Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
What makes me an independent student?
How long does it take for my school to receive the FAFSA?
I probably don't qualify for aid. Should I apply for aid anyway?
Is financial aid available for undocumented students?
Must I be accepted for admissions before I can apply for Financial Aid?
What is considered half-time and full-time?
What is Cerritos College Federal school code?
What is the importance of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)?
For the fall semester, you should file your application during the Early Application Period, which is January through April 30th. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) becomes available for the upcoming aid year every January. Submit your FAFSA at www.fafsa.gov. Usually in March and April is when you would submit any required documentation to the Financial Aid Office. The Financial Aid Office begins notifying students in July who applied and submitted required documents during the early application period of awards.
The deadline to apply for a Cal Grant is March 2nd and September 2nd of each year. You must submit both the FAFSA and the GPA Verification to apply.
What makes me an independent student?
You MUST meet at least one of the following conditions if applying for the 2013-14 academic year:
- You were born before January 1, 1990
- You will be enrolled in a master's or doctorate program at the beginning of the school year
- You are married as of the day you apply
- You have children who receive more than half their support from you
- You have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half their support from you at the time you apply and through June 30, 2014
- Both of your parents are deceased or you are (or were until age 18) a ward or dependent of the court or were in foster care
- You are currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training
- You are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces
- You are or were an emancipated minor as determined by a court in your state of legal residence
- You are or were in legal guardianship as determined by a court in your state of legal residence
- You were determined at any time on or after July 1, 2012 by your high school or school district homeless liaison to be an unaccompanied youth who was homeless
- You were determined at any time on or after July 1, 2012 by the director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to be an unaccompanied youth who was homeless
- You were determined at any time on or after July 1, 2012 by the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program to be an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless.
How long does it take for Cerritos College to complete my financial aid file?
Depending on when you file and how quickly you submit the required documents, it could take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a few months. Please follow up with our office to check the status of your file.
I probably don't qualify for aid. Should I apply?
Yes. Many families mistakenly think they do not qualify for aid and prevent themselves from receiving financial aid by failing to apply for it. In addition, there are a few sources of aid such as Unsubsidized Stafford loans that are available regardless of need. The FAFSA form is free. Apply, you may qualify.
Is financial aid available for undocumented students?
California state aid is available to AB 540 students.
Requirements:
- Attend a California high school for 3 or more years
- Graduate from a California high school or receive the equivalent general education diploma (GED)
- Register or be currently enrolled in a California Community College, California State University, or a University of California
- Sign a statement with the college or university (NOT with DHS) stating that he/she will apply for legal residency as soon as he/she is eligible to do so
You can apply for aid at www.caldreamact.org.
Scholarship Listings for Undocumented Students:
The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is the number used to determine your federal student aid eligibility. Based on your application, it determines what you and your family should be able to contribute towards your educational expenses.
In order to sign your application electronically you must apply for a Personal Identification Number (PIN) at www.pin.ed.gov. Once you fill out a short online application, the Federal government will issue you a four digit number. The number may be used to submit your electronic signature and to access information from your FAFSA on the web.
You may also sign the application by printing out the signature page and mailing it to the central processor.
Must I be accepted for admissions before I can apply for Financial Aid?
You may apply prior to submitting your admissions application. However, you must be admitted and enrolled to receive the aid you qualify for. Visit the Admissions web site for more information.
Verification is a process in which files are selected at random to check certain data elements on the FAFSA. If your file is selected for verification, the school is required to verify the information reported. Your SAR will tell you if you are selected for verification.
What is considered half-time and full-time?
Cerritos College Financial Aid Office considers between 0.5 and 5.5 units as less than half-time, 6 and 8.5 units as half-time, between 9 and 11.5 as three-quarter time, and 12 or more units as full-time for the Fall, Spring, and Summer.
What is the Federal school code for Cerritos College?
The Federal School code is 001161. See School Code list to search for codes for another institution.
What are the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Standards?
Federal Financial Aid guidelines require that the Cerritos College Financial Aid Office insure that each student who receives financial aid maintains SAP. In order to do so, the Cerritos College Financial Aid Office has established and monitors the following components, known collectively as SAP standards.
For further information please contact the Financial Aid office at (562) 860-2451 Ext. 2397 or e-mail us atfinaid-staff-list@cerritos.edu.
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