California Community Colleges Paying for School

PAYING FOR SCHOOL

You can afford college at a California community college. There are several ways to get financial

assistance if you need it, including federal financial aid, fee waivers, loans, grants, and scholarships.

Veterans are eligible for special programs to help pay for school

STUDENT FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM (SFAP)

The Student Financial Assistance Programs Unit provides coordination, technical assistance and

policy leadership for the California Community Colleges with respect to locally administered federal,

state and institutional financial aid programs. These programs totaled more than $2.8 billion and

served over 1 million students in 2012/13. In addition, the unit administers the Board Financial

Assistance Programs - Student Financial Aid Administration (BFAP/SFAA), the California College

Promise Grant (formerly known as the Board of Governors' Fee Waiver Program) the Chancellor's

Office Tax Offset Program (COTOP) and the Real Estate Scholarship Program.

WHERE CAN I GET AID?

You can explore your options before applying for assistance at three popular websites for financial

aid information below. You can also contact the financial aid office of the college you wish to

attend for more information. When you've seen enough to get started, go ahead and apply for the

two most popular forms of financial assistance below, the FAFSA and the California College Promise

Grant (formerly known as the BOG Fee Waiver).

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Brought to you by the California Community Colleges.

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is the national student aid website, which also offers a list of online resources in

Spanish.

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CaliforniaColleges.edu provides financial information for all colleges in California.

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Contact a California community college directly. The college you want to attend may have

additional aid available, and can help you find the financial aid available to you.

HOW DO I APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID?

Everyone interested in getting financial assistance to attend a California community college should

look at submitting applications for FAFSA and the California College Promise Grant (formerly known

as the BOG Fee Waiver). The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) makes available

several types of loans and grants from the federal government, while the California College Promise

Grant (formerly known as the BOG Fee Waiver) can waive enrollment fees for qualified students.

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Are you eligible for federal financial aid? Learn the eligibility requirements.

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Financial aid applications can seem overwhelming, but there are tools and information to

help you get organized.

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Ready to start your applications? Apply for the California College Promise Grant (formerly

known as the BOG Fee Waiver) and complete a FAFSA application.

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If you want to get help right now, or even if you just want to ask a question, use

the financial aid office locator to find contact information for the financial aid offices closest

to you.

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What can you expect after you¡¯ve filed for financial aid? Find out what¡¯s next.

These are just the two most common forms of assistance; there may be more options at the

college of your choice. You can apply for financial assistance either before applying for admission

to college or after... but the sooner, the better.

Important! You should always apply for financial aid, but this doesn¡¯t mean you should always take

out a loan. It¡¯s important for you to make responsible decisions when paying for college, and this

means utilizing as many grants and other benefits as possible to avoid using your GI funds too

early. It¡¯s easy to spend a lot of time in community college, and you could end up with a shortfall

of funds toward the end of your degree program.

CALIFORNIA COLLEGE PROMISE GRANT (FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE BOG

FEE WAIVER)

Veterans and members of the National Guard are strongly encouraged to apply for the California

College Promise Grant. Members of these groups are qualified for this benefit while attending

community college.

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For eligible California residents, the California Community Colleges Promise Grant permits

enrollment fees to be waived. (Assistance for the purchase of books and supplies must be

applied for separately.)

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Many California community colleges offer online California College Promise Grant (formerly

known as the BOG Fee Waiver) applications through CCCApply.

When you use these financial aid online applications, the data you've entered in CCCApply will be

transferred automatically, making your financial aid application much easier and faster. In addition,

the form for applying for the California College Promise Grant (formerly known as the BOG Fee

Waiver) is available via PDF from the website.

College Fee Waiver Program for Veteran Dependents

The College Fee Waiver Program for Veteran Dependents is intended to help dependents afford to

pay for college. This provision is available to dependents whose veteran spouse, living or deceased,

meets eligibility requirements as determined by CalVet. Residency in the state is a key requirement.

