Financial Aid

The term Financial Aid includes need-based grants, scholarships, work study, student loans, and parent loans. In addition to both federal and state aid, colleges and universities often provide their own institutional aid and scholarships for incoming students. Refer to the financial aid information accompanying each application for specifics and deadlines.

Click for a Junior/ Senior Year Financial Aid Checklist

Upcoming Financial Aid Events

The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) is hosting a variety of virtual, Cash for College workshops that are free and open to anyone. For more information about upcoming workshops, please visit

Cash For College

The FAFSA Process

There are major changes and improvements coming to the 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. This redesigned and streamlined FAFSA form will be available by Dec. 31, 2023.   It’s important for seniors and their parents/guardians to fill it out as soon as possible to meet school and state financial aid deadlines. The priority deadline for the state of California is April 2 for the 2024-2025 FAFSA. Other colleges and universities may have earlier or priority deadlines; it is important to check filing dates for specific colleges. 

Step By Step FASFA Guide

A Better 2024-25 FASFA Form

FAFSA Frequently Asked Questions

 

California Dream Act Application (CADAA)

The California Dream Act allows undocumented and nonresident students (U.S. Citizens and eligible non-citizens) who qualify for a non-resident exemption under Assembly Bill 540 (AB 540) to receive certain types of financial aid such as: private scholarships funded through public universities, state administered financial aid, university grants, community college fee waivers, and Cal Grants. In addition, the California Dream Act, allows eligible students to pay in-state tuition at any public college in California.

 California Dream Act Application

 

What is the difference between the FAFSA and the California Dream Act application?

Students should only complete one of the applications (not both), according to the citizenship requirements below:
1. You are eligible to complete the FAFSA at if you are a:
            -U.S Citizen
            -Permanent Resident
            -Eligible non-citizen
            -T Visa holder

2. You are eligible to complete the CADAA at if you are:
           – Undocumented
           – Have a valid or expired DACA
           – U Visa holders
           – Have Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
          – Meet the non-resident exemption requirements under AB 540 

Cal Grants

The State of California provides aid for students through its Cal Grant program.
To qualify, you must complete the FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application by the deadline and meet the eligibility and financial requirements, as well as any minimum GPA requirements. Cal Grants can be used at any University of California, California State University or California Community College, as well as qualifying independent and career colleges or technical schools in California.
There are three kinds of Cal Grants — A, B and C — but you don’t have to figure out which one to apply for. Your eligibility will be based on your FAFSA or CADAA responses, your verified Cal Grant GPA, the type of California colleges you list on your FAFSA and whether you’re a recent high school graduate. Please note that SUHSD submits the Cal Grant GPAs for all seniors to the California Student Aid Commission. Students do not need to submit a GPA verification form. Your Cal Grant GPA is not your cumulative GPA that you see on your transcript. Click here to learn more about how a Cal Grant GPA is calculated. Are you wondering if your Cal Grant GPA has been received by the Commission? After you have filed a FAFSA or CADAA, you can go on-line and check the status of your Cal Grant application by logging on to WebGrants for Students and creating an account. For more information about Cal Grants, please visit Cal Grant Programs.

 

U.S. Department of Education Net Price Calculator

If you have a specific college in mind, you can get a more accurate estimate of your real cost by using the net price calculator provided on each college’s website. A particular college’s net price calculator uses the financial aid policies of that college to calculate its estimate. Find the net price calculator for your prospective college at this site provided by the US Department of Education:

Net Price Calculator Center 

CSS Profile

The CSS Profile is an additional financial aid application form used by many private colleges and universities in the United States in addition to the FAFSA. It is administered by the College Board. Unlike the FAFSA, which is used primarily for federal financial aid programs, the CSS Profile is used by colleges to determine eligibility for institutional and private financial aid. This includes grants, scholarships, need-based aid, and sometimes merit-based aid offered directly by the college or university.
Find out which colleges require the CSS Profile and get started by visiting.

CSS Profile

Understanding & Comparing Financial Aid Offers

Compare your financial aid offers with this free tool: 

Understanding Your Financial Aid Offers

College Board Opportunity Scholarships

The College Board Opportunity Scholarships guide you through the college planning process and offer you a chance to earn money for college for each action you complete. Complete each action for a chance to earn scholarships.

Enter To Win Scholarship Money

California Veterans Services College Fee Waiver

The College Fee Waiver for Veteran Dependents benefit waives mandatory system-wide tuition and fees at any State of California Community College, California State University, or University of California campus. There are four plans under which dependents of Veterans may be eligible.

Cal Vet