Why should I apply for financial aid?

Financial aid is made available to assist students and families in meeting the costs of a post-secondary education. If you believe you will need assistance in meeting those costs, you should apply for financial aid. You can apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov

How do I apply for financial aid?

To apply for financial aid, you must complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) electronically at www.fafsa.gov. After submitting your FAFSA, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR), which will list all of the information you put on the FAFSA and will be forwarded to the colleges you have added to the school selection. Once your home college at PCCD receives the information and verify that you qualify for financial aid, you can view your award package through the View Financial Aid link in your Passport account. If your FAFSA has been selected for verification, the documents needed to complete your financial aid file will be listed under your To Do List in your Passport account.

Do I need to be admitted before I can apply for financial aid?

No. You can apply for financial aid any time after January 1 of each academic year. However, to qualify and receive funds, you must be admitted and enrolled first.

Do I have to reapply for financial aid every year?

Yes. You need to apply for financial aid every year.

If I am not a U.S. Citizen, am I still eligible to apply for Financial Aid?

To be eligible for both federal and state aid, a student must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen. For financial aid purpose, an eligible noncitizen is one of the following:

• a U.S. permanent resident who has an Alien Registration Receipt Card (I-551)
• a conditional permanent resident (I-551C); or
• a noncitizen with an Arrival-Departure record (I-94) from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services with one of the following designations—“Refugee,” “Asylum Granted,” “Parole,” or “Cuban-Haitian Entrant.”

Students who are residing in the United States with an F-1 or F-2 student visa or a G series visa are not eligible for federal or state financial aid.

I probably don’t qualify for aid because of family finances. Should I submit a FAFSA anyway?

Yes. Even though you think you may not qualify for aid, you should at least complete the FAFSA. The application is free and the college uses it to assess your eligibility. You can apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov

If I don’t qualify for need-based aid, what options are available?

If you are not eligible for need-based financial aid, many options are still available. One option is to look for merit-based scholarships, which consider academic or other talents.

My friend got more grants than I did. Why?

A student’s eligibility for financial aid is based on various factors, including the size of your family, how many members of the family are in college, how close your parents are to retirement, and, of course, family resources (income and assets). Even though your family’s circumstances may appear to be very similar to your friend’s, there may be substantial differences in the components used to calculate financial aid eligibility. One of the most common differences is meeting deadlines. Missing a deadline could substantially impact the amount of grant aid for which you may be eligible.

How do I get financial aid?

To receive financial aid you must apply for it. The biggest mistake students make is not to apply because they don’t think they’ll qualify. To apply for federal, state and college financial aid programs, you need to complete the FAFSA and for the Cal Grant program, you must submit a GPA verification form by September 2 or March 2. You may also be requested to submit additional documents such as tax returns to complete your financial aid file. Please respond immediately to all requests made by the financial aid office.

When are the grants disbursed?

The grants will be disbursed to your Higher One account three times a semester. Specific dates are updated on the school website. If your financial aid is processed after these dates, your disbursements are distributed on a weekly basis throughout the semester.

When will I get paid for a late start class?

You will get paid after your class has started.

Is there a limit to how much financial aid I can receive?

Yes. Effective with the 2012-2013 award year, the duration of a student’s eligibility to receive a Federal Pell Grant is 12 full-time semesters (or its equivalent). The calculation of the duration of a student’s eligibility will include all years of the student’s receipt of Federal Pell Grant funding. Once a student has received a Federal Pell Grant for 12 full-time semesters (or its equivalent) the student will no longer be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant for future semesters. Direct Loan Recipients are subject to the aggregate borrowing limit set by the US Department of Education. To check your remaining Federal Pell Grant and loan eligibility, log into your account at https://www.nsldsfap.ed.gov/nslds_FAP/.

If you are a Cal Grant recipient, the duration of a student’s eligibility to receive a Cal Grant Grant is 8 full-time semesters (or its equivalent). To check your remaining Cal Grant eligibility, log into your account at http://www.csac.ca.gov/.

Do I receive financial aid if I’m on probation (“Warning”) SAP status?

A student may continue to receive financial aid while on “Warning.” However there are specific steps you must follow in order to remove the Warning status and successfully complete a program of study within a timeframe of 150% of the program (e.g., 90 semester units attempted for a two year program). For more information, refer to the SAP policy available at http://web.peralta.edu/financial-aid/sample-page/sap/.

