FREE Help with FAFSA
Saddleback Community College offers FREE Virtual workshops to help walk students through the FAFSA process. Student does NOT need to be planning to attend Saddleback in order to attend. If parent chooses to attend, he/she must be accompanied by the student as well.
For more information visit the Saddleback Workshops link below.
Contact:(949) 582-4860 or scfinaid@saddleback.edu
Financial Aid
Types of Financial Aid
Colleges and Universities will expect students and their families to contribute toward the expense of college, however, most college students utilize some form of financial aid to close the gap between what their families can afford, and the actual cost of college.
General Types of Financial Aid:
Federal Aid: Aid that comes from the U.S. government. Usually distributed through the college
Gift Aid: Financial aid that does not need to be paid back: Grants (typically based on financial need), Scholarships (typically based on achievement, talent, or need.
Loans: Funds that must be paid back later, with interest. Federally-guaranteed loans can be from a private lender (e.g. bank) or from the federal government (administered by the college). Private loans are offered by private lenders with terms set by the lender, not the government.
Private Aid: Financial aid from non-government sources.
Filing out the FAFSA
- FAFSA Applications for the following school year begin October 1st. Complete the FREE online application at: FAFSA NOTE: If you are being asked to pay money to submit the application, you are on the wrong site! The FAFSA is always free to submit.
- Print the paper FAFSA worksheet, available at: FAFSA Options
- Gather the necessary paperwork for both the parent and the student.
- Once you complete the paper website, you need to enter your data online at: FAFSA Be sure you are filing for the FAFSA for the correct school year! NOTE: Save your information often during the process so you won’t lose it if your computer connection is lost.
- Be sure to submit your completed FAFSA form no later than March 1st (February for some colleges and/or scholarships). You MUST complete the FAFSA if you wish to be considered for Federal loans.
- For helpful resources, visit: Student Aid FAFSA
- Watch a tutorial: FAFSA Simplification
Cal Grant - GPA Submission
Cal Grants can be used at any UC, CSU, California Community College, almost all independent colleges, and many career and technical schools in California.
SCHS will submit all 12th grade GPAs to California Student Aid Commission by October 1, 2020.
Set up an account at Webgrants 4 Students to monitor the progress of your application. For additional resources, visit: Grant Info Login
Note: In order to be considered for a Cal Grant, you must complete your FAFSA by March 1, 2021: FAFSA
Assembly Bill 2160 was signed into law in September 2014 mandating that all public schools electronically submit GPAs for grade twelve students to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC). If you wish to opt-out from this GPA submission, you must complete the "Opt Out Form' and return to the SCHS Registrar by September 14, 2020. The form will be available in the SCHS Guidance Office.
WebGrants 4 Students Website and Contacting the Commission
Once a student's GPA Verification form and FAFSA have been submitted, you are encouraged to set up an account at Web Grants 4 Students
WebGrants 4 Students (WGS) provides students with their Cal Grant information and allows them to manage their Cal Grant account online. Students can see if the Commission has received their GPA and FAFSA or CA Dream Application and can identify missing information. Students offered a Cal Grant can update their information, including school changes to transfer their award to their school of choice. Students with questions should contact WGS or the Commission’s Student Support Services at (888) 224-7268 or at studentsupport@csac.ca.gov.
Looking for Local Scholarships?
Free workshops for finding money for college
Locations for free Cash for College Workshops are available at:
101 Essential Tip and Resources for College Freshman
CSS/Financial Aid Profile
The fast, easy, convenient secure way to apply for financial aid. The CSS Financial Aid Profile is a national, not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity. Many of the member colleges, universities, graduate and professional schools, and scholarship programs use the information collected on PROFILE to help them award nonfederal student aid funds.
For more information regarding the CSS profile please visit: Collegeboard.org
California Dream Act
For information regarding the California Dream Act visit Cal Dream Act
For information in Spanish, click here : Información en español oprima aqui
On The Web
- Studentaid
- http://www.thesalliemaefund.org/
- http://www.finaid.org/
- Bestschools FAFSA
- LenEDU's Video Series on Scholarships and Financial Aid made simple
- Avoid Simple FAFSA Mistakes... Avoid these fafsa mistakes
- Fafsa
- Federal Student Aid
- For questions about federal financial aid, visit the U.S. Department of Education site for students and parents.
- Cal Grants
- This student-focused Web site, sponsored by the California Student Aid Commission, provides information on all Cal Grants in one location
- CSAC
- The California Student Aid Commission's Web site provides details on all the California state aid programs and how to apply for them. Students can click on WebGrants for Students for fast answers about their Cal Grant application.
- California Cash for College
- Here you will find information on free California Cash for College workshops where students can get line-by-line help completing the FAFSA and other forms.
- Ed Fund
- EdFund's Web site presents information on planning and paying for college, federal loans, tools for financial literacy and much more.
- Ed Wise
- Click here for EdFund's online financial planning tool, EdWise, which can help students borrow wisely, create a realistic spending plan and more
- Fast Web Need Money for College? Visit FastWeb to search for over 1.3 million scholarships!
- Financial Aid Affordability Guide
- Methodology Affordability Guide