The veteran must also have a 100% service-connected disability and served during wartime. Other

criteria may be necessary. This waiver applies to UCs, State schools, Maritime academies, and

community colleges.

CAL GRANT PROGRAMS

A Cal Grant is money for college you don¡¯t have to pay back. To qualify, you must apply for the

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) by

the deadline and meet the eligibility and financial requirements as well as any minimum GPA

requirements. Cal Grants can be used at any University of California, California State University or

California Community College, as well as qualifying independent and career colleges or technical

schools in California.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Cal Grants are for students who are pursuing an undergraduate degree or vocational or

career training, and do not have to be repaid. In addition to meeting the financial criteria

and Cal Grant requirements, you must:

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Submit the FAFSA or CADAA application and your verified Cal Grant GPA by the deadline

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Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen or meet AB540 eligibility criteria

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Be a California resident for 1 year

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Attend a qualifying California college

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Not have a bachelor¡¯s or professional degree

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Have financial need at the college of your choice

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Have family income and assets below the minimum levels

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Be enrolled or plan to enroll in a program leading to an undergraduate degree or certificate

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Be enrolled or plan to enroll at least half time

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Have registered with the U.S. Selective Service, if required to do so

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Not owe a refund on any state or federal grant or be in default on a student loan

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Not be incarcerated

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Maintain the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards as established by the school.

Recipients who do not meet the standards are ineligible for Cal Grant payment and will not

use eligibility during the terms they are ineligible for payment.

REASONS TO ATTEND A COMMUNITY COLLEGE

There are lots of reasons to begin, continue, or complete your college education at a California

community college. Here are some that may apply to you.

INCREASE YOUR EARNING POWER

College graduates make more money on average than high school graduates. In fact, many

employers now hire only college graduates, even for entry-level positions. But that doesn't mean

you need four years at a major university. Even if you plan to get a bachelor's degree, starting out

at a community college may be your best choice.

Salary Surfer displays median annual incomes for those who complete 179 of the most widely

enrolled program areas and do not transfer to a four-year institution. The data show the median

earnings for community college graduates two years prior to earning the award, then two years

and five years after earning either a certificate or degree.

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An analysis of the data contained on Salary Surfer shows that students who complete an associate

degree more than double their annual pre-degree earnings after two years in the workforce and

nearly triple their pre-degree earnings after five years in the workforce.

Among veterans specifically, the higher the education, the less likely you are to be unemployed.

And employed veterans earn more than civilians, on average.

SPEND A LOT LESS

Everyone knows that costs at four-year colleges are high and going higher. On the other hand,

California Community Colleges have the lowest fees in the nation. Even if you can afford the cost of

a four-year college, you've probably got other things you could spend that money on.

TAKE THE MOST DIRECT ROUTE TO THE JOB YOU WANT

Spending four years getting a bachelor's degree may not be the route you want to take. Maybe

you want to be a chef, a medical or dental assistant, or work in law enforcement. California

Community Colleges offer lots of programs that can have you job-ready within two years or less.

CHART YOUR EDUCATIONAL FUTURE

Some students enter college knowing exactly what they want to study, but many do not. If you're

not sure about the educational path you want to follow, community colleges can help with career

advisement and help you develop an education plan to assist you in reaching your goals on time.

Community colleges offer a variety of courses to fulfill your General Education requirements.

Courses you take during this time may expose you to a career or education path you had not

considered. It¡¯s important to meet with counselors early. Their expertise, knowledge of programs at

other schools, and experience plotting out a path to degree can help you stay focused.

EXPERIENCE A DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT

Even if your goal is a bachelor's degree, there are often good reasons for not spending four years

at the same college. By first attending community college and then completing your degree at a

four-year college, you'll have two college experiences instead of one. Your education will be

broadened and enriched by two different student bodies, two different campuses, perhaps two

different geographic regions¡ªall of which will help prepare you for what comes after college.

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