Financial Aid Application Process

FOLLOW THE 4 STEPS TO CASH TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID

4-Steps for Financial Aid Apply Now!
Cerritos College Financial Aid - Step 1, Apply for Financial Aid Today.
Cerritos College Financial Aid - Step 2: check your to-do list
Step 3 - View your awards! Click on "Message Center" to view your award notice.
Step 4 - Disbursement! Time to get your money! Use your personal code.
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Do the Financial Aid two step

Create your FSA ID before you begin your application you must create an FSA-ID in order to complete a FAFSA Application. For dependent students parent(s) or contributor(s) are required to create a FSA ID in order to complete their portion of the FAFSA Application.

Whether you’re a student or parent, you’ll need to create your own account to apply for, receive, and manage your federal student aid.

 

How to Create Your FSA ID

Create Your FSA id

Important Tips

  • Create your FSA ID with your personal email address. Do not use your school email address. 
  • You cannot use the same email address for both parent and student FSA ID's, only one email address can be used for each FSA ID. 
  • Only the owner of the FSA ID should create and use the account.
  • Never share your FSA ID SAVE and don't forget your FSA ID you will need it every year when re-applying for Financial Aid. 
FSA_ID

Save your FSA ID

Please bring all the required information and documents to better assist you in completing your FAFSA Application. 

What to Bring

Dependent students are required to submit both student and parent information in order to complete their FAFSA Application. 

Student Information Checklist
  • Driver's License (If applicable)
  • Social Security Number
  • Alien Registration Number (If applicable)
  • Personal Email
  • Address
  • Student's prior-prior year W-2
  • Student's prior-prior year Income Tax Return

Example: 2024-2025 FAFSA requires 2022 Income
Parent Information Checklist
  • Driver's License (If applicable)
  • Social Security Number (If applicable)
  • Alien Registration Number (If applicable)

  • Individual Taxpayer Identification Number - ITIN (If applicable)
  • Parent(s) Date of Birth
  • Marital Status & Date
  • Parent(s) Email
  • Address
  • Parent's prior-prior year W-2
  • Parent's prior-prior year Income Tax Return

Example: 2024-2025 FAFSA requires 2022 Income

  • Child Support paid or received

  • Any Records of Untaxed Income (such as social security, workers comp, Disability)

Independent students are only required to submit student information in order to complete their FAFSA Application.

Student Information Checklist

  • Driver's License (If applicable)

  • Social Security Number

  • Alien Registration Number (If applicable)

  • Personal Email

  • Address

  • Student's prior-prior year W-2

  • Student's prior-prior year Income Tax Return

Example: 2024-2025 FAFSA requires 2022 Income

  • Child Support paid or received

  • Any Records of Untaxed Income (such as social security, workers comp, Disability)

Special Circumstances 

The Financial Aid Office understands that you may not be able to provide parent information on your financial aid application or some of the information maybe inaccurate based off your current situation. See if you are eligible to qualify for a special circumstance.

Start your FAFSA APPLICATION

APPLY FOR FAFSA

24/25 Financial Aid Checklist

  • If you are a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen

  • List the Federal School Code for Cerritos College 001161

fafsa form
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APPLY FOR CA DREAM ACT

24/25 Financial Aid Checklist

  • If you are not a citizen and qualify for AB 540 status

  • List the School Code for Cerritos College 00116100

CA Dream Act Application

For more information visit www.cerritos.edu/dream

It's Not Too Late! Submit your FAFSA or Dream Act Application Today!
Get hands-on assistance completing your FAFSA or Dream Act application!
Join our Zoom Sessions

Monday - Thursday 8 - 4:30 pm
Friday Closed

https://cerritos-edu.zoom.us/j/98865749738

Follow up and Check your To Do List on MyCerritos or read missing information letter.
  • Follow the link on your To Do List and complete all required Outstanding Financial Aid Tasks.

We've put YOU in charge of your #FinancialAid.

Note: It is important to submit these required tasks in a timely manner to avoid any delays in your financial aid file. Once the Financial Aid Office reviews all required documentation and completes the verification process if required, the file will be completed.

You will be sent an award notification on your MyCerritos message center. You may view your awards on MyCerritos. Disbursement of awards are based on you meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards.

Once you receive your award notification, you can apply for a Federal Direct Stafford Loan if you are interested. (See Loans for requirements and application process)

How to view your financial aid award

Once awarded financial aid, you will be sent a refund selection kit in a green envelope*. Next, you will go to www.refundselection.com to use the personal access code provided and select how you would like to receive your refund.

You have choices!

  • Electronic Deposit to Another Account
  • Electronic Deposit to Cerritos Falcon Card

A disbursement will be processed for eligible students according to the disbursement schedule. You can check the status of your disbursements online at MyCerritos.

*CA Dream Act applicants will receive financial aid refunds via paper checks.

How to check for your disbursement

*This entire process can take a few weeks or a few months depending on the required documentation needed to complete and how quickly you turn in the required documentation.

**Please note if you need your fees waived, you can print out the Student Aid Report (SAR) from the www.fafsa.gov website and submit it to the Financial Aid Office during office hours. The other option is to submit a California College Promise Grant application to the Financial Aid Office.

Steps on how to apply to cerritos College

To contact the Financial Aid Office, call  (562) 860-2451 ext. 2397 or e-mail us at finaid@cerritos.edu.