Why do I have to file an appeal?

You may not have met the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and are on financial aid dismissal because of one or more of the following reasons:

• Cumulative grade point average is below 2.0
• Completed less than 66.6% of the attempted units of each semester
• and have completed/ attempted over 90 units (150% of the publicized program’s required units at PCCD).

For more information, refer to the SAP policy available at http://web.peralta.edu/financial-aid/sample-page/sap/.

What are the steps to appeal?

You will receive a Financial Aid Appeal form which will present instructions as follows:

• Complete the appeal form.
• See a Peralta counselor to update your Student Educational Plan (SEP).
• Write out a personal statement explaining the circumstances that caused your dismissal (topics to address are stated on the appeal form).

With the completed appeal form and personal statement, attach an updated SEP and unofficial transcript (include current courses), as well as, any documentation that can support your personal statement (examples are stated on the appeal form).

What does it mean when I see Major Mismatch or Financial Aid Ineligible Major on my To Do List?

Major Mismatch or Financial Aid Ineligible Major occurs when your home college does not offer your selected major. Your home college is the college at which you intend to complete your program of study/educational goal and where you receive financial aid. The first Peralta College you list on your FAFSA application’s school selection page will be considered your home college. To clear this:

Keep your home college and change your major:

• Complete and submit the Major Update Form with a valid/eligible major to your home college’s financial aid office.
• After submitting to Financial Aid, Admissions and Records will update your major.

Or keep your intended major and change your home college:

• Make sure the college where your major is acceptable is listed on your FAFSA application. If not, visit FAFSA.ed.gov to add the school code. (School codes: Alameda – 006720, Berkeley – 014311, Laney- 001266, Merrit-001267)
• If the college where your major is acceptable is not the first Peralta College listed, the financial aid office will update and clear the Major Mismatch or Financial Aid Ineligible Major.

What does it mean when I see Selective Service on my To Do List?

Selective Service occurs when our records indicate you have not registered for selective service. To be eligible for federal and state aid, male U.S. citizens and permanent residents, age 18-25, are required to register for selective service. To clear this indicator on your To Do List, you can either register online through FAFSA or the selective service website at https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration.

Do I need to complete my income tax return before I complete the FAFSA?

While it is recommended that you complete your tax return prior to filling out your FAFSA, it is not essential. You can fill out the FAFSA using estimated information from your W-2. Any large discrepancies between your FAFSA and your tax return may have a large impact on any preliminary financial aid award you receive.

I filled out the FAFSA, how do I find out the results?

You can fill out and submit your application through FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. After submitting your FAFSA, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). The SAR will list all of the information you put on the FAFSA This information also is forwarded to the colleges you indicated to receive copies of the information. Once the colleges receive the information and verify it with any additional documents you submitted at their request, they will notify of your aid eligibility or send you a letter requesting additional information.

I completed the FAFSA over a month ago, but I haven’t received anything back. What should I do?

If you haven’t received a Student Aid Report, you can call the federal processor at 1-800-433-3243. You will need to provide your Social Security number and date of birth as verification.

When am I considered an independent student?

In order to be considered as an independent student for financial aid, you must meet at least one of the following six criteria:

• Be over 24;
• Be a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces;
• Be enrolled in a graduate or professional degree program;
• Be married;
• Have legal dependents other than a spouse;
• Be an orphan or ward of the court, or have been a ward of the court until age 18.

I don’t meet any of the criteria for an independent student, but my parents don’t support me. What can I do?

If you don’t meet one of the federal criteria to be an independent student, you will have to supply your parents’ information on the financial aid application. If extenuating family circumstances prevent you from supplying your parents’ information, contact the financial aid office to discuss your situation.

My parents are separated or divorced. Which parent is responsible for filling out the FAFSA?

If your parents are separated or divorced, the custodial parent is responsible for filling out the FAFSA. The custodial parent is the parent with whom you lived the most during the past 12 months. Note that this is not necessarily the same as the parent who has legal custody. If you did not live with one parent more than the other, the parent who provided you with the most financial support should fill out the FAFSA. This is probably the parent who claimed you as a dependent on their tax return. If you have not received any support from either parent during the past 12 months, use the most recent calendar year for which you received some support from a parent or lived with either parent. Note, however, that any child support and/or alimony received from the non-custodial parent must be included on the FAFSA.

