All seniors who are planning to further their education after high school should complete the FAFSA. The
                FAFSA will help determine the financial aid package (scholarships, grants, loans and/or work study the 
                college you attend will offer you.

Go online to www.pin.ed.gov to register for a PIN.

Go online to www.fafsa.ed.gov to complete the FAFSA. Be sure to proofread and then "submit."

Within 1 to 4 weeks the student will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) which will tell the student how much money her/his family will be expected to pay for college the next school year. This is called the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Whether the student plans to attend a career or technical school, community college, four year private or public university the ELC is the same.

Students should obtain from, complete and return the GPA Information Release Form to the high school registrar before March 2 to be eligible for financial aid from the state of California, called "Cal Grants." Click here to print GPA Information Release Form.

The colleges listed on the student’s FAFSA will be sent this information and the financial aid office at each of those campuses will determine the student’s Financial Need. This is done by the following formula: Cost of attending (COA) that particular campus minus the EFC equals the Financial Need.

Some colleges require an additional Financial Aid Application to be completed by the student. This will be stated in the College Application materials.

If the financial aid office of each campus determines the student is eligible either for need and/or merit based aid, it will prepare a Financial Aid Package which may include all four types: scholarships, grants, work study and/or loans.

All colleges would like to give financial aid to all students who apply but because colleges also have limited funds there may be some "unmet need" for which the student will be responsible. This can be met by summer jobs, non-college sponsored scholarships or additional loans.

Students and parents can decide if they want to accept the financial aid office’s offer, reject it, or accept some part of it. Families may ask to meet with the financial aid office to discuss the package.