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Financial Aid Tips for College Students
 
Financial aid can meet 97 to 100% of your college costs. The information below will help you understand the different types of financial aid and your eligibility. Contact the financial aid office at your local college for more information.
 
  • First, complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine the types of financial aid you are eligible to receive. This form is available from the college or university counseling center or financial aid office or on the Web at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov If you complete the FAFSA on the Web, you will receive an answer in about 2 weeks instead of 4 weeks.
  • File a FAFSA each year. If you complete a paper version of the FAFSA, the U.S. Department of Education will send you a Student Aid Report (SAR) within four weeks. The SAR will have either a request for more information or a number called an Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The Department uses a formula established by law to figure your EFC from the information you provide. Your college uses the EFC to determine the amount of your Federal grant, loan, or work-study award, if you are eligible.
  • In order to know how much money you can receive for college, subtract your contribution from the cost of going to college. Visit The College Board website at http://www.collegeboard.com for more information.
  • Some questions to ask a college’s financial aid office are:
    1. Which forms does your school require? FAFSA, a CSS/Financial Aid Profile, others?
    2. What are the deadlines for receiving all financial aid paperwork?
    3. Does the school have any scholarship programs?
  • Not all federal financial aid programs are based on need.

    Federal aid based on need:

      1. Federal Stafford Subsidized Loan
      2. Federal Perkins Loan
      3. Federal Pell or Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grants (U.S. Dept. Education)
      4. Federal Work-Study

    Federal aid not based on need:

      1. Federal Stafford Unsubsidized Loan
      2. Federal PLUS Loans
      3. Consolidation Loans
  • Some requirements for federal student aid are:
    1. Financial need (except for some loan programs)
    2. High school diploma or General Education Development (GED) Certificate
    3. Enrolled or accepted for enrollment Have a valid Social Security Number
    4. Satisfactory grades
    5. U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
    For more information, call the Feral Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-730-8913 on Monday – Friday at 8 AM - 8 PM (Eastern Time)
  • Cal Grants are based on:

      • Cal Grant A : grade point average and financial need
      Cal Grant B: substantial financial need
      Cal Grant C: vocational students needing help with tuition, equipment, training costs
      Cal Grant T (students preparing for the California Teaching Credential): financial need and grade point average; must already have a bachelor's degree

  • Earn tax credits for tuition, books, and supplies related to your education. You might qualify for a Hope tax credit or Lifetime Learning tax credit. For more information on these credits, visit http:www.ed.gov/ or contact the college or university’s financial aid office or Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Developed by the United Health Centers of San Joaquin Valley WIC staff and the CA WIC Branch, June 2001

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