My custodial parent remarried and signed a prenuptial agreement that absolves the step-parent from financial responsibility for my education. Why does my step-parent have to provide financial information on the FAFSA?

Prenuptial agreements are ignored by the federal need analysis process. After all, two individuals (parent and step-parent) cannot make an agreement between them that is binding on a third party (federal government). The federal government considers the step-parent a source of support regardless of any prenuptial agreements to the contrary. If a step-parent marries the parent, he or she is considered responsible for supporting the parent and children even if he or she is unwilling to do so.

I completed my FAFSA, Is there a separate step for the CCPG (formerly known as the BOGG) fee waiver?

Completing the FAFSA application will determine whether you qualify for the federal and state aid, including the CCPG fee waiver. Even if you do not qualify for grants, qualifying for the CCPG fee waiver will also be determined. If you did not apply for FAFSA, you will need to fill out the paper CCPG fee waiver application and submit it to the financial aid office along with proof of income.

Has my class fees been waived?

You can check your Passport account to view your outstanding fees. It may take a week for your CCPG fee waiver to process after your FAFSA has been processed by the Federal processor. Once the waiver is applied to your class fees, you will still have to pay for other mandatory student fees.

Does financial aid cover the student fees?

No. Financial aid does not cover mandatory student fees. However, if you receive financial aid disbursement, a portion from the total awarded amount will be deducted to clear any mandatory student fees on your account. The remaining award is disbursed to you through BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution, powered by BMTX, Inc.

I received a scholarship. Do I have to report it to my financial aid office? How?

Yes, you do need to report it to the financial aid office. You can contact the financial aid office in writing that you have received a scholarship. Make sure that you include the name of the scholarship and the amount, your name and student ID number or last four digits of your social security number on your correspondence.

I will be receiving a scholarship from my high school. How will this scholarship be treated in my financial aid award?

Federal regulations require that all financial aid assistance you receive be taken into consideration when awarding aid. This means that outside scholarships must be used to meet your financial need. The college will use any outside scholarships you are awarded to replace an equal amount of loan or work-study funds you would have otherwise received before they reduce your grant aid.

What do I do once I take out a student loan?

Before taking out your first loan, you must complete an entrance counseling session and master promissory note online that explains your rights and responsibilities as a borrower. We suggest you complete the “Financial Awareness Counseling” session to provide you with critical information to manage your financial resources and the impact a student loan will have on your future. Once you take out a loan, it is important that you keep the loan servicer and your college informed of any changes in your address or enrollment plans. Before you leave college (including withdrawing, transferring or graduating), you must complete an exit counseling session online which will cover your payment obligations and the number of options available to you as a borrower. If at any time you have questions regarding the repayment of your loans, contact your loan servicer.

I was offered a loan, but I’m sure I should take it; how do I decide?

Because of limited gift aid available, students are usually offered one or more educational loans. Although loans are helpful in meeting the cost of education, they must be repaid with interest. Therefore, carefully consider the amount you are borrowing. Remember, the amount you borrow this year will be added to other loans you have or will be taking out in the future. You may want to look at your budget and see if there are ways you can minimize your borrowing. Also, consider the differences in loans, such as the interest rate, when the rate is assessed, the amount you’ll be borrowing and repayment options.

Can my parents and I both apply for loans?

Yes. Loans are available for both parents and students. Parents may borrow for their undergraduate students through the PLUS loan program. However, the total amount borrowed (by both you and your parents), cannot exceed the cost of your education. Lenders use credit reports and other evaluations to determine parents’ eligibility.

What happens if I have academic or other problems and have to drop classes or drop out of college entirely?

If you have to drop a class it may affect your eligibility for financial aid for the current term or future terms. Review the information on your college’s enrollment requirements and satisfactory academic progress standards and check with the financial aid office to ensure you aren’t jeopardizing your financial aid eligibility. If you have to drop out or withdraw from college, you may be expected to repay a portion of the financial aid that was disbursed for that term. If you withdraw, some of the funds paid to the college for your fees, tuition, or other charges may be refundable. If you received financial aid, refunds must first be returned to the financial aid programs according to federal regulations and other program guidelines. Check with the college about procedures for withdrawing or taking a leave of absence and be sure to consult with the financial aid office about refunds, repayments of financial aid funds, and your future eligibility to enroll and receive financial aid funds.

