary educational expenses
Sources of Financial Aid
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
1. Submit your Cuesta College admissions application
2. Submit your Promise scholarship application
3. Apply for FAFSA or the Dream Act
4. Complete the Cuesta College assessment process
5. Complete the Cuesta College online orientation
6. Register for your classes
The Promise is yours! Check your email for announcements and updates.
STEPS
Common Federal Programs
Federal Loans
-Subsidized
-Unsubsidized PLUS- Parent
Loan
Pell Grant Federal
Supplemental Opportunity Grant
Federal Work Study
Teach Grant
Limitations 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
Common CA State Programs
Board of Governors Fee Waiver Cal-Grants Chafee Grant University Grants Middle Class Scholarship for UC & CSU AB 540 BOGW & Cal Grants
Board of Governors Fee Waiver
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
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
Chafee
Available for foster-youth in the Independent Living Program (ILP)
Must complete an online application
Limited funds
University Grants
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
California State Programs
Residency requirements Aid awarded on the basis of both GPA
and financial need Must complete the FAFSA or Cal
Dream Act application Deadline March 2nd each year
AB540
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
Scholarships
Awarded on the basis of skills, GPA or unique characteristic
Free money Foundations, high schools,
businesses, charitable organizations, employers, unions
Deadlines vary
Why use a PIN?• Sign FAFSA
electronically• Access your FSA
records online• Make corrections
Who can apply?• Students• Parents
2015-2016 Application Processing
Personal Identification Number (PIN)
Access the PIN Website
www.pin.ed.govwww.pin.ed.gov
© 2014 CASFAA
FSA ID to Replace FSA PIN!
What this means: Where to use an FSA ID:
New login process User-selected username User-selected password Replaces the FSA PIN Eliminates need to supply
SSN and date of birth for login
Available in Spring 2015(after March 2nd)
FAFSA on the Web NSLDS Student Access StudentLoans.gov StudentAid.gov TEACH Grant website
© 2014 CASFAA
Cal Dream Act Application
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
Whose info goes on a FAFSA/CA Dream Act application?
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 informationRelationship of Student to Parent Includes both parents’ incomes
on the app?Only includes one parent’s income on the app?
Parents married, living together YES NO
Parents not married, living together YES NO
Parent is widowed, not remarried NO YES
Parents are divorced or separated, not living together NO 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)
Parent and step-parent, living together YES NO
Legal guardians* NO NO
Foster Parents* NO NO
Grandparents, brothers, sisters, uncles, or aunts* NO NO
“Parent” means biological/adoptive parent – gender of biological or adoptive parents is not relevant.*Students living with legal guardians, foster parents, or relatives are usually considered to be independent students, unless adopted.
© 2014 CASFAA
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
When & Where to apply for 2015-16?
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 1st
Colleges may set their own deadlines
Frequent Application Delays
Transposed Social Security Numbers Marital status Income information Taxes paid Household size Number in college Asset information missing Missing student/parent signatures
What happens next?
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
Need Varies Based on Cost
X
Y
Z
Cost of Expected Family NeedAttendance Contribution (Va ria b le ) (Va ria b le ) (Co ns ta n t)
1
2
3
EFC EFC
How can I help as a parent?
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!
Where can I get help?
Cash for College Workshop:
February 10th Cuesta SLO Campus
(from 5pm to 8pm at Bldg. 3400)
FAFSA, Cal Dream Act, Cuesta Scholarship Application
Special Circumstances
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
Electronic Payments
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
Consumer Information
College Navigatorhttp://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
College Scorecardhttp://scorecard.cccco.edu/scorecardrates.aspx?CollegeID=641
Shopping Sheet Your student portal
StudentAid.govhttps://studentaid.ed.gov/
FSA Social Mediahttp://www.financialaidtoolkit.ed.gov/tk/outreach/social-media.jsp
Net Price Calculator http://www.cuesta.edu/student/aboutmoney/finaid/resources/Net_Price_Calculator.html
© 2014 CASFAA
Shopping Sheet
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