College Financial Aid Basics Workshop

Transcription

1 College Financial Aid Basics Workshop

2 Agenda Major Types of Aid Calculating Financial Need Application Process Special Circumstances

3 What is Financial Aid? Funds provided to students to help pay for postsecondary(college) education expenses. Financial aid includes Grants Scholarship Work study Loans

4 Grants Grants don t have to be repaid and are typically based on financial need College/University Grants (varies by school) Federal Pell Grant, up to $5830* Community College (CC) Board of Governors (BOG) Fee Waiver No enrollment fees at a CC Complete BOG Waiver app on CC website *anticipated 2015/16

5 Cal Grants Pays most of the tuition at UC/CSU and a portion for private and some career technical schools Submit the FAFSA /Dream Act Application by March 2, 2015 Be a U.S. citizen/eligible noncitizen & a CA resident Meet any minimum GPA requirements, SJUSD uploads GPAs to the state in December 2014 Attend a qualifying California college Have financial need based on FAFSA Track your Cal Grant GPA verification, application or award by opening a Web-Grants Student Account at

6 Cal Grant Income & Asset Ceilings

7 Middle-Class Scholarship (MCS) for the UC/CSU systems State scholarship for students with family income under $150,000 on a sliding scale FAFSA /Dream Act applications will be used for eligibility Enrolled at least ½ time in a BA/BS or teacher prep Maximum grant is 40% of tuition, family income under $100,000, amount declines as income reaches $150,000 Award is reduced by any federal, state or institutional grants awarded Entire statewide pool may have awards reduced based upon the demands for the fixed appropriation of funds.

8 Gift Aid - Scholarships Generally private money No standard application Student and parent must find Check with your employer, college, local sources, and the Internet Some are renewable, some not Many go unused

9 Scholarship Search Check Naviance Family Connection on the EC Website to search for scholarships Check with the colleges where you will be applying for scholarships Check organizations that you and/or your parents are members El Camino PTSA and Boosters parent organizations award scholarships Search the Internet

10 Types of loans Federal Stafford loans Subsidized: Interest doesn t accrue while the student is in school. Unsubsidized: Interest accrues while the student is in school. Loan is available regardless of need. Federal Plus Loans-Enable your parents to borrow up to the total cost of your undergraduate study Private or Bank Loans-Often carry higher interest rates and fees than federal loans and are Not based on financial need

11 Calculating Financial Need Cost of Attendance Tuition and Fees Room and Board Books and Supplies Transportation Miscellaneous Cost of Attendance (COA) Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Eligibility for Need-Based Aid Expected Family Contribution EFC measure of the family s financial strength EFC is used to determine the student and parent ability to contribute towards the student s cost of education Need analysis is the consistent formula used in determining a family s EFC

12 Application Process -- FAFSA Apply at Jan. 1-March 2, 2015 Read all the instructions Step by step instructions on line or at FED-AID Attend a Cash for College Workshop for additional help, go to to find a workshop near you. Student name must match SSN name E-sign your FAFSA using your PIN. You can receive a PIN instantly when you complete the FAFSA

13 Application Process Dream Act Students who meet the requirements for AB 540 & AB 2000 complete the Dream Act Application instead of the FAFSA oundocumented ohigh School attendance in CA for 3 or more years, or its equivalency. ocan be considered for a CalGrant, private scholarships & institutional aid oeligible for in state tuition

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15 Profile The PROFILE is required by some private colleges. Requirements and registration at Some colleges may have a supplemental financial aid application for their specific grants or scholarships

16 Notification Student Aid Report (SAR) osent electronically within 3-5 days with valid e- mail address osummarizes FAFSA information E-CAR indicates Cal Grant eligibility osent as early as February 2015 omake sure s don t go to spam account oregister at

17 Special Circumstances Cannot be reported on the FAFSA or the CA Dream Act Application You must contact the college financial aid office (FAO) for procedures Procedures will vary by school School s decision is final and cannot be appealed to the Department of Education

18 Special Circumstances- Examples Change in employment status o Dislocated workers/loss of employment Change in parent marital status Medical expenses not covered by insurance o Elder care expenses Unusual dependent care expenses Student cannot obtain parent information, only the FAO can make a dependent student independent if unusual circumstances exist. Homeless individuals

19 Professional Judgment and Dependency Status The Financial Aid Office has authority to make a dependent student independent if unusual circumstances exist: An abusive family environment Abandonment by parents Inability to locate parents

20 Professional Judgment and Dependency Status Not considered unusual circumstances Parents refuse contribution towards education Parents unwilling to provide information on the application or for verification Parents not claiming the student as a dependent for income tax purposes Student demonstrating total self-sufficiency

21 Top 5 things you MUST do Make a list of every college under consideration Visit the website of each college; read the financial aid office (FAO) information and note deadlines Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at or California Dream Act application at in January DON T WAIT! Go online to to register and confirm your Cal Grant GPA Search and apply for local, state and national scholarships through EC s Naviance program and each college web-site