Financial Aid & Scholarships

FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.  If you want financial aid from a college/university you must submit a FAFSA. The only way to qualify for a Cal Grant is by submitting your FAFSA. 

The application is free.

Types of Federal Student Aid

The Federal Student Aid Estimator is a free financial aid calculator that gives you an early estimate of your eligibility for federal student aid This information helps families plan ahead for college, but to actually get financial aid, you have to fill out and submit the formal FAFSA.

The Federal Student Aid website walks you through the process of filling out the form. It is a relatively easy process and typically takes a few hours to complete. 

Other helpful resources include:

How to Fill Out Your FAFSA Video

Federal Aid Form Explanation

The CSS Profile  is often required for students who are applying to private colleges and would like aid beyond what's offered by the federal government via the FAFSA.  You have to fill out the CSS Profile if you want to apply for scholarships from the private colleges to which you are applying. International Students might need to fill out the CSS Profile depending on the schools they are appying to. 

The CSS Profile is free for families who make up to $100,000 and $25 for those who make more than that.  Fee waivers are available through the Collegeboard.   If you qualified for a fee waiver for the SAT or ACT,  you will be able to get a Fee Waiver for the CSS Profile.

The CSS Profile website walks you through the process. It is somewhat more involved than the FAFSA application, but there is plenty of help available on the site itself.

The CSS Profile asks for two years of financial information. It is helpful to gather the information below before filling out the application:

• Your parents' prior year federal income tax return(s)
• W-2 forms and other records of money earned the last two years
• Records of untaxed income and benefits for the last two years
• Current bank statements
• Current mortgage information
• Records of savings, stocks, bonds, trusts, and other investments
• Your noncustodial parent's email address, if applicable.

If a tax return was not filed: Even if you did not file an income tax return for 2015, it will be necessary to report any earnings for the year. Also, records documenting the income reported on the PROFILE will very likely be needed by your colleges and programs.