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College of the Desert. You Can Afford College. How do I apply for Financial Aid?. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online: www.fafsa.gov
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College of the Desert You Can Afford College
How do I apply for Financial Aid? Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online: www.fafsa.gov • The FASFA is processed in 3-7 days. You can print your results when you receive them (the Student Aid Report – SAR). • Once the Financial Aid Office receives your information, they will notify you by letter through the regular mail.
Financial Aid Includes: • BOG Enrollment Fee Waiver • Scholarships • Federal Pell Grant • FSEOG Grant • CAL Grant • Federal Work-Study • Federal Stafford Loans
What are the maximum awards for each of these components? BOG Enrollment Fee Waiver - $728 Scholarships - varies Federal Pell Grant - $5,550 FSEOG Grant - $500 CAL Grant B - $1,551 CAL Grant C - $576 Federal Work-Study - $4,000 Loans - $3,500 (1st year UG – subsidized amount)
Who May Qualify for Financial Aid? • Anyone who has unmet financial need • Unmet need is found by taking: Cost of Attendance (COA is $10,809*) • Expected Family Contribution (EFC) = Unmet need [$10,809 – EFC = Unmet need] * For dependent students living at home.
Determining the Cost of Attendance Fees/Health Books & Supplies Food & Housing Misc./Personal Transportation TOTAL Dependent (living @ home) $ 728 $1,620 $4,392 $3,078 $ 963 $10,809 Independent (away from home) $ 728 $1,620 $10,980 $2,817 $1,080 $17,253
Did You Know . . . • Over 50% of full time students receive some form of financial aid. • 1 out of every 2 students who did not apply for financial aid are usually eligible for some type of financial aid. • $1 of unmet need makes you eligible for the BOG Enrollment Fee Waiver.
BOG Enrollment Fee Waiver(Board of Governors Fee Waiver) • Waives all enrollment fees at COD regardless of how many classes in which you enroll. • There are 3 ways to qualify: • Method A – for recipients of TANF/CalWORKs or SSI/SSP or General Assistance (complete the BOG Fee Waiver application and provide appropriate documentation) • Method B – based on family size and family income (complete the BOG Fee Waiver application and provide appropriate documentation) • Method C – based on the EFC number derived from your Student Aid Report (FAFSA results) Many people qualify using Method C!
Scholarships • Available through many sources – both external & internal • COD offers scholarships through an online generic application available in late February/early March • Students must have a 2.5 GPA & meet other requirements • Intro. to Scholarships STDV 062 (class) • Free on-line scholarship searches (for a list of free scholarship search websites, visit the Financial Aid Office’s website and view under “Scholarships”) Scholarship money does not have to be repaid!!!
Federal Pell Grant • Money from the Federal Government that does not have to be paid back. • The amount of the award is based on COA, EFC, enrollment status, and length of enrollment. • Federal Pell Grants target high need students. • Some students do not qualify for the Federal Pell Grant but qualify for other financial aid.
FSEOG Grant(Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant) • Money that does not have to be repaid. • COD receives a specified allocated amount each year. • This money is distributed to students with the highest need ($500 awards) • FSEOG is awarded on a 1st come 1st served basis. Once the funds are gone, they’re gone.
CAL Grant • There are 3 types of CAL Grants: • Cal Grant A: 4-year institutions (do not turn it down - you may place it on “reserve” until you transfer) • Cal Grant B: for high need students • Cal Grant C: vocational programs (i.e., nursing) • Cal Grant application takes - 2 FORMS: • FAFSA • Cal Grant GPA Verification • 1st Application Deadline is March 2 • 2nd Application Deadline is September 2 (for Community College students only)
Federal Work-Study • Students with financial need are provided part-time work. • $8.50 hourly wage rate. • This income does not affect your financial aid eligibility for next year. (i.e., McDonald's versus Work-Study) • Most jobs are on campus (great location) • Work hours are flexible to meet your school schedule needs.
Subsidized Must be repaid Based on financial need Federal Government pays interest on the loan while you are attending school at least 1/2 time (6 units or more) PLUS Loans for Parents Must be repaid Credit is checked Lower interest rate because it is an educational loan Federal Direct Stafford Loan(not recommended for community college students) • Unsubsidized • Must be repaid • NOT based on financial need • Federal Government does NOT pay interest on the loan while you are attending school
Websites recommended by the Financial Aid Office • www.fafsa.gov • www.college.gov • www.finaid.org • www.hsf.net(Hispanic Scholarship Fund) All of these websites are free (there are no fees or charges) and provide a wealth of important information and resources.
DEADLINE dates are important to remember: • March 2 • March 2 • March 2 • March 2 This is the deadline date for the state Cal Grant Program and for the submission of the FAFSA to both the CSU & UC colleges and universities. Transfer students BE AWARE!
What if I miss the March 2nd deadline? • BOG Enrollment Fee Waiver– Application must be completed before the end of the current school year and is retroactive to the beginning of the financial aid award year. • Federal Pell Grant– The FAFSA must be completed and all requested forms returned to the Financial Aid Office before the end of the school year (Spring semester) to ensure eligibility and payment. • 2nd deadline for the Cal Grantis September 2nd for community college students only. This deadline is for the submission of both the FAFSA and the Cal Grant GPA Verification form. For students attending a California Community College:
BEWARE OF SCAMS! DO NOT USE WWW.FAFSA.COM or WWW.EASYFAFSA.COM They charge fees!!! www.fafsa.gov – FREE Financial aid is free. If anyone wants you to pay for financial aid services, you are being taken advantage of and should go to your Financial Aid Office for help! DO NOT PAY FOR FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION, SCHOLARSHIPS, ETC.
College of the Desert Now that you know you can afford college, don’t forget to complete all of the required forms, keep copies of everything you submit to the Financial Aid Office and meet the deadlines! Good Luck!