I CAN AFFORD COLLEGE

All students and potential students who want help paying for college should apply for financial aid.

Financial aid is available to help students and families cover the costs of your college education. If you want help paying for fees, books and other expenses, you should apply. Even if you aren't sure you'll qualify, you should at least submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA). You never know what you might be eligible for if you don't apply.

Most students are eligible for some form of financial aid, so all students should apply. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) gathers information from all applicants and a federal formula is used to compute a student's eligibility. The California Dream Act Application is a similar process for Undocumented or Dream Act students. Remember, by not applying, you are automatically disqualifying yourself from consideration for awards. Your financial aid eligibility will depend on lots of different factors. These include your family's income and assets, the size of your family household, and the number attending college in your family (excluding parents). Students can be defined as dependent or independent depending upon specific rules. Your dependency status determines whose information you must report on the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application. Even if you aren't eligible for grants, there are other kinds of aid available, including loan programs. To qualify for most financial aid, you also have to meet other basic requirements that don't have anything to do with your financial need. You must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen (FAFSA).

• Be a Dream Act eligible student (CADAA).

• Be registered with Selective Service (if required).

• Be working toward a degree, certificate or eligible goal (such as transfer).

• Not owe a refund on a federal grant or be in default on a federal educational loan.

• Be a high school graduate or have the equivalent of a high school diploma (like a GED or the CHSPE).

• Not have been convicted of drug possession or sales while receiving financial aid (see the FAFSA for more detail).

If you meet these requirements, your family income, assets and other financial factors are reviewed to see if you could be eligible to receive aid. To keep receiving your financial aid while you're in college, you have to continue to make satisfactory academic progress towards your educational objectives. You must also file a FAFSA or California Dream Act Application each year you are in college.