Apply for FAFSA today!
College students - it’s not too late to file your FAFSA! Although the deadline for the Cal Grant was March 2nd, FAFSA’s deadline is on June 30th.
If you haven’t applied for FAFSA yet, you could still be eligible for federal aid.
What is FAFSA?
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) provides grants, work study, scholarships, and/or (un)subsidized loans to students. Some criteria for FAFSA is that you must demonstrate financial need, be a U.S. citizen (or an eligible noncitizen), and be accepted for enrollment in an eligible degree or certificate program.
What are grants, scholarships, and work study?
A grant is money given to a student based on financial need.
A scholarship is a merit-based award given to students based on their academic achievements, extracurriculars, field of study, and more.
Work study jobs are often college and local jobs. The benefits of work study is that it is easier to find a work study job. Employers are more likely to accept college students because the college will pay a portion of the wages.
What are unsubsidized versus subsidized loans?
Unsubsidized loans are loans that allow a higher loan limit than subsidized loans. The student will have to pay interest throughout college and until the loan is paid off
Subsidized loans are loans where the interest fee is waived while the student is in the college/university and for the 6 months after finishing the degree.
What are the steps to apply for FAFSA?
Complete the FAFSA questions as instructed (including using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, if eligible).
Submit your FAFSA form.
Contact the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend to discuss how your financial situation has changed.
Need help applying for FAFSA, scholarships and other financial aid programs? Apply to the 4S Education Foundation mentorship program for guidance through college applications, essay writing, choosing a major, college financial planning and more!