If I register for classes and take the financial aid but don’t attend classes, what happens?

Your eligibility for financial aid is based on your enrollment and making satisfactory academic progress towards degree or certificate. If you don’t attend classes, you probably will not receive a passing grade. Failure to complete coursework or document an effort to do so (e.g., participating in classes or completing assignments and exams) can result in the determination that you were not in fact enrolled and therefore not entitled to receive financial aid. All financial aid would need to be returned and you might be subject to charges for fees, tuition, and other amounts due the college. Besides facing these financial obligations, your academic records and ability to return to the college could be adversely impacted.

I want to change colleges; what is the process of transferring my records?

The first step is to have the intended college selected on your FAFSA applications. If the intended college is under the Peralta Community College District (PCCD), change your major to the one listed under that college and inform the other PCCD college to start transferring your records to the home college. If the college is not under the Peralta Community College District, you would need to add the intended college on your FAFSA and contact that intended college for further steps.

I’ve thought about financial aid before, but I don’t want to have a big debt hanging over my head when I leave college. Can I get financial aid now that I don’t have to pay back later?

Most financial aid is money that doesn’t have to be repaid. Grants, part-time employment, and scholarships make up a large portion of annual aid received by students at most colleges or universities. If you apply early, chances are that a significant amount of your financial need can be met with aid that doesn’t have to be repaid.

I’ve been out of school a long time. I’m not ready to be a full-time student, but I still need help with college costs. Is there any aid for me?

You don’t have to be a full-time student to receive financial aid. At California community colleges, there is no unit requirement for enrollment fee waivers through the Board of Governor Fee Waiver Program. To receive assistance from the state and federal programs, the minimum required units is dependent on your Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

I am not a high school graduate. Can I still get financial aid?

Students without high school diplomas and are 18 years old can qualify for financial aid if they have a GED or other high school proficiency certificate.

I’ve heard about waivers for the enrollment fee at California community colleges, but I’m not on public assistance. Even so, I won’t be able to afford the per unit cost. What can I do?

If you qualify for the Pell Grant, you also qualify for the fee waiver so long as you are a California resident.

I am not a California resident, but I am a resident of another state. Can I still receive financial aid at a California community college?

You may qualify for Federal Student Aid programs (i.e., Pell Grant, SEOG, Work Study, etc.).

Do I have to reapply for financial aid every year?

Yes. You need to apply for financial aid every year.

Are my parents responsible for my educational loans?

No. Parents are, however, responsible for the Federal PLUS loans. Parents will only be responsible for your educational loans if you are under 18 and they co-sign your loan. In general, you and you alone are responsible for repaying your educational loans.

If I take a leave of absence, do I have to start repaying my loans?

Not immediately. The subsidized Stafford loan has a grace period of 6 months before the student must begin repaying the loan. When you take a leave of absence you will not have to repay your loan until the grace period is used up. If you use up the grace period, however, when you graduate you will have to begin repaying your loan immediately. It is possible to request an extension to the grace period, but this must be done before the grace period is used up. If your grace period has run out in the middle of your leave of absence, you will have to start making payments on your student loans.

What is the California Dream Act?

Students who qualify for the AB540 nonresident tuition exemption may be eligible for state aid, which includes the Cal Grant, Chafee Grant and CCPG fee waiver. To determine your financial aid eligibility, you can apply for the California Student Aid Commission California Dream Act Application at dream.csac.ca.gov. This application is available after January 1 of each academic year.

Are work-study earnings taxable?

The money you earn from Federal Work-Study is generally subject to federal and state income tax, but exempt from FICA taxes. Federal Work-Study earnings during the calendar year should be included in the totals for AGI, income earned from work, and the totals from Worksheet #3 on the FAFSA Work-study earnings should only be included in Worksheet #3 when they represent financial aid to the student, since the answer to this question is used as an exclusion from taxed income. The student should also be careful to report amounts based on the calendar year, not the school year.