Financial Aid
Yes! You CAN afford college at a California community college. There are several ways to get financial assistance if you need it, including federal financial aid, fee waivers, loans, grants, and scholarships.
Where Can I Get Aid?
You can explore your options before applying for assistance at three popular websites for financial aid information below. You can also contact the financial aid office of the college you wish to attend for more information. When you've seen enough to get started, go ahead and apply for the two most popular forms of financial assistance below!
- iCanAffordCollege.com - The California Community Colleges can help you afford college and build a better future.
- Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about College Costs and Financial Aid.
- CaliforniaColleges.edu provides financial information for all colleges in California.
- FinAid.org is the national student aid website, which also offers a list of online resources in Spanish.
- Contact California Community Colleges directly. The college you want to attend may have additional aid available, and can help you find the financial aid available to you.
How Do I Apply for Financial Aid?
Everyone interested in getting financial assistance to attend a California community college should look at submitting applications for the FAFSA and the BOG Fee Waiver. The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) makes available several types of loans and grants from the federal government, while the BOG (California Board of Governors) Fee Waiver can waive enrollment fees for qualified students. These are just the two most common forms of assistance; there may be more options at the college of your choice. You can apply for financial assistance either before applying for admission to college or after... but the sooner, the better!
- If you haven't yet done so, choose a college.
- Gather your financial documents, like tax returns and income records. For an idea of what you'll need, visit the FAFSA website.
- Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Apply for the BOG Fee Waiver.
- Contact the college of your choice for more information and opportunities.