Transcript Slide 1

Funding Your Future
Financial Aid
Overview
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
STEPS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
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.
Common Federal Programs




Pell Grant
Federal
Supplemental
Opportunity Grant
Federal Work Study
Teach Grant
Federal Loans
-Subsidized
-Unsubsidized
 PLUS- Parent Loan

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

Application & Processing
www.fafsa.gov
© 2014 CASFAA
2015-2016 Application Processing
Personal Identification Number (PIN)
Access the PIN Website
www.pin.ed.gov
Why use a PIN?
• Sign FAFSA
electronically
• Access your FSA
records online
• Make corrections
Who can apply?
• Students
• Parents
© 2014 CASFAA
FSA ID to Replace FSA PIN!
What this means:





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)
© 2014 CASFAA
Where to use an FSA ID:





FAFSA on the Web
NSLDS Student Access
StudentLoans.gov
StudentAid.gov
TEACH Grant website
Cal Dream Act Application
http://www.csac.ca.gov/dream_act.asp
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 information
Relationship 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
NO
NO
Grandparents, brothers, sisters, uncles, or aunts*
© 2014
CASFAA
“Parent”
means biological/adoptive parent – gender of biological or adoptive parents is not relevant.
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
1
X
2
Y
3
Cost of
Attendance
(Variable)
Z
EFC
EFC
Expected Family
Contribution
Need
(Constant)
(Variable)
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 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
College Navigator Tool
CollegeNavigator.gov
© 2014 CASFAA
College Scorecard
collegecost.ed.gov
© 2014 CASFAA
© 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
StudentAid.gov
© 2014 CASFAA
Twitter.com/FAFSA
© 2014 CASFAA
Facebook
© 2014 CASFAA
Net Price Calculator
© 2014 CASFAA
Questions?
Cuesta College
www.cuesta.edu
805-546-3143