How Do I Apply for Financial Aid?

• A new FAFSA becomes available in January every year.
• ALL students must apply for aid each school year.
• Students should apply during the Spring for the following Fall term.
• Cabrillo's school year begins with the Fall term and ends with the Summer session.
• Complete your FAFSA before March 2nd Priority filing deadline to be considered for Cal Grant, Federal Work-Study and FSEOG. (Click here for how to file)
• To apply for a Cal Grant, students must also file a Cal Grant GPA Verification Form before March 2nd.

After March 2nd

• If you missed the March 2nd priority filing deadline, STILL APPLY! Complete your FAFSA now (Click here for how to file).
  
• If you are attending a Community College and want to apply for a Cal Grant but missed the March 2nd priority deadline, file your FAFSA and the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form by September 2.

Complete a FAFSA online at www.fafsa.gov

• All students applying for financial aid must complete the FAFSA.
• Be sure to list Cabrillo College Federal School Code 001124, in Step 6 of the FAFSA.
• The FAFSA results are sent to you in the form of a Student Aid Report (SAR).
• If you need help filing online you may contact our office or attend a workshop.
• Additional documentation will be requested by the financial aid office once your FAFSA has been received (see Step Two).

See our FAQs page for frequently asked questions on applying. Also, view our additional tips for filing the FAFSA.

All students applying for financial aid must complete a FAFSA each school year.

Once the federal processor receives your FAFSA, an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is determined. The results are mailed to you in the form of a Student Aid Report (SAR). You will receive your SAR (by email if you provided an email address on your FAFSA application) the next business day if you filed online, in about 2-3 weeks if you filed by mail. The EFC is located on the top right corner of the SAR. See our Eligibility page for more information>>

Student Aid Report (SAR)

As soon as you receive your SAR, look it over carefully to make sure your information is correct. Check the following:

• spelling of your name (this should identically match the name on your social security card)
• social security number
• birth date
• income information
• academic level/goal

If no corrections are necessary, keep the SAR for your records. If you need to make corrections, do them online or correct and sign your paper SAR and mail Part Two back to the Federal Processor. If you have questions, call or stop by the Financial Aid Office.

You will be required to submit additional form(s) or documents to complete your file. You will be notified by email which additional documents or form(s) are required. You are also able to view what forms are required through your WebAdvisor account under "My Documents". Keep your email, phone number and mailing address current through WebAdvisor. If you do not receive or respond to correspondence, your financial aid will not be processed.

Authorization To Release Information

Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), we cannot release student financial aid information to anyone other than you, the student. If you wish your information to be released to someone else, you must request and submit an Authorization to Release Info eform. To access this eform, you must have a FAFSA and current application for admission on file with Cabrillo.

Processing Timelines

The Financial Aid Office begins processing applications in April for students who have met the March 2nd priority filing deadline. After you submit all documents required for your financial aid file, it is reviewed and eligibility is determined. Awards are disbursed approximately two to four weeks after your file is reviewed. This process is outlined in the Financial Aid Processing Timelines. Applications are processed on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Award Notification

An Award Letter notification will be emailed to you after we have reviewed your academic progress and your file. For more information on this process read our Eligiblity page.

AWARDS ARE BASED ON FULL-TIME ENROLLMENT. The actual amount received will differ if your enrollment status changes (see chart below).

Note: You must be enrolled in at least 3 units to receive a Pell grant.

You must maintain a current email, phone number and mailing address with the college. You can check/update your address in WebAdvisor. Cabrillo Access Cards are mailed to the address on file.

Federal regulations require that all types of financial aid be coordinated. You must inform the Financial Aid Office if you receive any aid not listed on your award notification such as scholarships, stipends, vocational rehabilitation. A revision to your financial aid award may be necessary.

Disbursements/Enrollment Verification

Amounts on award letters are based on FULL-TIME enrollment (12+ units). Your actual award amount will be less if you are enrolled less than full-time and/or if you owe student charges. You must maintain a current email and mailing address with the college. Awards are posted to your Cabrillo Access Card/Higher One Account or to your checking account depending on the disbursement option you choose with Higher One. See College Bank page for more information on your disbursement options. If you choose not to activate your Higher One account, you will receive a check to your address in WebAdvisor after 21 days.

Undocumented Students (i.e. Dream Act, AB540)

Undocumented students should NOT activate their Cabrillo Access Card/Higher One Account. Instead of the funds being posted to your Cabrillo Access Card/Higher One Account, a check will be mailed after 21 days to your address in WebAdvisor.

