Financial Aid Information

What is the FAFSA? | FAFSA / CADAA - The Sandy Marquez College & Career Center

1) Grants

A grant is a form of financial aid that doesn’t have to be repaid. Think of grants as a gift or free money! Grants can be based on financial need or merit. Please note that if you withdraw from school early, you will likely have to pay back the money.

Federal and state grants are available, including Pell Grants and CAL Grants.

2) Work Study

Does the Federal Work-Study Program Need Reform? | The Higher Education Assistance Group, Inc.

Federal Work-Study provides part-time jobs for college students with financial needs, allowing them to earn money to help pay for education.

Students will apply through FAFSA and then accept it in your financial aid package. From there, you will apply to on-campus jobs. If you want to learn more about Work Study, click here!

3) Student Loans

A loan is money you borrow and must pay back with interest. If you apply for financial aid, you may be offered loans as part of your school’s financial aid offer. When you receive a student loan, you are borrowing money to attend a college or career school. You must repay the loan as well as interest that accrues. It is important to understand your repayment options so you can successfully repay your loan. Two types of loans are offered to students: subsidized and unsubsidized.

Check on this website or the chart below to understand loans.

4) Scholarships

Many nonprofit and private organizations offer scholarships to help students pay for college or trade school. Scholarships are free money, but you have to search and apply for them. It can be based on academic merit, talent, a particular area of study, or anything else. It can make a real difference in helping you manage your education expenses.

Be aware that a scholarship should never ask for your social security number or require you to pay to access it. Those are scams! When in doubt, ask Mrs. Flores for support.

Top 10 Myths About Scholarships | National Society of High School Scholars

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Applying for Financial Aid

Now that you know the types of financial aid, you will need to apply for it during your senior year of high school and every year while in college.

There are two financial aid applications, the FAFSA and the CADAA. See below to see which one you would qualify for.

FAFSA - Federal aid	CA Dream Act Application (CADAA)
Only US citizens & permanent residents are eligible to complete this application. You will need the following to apply for financial aid Full name Address Social Security Number Tax Documents	Only undocumented students who qualify under AB540 are eligible to complete this application. AB 540 requires three years of coursework and three years of total attendance at California elementary, middle, or high schools. You will need the following to apply for financial aid Full Name Address Tax Documents (If applicable)