The first step in applying for financial aid is to determine which application you must complete. Use the following information to help you choose the correct application.
Please Note: You should only complete the FAFSA OR the California Dream Act application. DO NOT COMPLETE BOTH!
To complete the FAFSA you must:
Have a valid Social Security Number
Social Security card can not say “VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION”
Either be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen
- To be considered an eligible noncitizen you must meet one of the following criteria:
- U.S. permanent resident, with a Permanent Resident Card (formerly known as an Alien Registration Receipt Card or “Green Card”)
- Conditional permanent resident (I-551C)
- Other eligible noncitizen with an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the Department of Homeland Security showing any one of the following designations: “Refugee,” “Asylum Granted,” “Indefinite Parole,” “Humanitarian Parole,” or “Cuban-Haitian Entrant”
- A citizen of the Republic of Palau (PW), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (MH), or the Federated States of Micronesia (FM).
If you meet these requirements you would complete the FAFSA application.
To complete the California Dream Act you must:
Not have a valid social security number
If you have a social security card that says “VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION” this would be OK for the California Dream Act.
Satisfaction of either of the following
- High school attendance in California for three or more years
- Attainment of credits earned in California from a California high school equivalent to three or more years of full-time high school coursework and a total o three or more years of attendance in California elementary schools, California secondary schools, or a combination of those schools.
Graduated or will graduate from a California high school or attainment of equivalent
Acceptable equivalents are:
- General Education Development (GED)
- High School Equivalency Test (HISET)
- Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC)
Will register or enroll in an accredited and qualifying California college or univiersity
If applicable, complete(d) an affidavit to legalize immigration status as soon as you are eligible
Do not hold a valid non-immigrant visa
Can not be visa types F, J, H, L, A, B, C, D, E, etc.
If you have Temporary Protected Status or hold a U Visa you may be eligible for the California Dream Act.
If you meet these requirements you would complete the California Dream Act application.
For detailed instructions on how to complete your Financial Aid application choose the relevant link below:
