Financial Aid Student Guide

How to Apply for Financial Aid                  

If you wish to apply for financial aid, you must complete the following steps.  You must reapply for financial aid each year.  Awards are not automatically renewable.              

For the 2019/2020 Year:

STEP 1:   Apply for admission to Cuyamaca College.

STEP 2:   Complete and file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form is used to apply for most financial aid programs. The FAFSA provides information needed to calculate your and/or your parents’ ability to help pay your college costs.

• Cuyamaca College’s federal school code is 014435.
• Be sure to list all colleges you plan to attend.
• Accuracy is very important so read the instructions carefully.

FSA VIDEO - HOW TO FILL OUT THE FAFSA

You can apply for financial aid online by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Online Application or you may go to the Cuyamaca College Financial Aid website.

STEP 3:  Complete and submit all required documentation to the Financial Aid Office.  To determine if you need to submit required documentation log on to WebAdvisor and select “Cuyamaca Financial Aid,” then “Application Status and Awards” to check your financial aid status.  Under “Document and Tracking Information” any required documents will say “Not Rec‘d.”  Incomplete or conflicting information may delay your financial aid process.  Make sure your address, e-mail, and phone number are current in WebAdvisor so that we can contact you.

STEP 4:  If you have attended other colleges, it is your responsibility to have official academic transcripts mailed to the Admissions and Records Office to be properly evaluated for graduation/transfer purposes.          

STEP 5 (if applicable): For Cal Grant applicants, complete the FAFSA online and submit the GPA verification form by March 2 every year.  Cuyamaca College will automatically send GPA information for you if you have completed 16 or more college-level units.  If you have not completed 16 or more college-level units then you will need to send a GPA verification form to the California Student Aid Commission.  The GPA Verification form is available from the Financial Aid Office, from your local high school counselor, or online with the California Student Aid Commission. Community College Students have until September 2 to apply for a Cal Grant  B Competitive award.

When all required documents have been received by the Financial Aid Office, your financial aid file is considered complete and your application will be reviewed on a “first-completed, first-considered” basis.  A Financial Aid Advisor may request further information to determine your financial aid eligibility.  Your financial aid award will be calculated based on your financial need and the federal and state funds available.

If you are eligible for financial aid, you will receive a Financial Aid Award and Acceptance Letter that is an offer of aid.  If you are not eligible, you will receive a letter stating why you are not eligible.  Your Financial Aid Award and Acceptance Letter will outline the terms and conditions of the financial aid award and it will provide actual and/or projected disbursement dates as to when funds will be sent to you.  If you did not pass the appropriate number of units, or your GPA is below a 2.0 for the fall and/or spring semesters you may not be eligible for a retroactive award or a summer award.

The deadline to submit a valid Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is June 30, 2020 or the last day of attendance, whichever is sooner.  The deadline to complete your financial aid file at Cuyamaca College is June 10 or 5 business days after your last day of enrollment, whichever comes first.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Cuyamaca College Student Services is committed to protecting and maintaining the confidentiality of student personal information and records as required by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).  FERPA requires that student personal information such as social security numbers, birthdates, and financial and academic records may not be disclosed to anyone other than the student without the student’s expressed written permission. 

FATV VIDEO - CAN THE COLLEGE GIVE OUT MY PERSONAL INFORMATION TO...

Your Financial Aid Refund

Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges have partnered with BankMobile Disbursements to deliver your financial aid refund. Our colleges are committed to delivering 100% of your refund, providing students with clear choices and offering great customer service. For more information about BankMobile, visit this link:
http://bankmobiledisbursements.com/refundchoices/