Apply for Financial Aid (FAFSA)

What you need to do

If there is any chance you might need money for college you should apply for financial aid. It costs nothing to apply.

To apply for federal and state financial aid, you'll need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You'll find it on the Web at www.fafsa.ed.gov and on paper, in both English and Spanish. Many colleges also use the FAFSA to award their own grants and scholarships. The FAFSA asks for information about you, your family, your finances and your college plans. Filing online is the fastest way to file. The online FAFSA also automatically catches common errors before you finish the application.

Note: If you already have a CaliforniaColleges.edu account you can make the FAFSA application process even easier. You can transfer your CaliforniaColleges.edu data to FAFSA on the Web and get a head start on your FAFSA application!

The application period begins on January 1st for the next academic year. For example, if you want money for classes beginning in September 2009, the application period begins on January 1, 2009. You may file a FAFSA from January 1st all the way through the next 18 months. The application period ends in June at the end of the academic year.

For a Cal Grant, you must submit your verified GPA as well as the FAFSA. In addition, a number of other California state aid programs require their own application forms besides the FAFSA.

Are there deadlines? YES! Each college sets a deadline for "priority" filing of the FAFSA. You must file by that date to get a chance at the best money available. Below are some specific dates to keep in mind.

When you need to file

When is the best time to file? As early as possible! File as soon after January 1st as you can. If you decide to attend after January 1st, file as soon as you decide to attend college.

• If you want to be considered for state grants, you should file your FAFSA by March 2nd.

• The University of California and the California State University (all campuses of both systems) use March 2nd as their priority date.

• The independent colleges set varying dates. Some want the FAFSA as early as mid-January or February 1st, so check the priority filing date with every college in which you are interested. Often independent colleges require additional forms, such as the College Board's CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE®, or have their own supplemental forms to determine who receives institutional or private aid dollars. Be sure to check directly with the financial aid office of each college you're considering.

• The California Community Colleges will be able to serve you with better financial aid if you apply early, but applications are encouraged throughout the 18-month cycle. If you plan to attend a California Community College in the fall, you should meet the March 2nd deadline, even though you have a "second-chance" deadline of September 2nd. That's because there are only a limited number of the popular Competitive Cal Grant awards available in the fall. However, completing the FAFSA as soon as you know you will be attending is your best course of action.

• The best advice? File early! Meet the earliest deadline of all the colleges you are considering and then you have met all the deadlines.

See our Financial Aid Checklist

Additional help with the forms

If you need help with the FAFSA, you can call the federal government by phone at 1-800-4FED-AID.

For free hands-on help completing the FAFSA and other financial aid forms attend a California Cash for College workshop near you. Workshops are held across California during the months of January and February of each year, with many locations near you at California community colleges. You may even win an extra $1,000 scholarship offered at each workshop. To find a workshop, visit www.californiacashforcollege.org.

For details on all the California state financial aid programs and how to apply for them visit the California Student Aid Commission. Or call toll free (888) CA-GRANT; that's (888) 224-7268.

You should also contact the college or university you are interested in attending at any time for assistance. They can help you understand how financial aid works and give you advice at any point in the process.