Enrollment Verification

• To be paid for a class, you must be enrolled in it by the end of the first two weeks of the term. This includes special studies, short-term, and weekend classes.
• Being on a waitlist does not count as enrolled.
• Students enrolled in less than six units are not paid until after the third week of the term.

Award Disbursements

• Awards are posted to your Cabrillo Access Card/Higher One Account or to your checking account depending on the disbursement option you choose with Higher One. See College Bank page for more information on your disbursement options. Note: Undocumented students see section above.
• 1st Disbursements - dates depend on when you are awarded (see Processing Timelines) AND awards will be based on your actual enrollment status at the time of payment.
  • Spring Disbursements - students who were awarded in the Fall term, are enrolled in 6 or more units for Spring AND have met SAP requirements will receive their aid within the first week of the term.
• No adjustments are made for special studies or units which were added or dropped after the second week of the term.
• 2nd Disbursements - students awarded before the midpoint of a term will be paid in two disbursements.
• Cal Grant and/or SEOG awards are not included in the first disbursement.
• Students awarded after the midpoint of the term will receive one disbursement.
• For Wintersession and Summer terms, no adjustments are made once you have been awarded.

The Federal Government expects students and their families to contribute toward educational expenses. Students are considered dependent and are required to provide parent(s) information on the FAFSA unless:

• You are or will be 24 years old by January 1st of the calendar year; or
• You are married; or
• You have children who receive more than half their support from you; or
• You have dependents (other than your spouse or children) that live with you and receive more than half their support from you; or
• Your parents are deceased or you were a ward of the court since age 13; or
  
• You are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces; or
• You are currently on Active duty with the U.S. Armed Forces; or
• You are enrolled in a masters or doctorate program; or
• You were in foster care since turning age 13
• You are or were an emancipated minor
• You are or were in legal guardianship
• You are homeless or at risk of being homeless

Students who meet one of the above criteria are considered independent and, if married, are also required to provide spouse's information on the FAFSA.

Exceptions

Students with adverse or unusual circumstances may be considered for a dependency status change by filing a Dependency Status Petition with the Financial Aid Office. This may be done after you complete your FAFSA. If you have any questions, please make an appointment with your Financial Aid Advisor.

If you drop units during the add/drop period and this results in a change to your enrollment status, you may owe money. This is especially true if you drop below half-time status.

For example:

You are enrolled in 12 units (full time) at the beginning of the term:

You receive $825 PELL (50% of a full-time award).

If you drop to three-quarters time (9-11.5 units), you would receive $413 for the second-half disbursement (instead of $825) and would not owe an overpayment.

If you drop to half-time (6-8.5 units), you would not receive a second-half disbursement and you would not owe an overpayment.

If you drop to less than half-time (less than 6 units), you will owe all or a portion of what you received.

If you owe an overpayment, you have 45 days to repay the college in full or it may be reported to the Department of Education (DOE). You will not be able to register for classes at Cabrillo until the overpayment has been paid. If reported to the DOE, you will not be able to receive further financial aid from any college.

Recalculation

If you never attend a class and this results in a change of your enrollment status, then your Pell grant award must be recalculated. This will result in you owing part or all of that award money back to the college.

You have 45 days to repay the college in full or it may be reported to the Department of Education (DOE). You will not be able to register for classes at Cabrillo until the overpayment has been paid. If reported to the DOE, you will not be able to receive further financial aid from any college.

Awards will be disbursed through your Cabrillo Access Card and Higher One. Some programs require that the student sign for the receipt of the check. Those checks will be held at the College Bank and you will be notified. See College Bank page for more information on your disbursement options.

Note: Keep your email and mailing address current with the college.

Student Charges

Any student charges for the current term will be deducted from your financial aid and/or scholarship.

Scholarships

If you have been awarded a scholarship, it will be disbursed to you before the start of the term unless enrollment verification is required. Then it will be disbursed within two weeks of the receipt of enrollment verification.

Federal Work-Study Checks

Federal Work-Study checks are disbursed by the College Bank on the 10th of each month based on hours worked the previous month.

Lost Checks/Checks Not Received

If a check you received from the College Bank (i.e. Chafee or Work-Study) is lost, go to the College Bank (Bldg. 100) and initiate a stop payment. Reissued checks can take up to six weeks.

If the check is from Higher One (due to you not activating your Higher One Access account and waiting 21 days) and the check is lost or not received, then the you will have to contact Higher One 1-866-629-4216.

Required Identification

You are required to present one type of valid photo ID (such as a California driver's license or California Identification Card) each time you pick up a check at the College Bank.

College Bank Hours (Bldg. 100)

Monday - Thursday
9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Friday
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.