FAFSA FAQ
How do I apply for Financial Aid?
Visit the Financial Aid Office in Library Building, Room L-107, to find out about the large number of programs of assistance available to low income- and middle-income students and complete the required Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). A priority deadline of March 2nd has been set to ensure early processing of financial aid applications although applications are accepted throughout the academic year. All awards are subject to the allocation of funds from the federal and state government in any given year.
How often should I apply for Financial Aid?
You are encouraged to apply the first week of January prior to each school year you plan to attend Cosumnes River College. This is to ensure early processing of your application.
How can I afford to enroll at Cosumnes River College?
California Community Colleges offer low cost educational opportunities. The Board of Governors Waiver program is available to assist eligible students by waiving the Enrollment Fee. Qualified students will not be charged the Enrollment Fee. All California resident students are encouraged to apply for a Board of Governors Fee Waiver at the Financial Aid Office a minimum of ten days prior to your registration date. Please bring proof of your family's yearly income or proof of public assistance (i.e. CalWORKs/AFDC/TANF, General Assistance or SSI/SSP). Also, you may be qualified to file for fee deferments at the Veterans Affairs office if are a dependent or spouse of a deceased/disabled veteran.
Who can I call for help with answering FAFSA questions?
The Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800/4-FED-AID will be able to answer your questions on your FAFSA application or any questions on federal student financial aid in general.
How does my GPA affect my financial aid?
Initially, student is admitted in good standing for financia aid. If the GPA after the first semester is below 2.0 then student will be placed on financial aid probation and aid can still continue for that semester. If the student fails to earn or maintain a 2.0 GPA while on probation then aid will be denied. This also applies to maintaining academic progress requirement of completing at least 75% of all attempted units. Aid denial applies to all aid programs except for the BOG Fee Wavier. The BOG Fee waiver is not based on GPA and will be awarded to any student (CA residient) who applies and qualifies for the waiver. The Cal Grant program is GPA dependent; initially a student will request their high school and/or college to report the students' GPA to the California Student Aid Commision. Students must maintain a high GPA to be competitive with other applicants for the Cal Grants.
I am not enrolled in a Degree Program, but I am enrolled in a Certificate Program, am I still eligible for financial aid?
Most of the Certificate Programs offered at CRC are eligible for financial aid. There are some Certificate Programs that are ineligible for financial aid. These programs did not meet the minimum of 16 units and 15 weeks minimum requirement for our Program Participation Agreement with the U.S. Education Department. Please check with the Financial Aid Office.
You are now a U.S. Citizen, but have an Alien Registration Number, which box do you check?
Check the U.S. citizen box - do not check both, as this would cause a problem with the application. A person who has attained U.S. citizenship no longer uses the ARN associated with being an eligible non-citizen for purposes of applying for federal student financial aid.
Why does the Department of Education ask for last years income information?
Studies have consistently shown that verifiable income tax information from the base year (i.e. 2008 for the 2009-2010 award year) is more accurate than projected (2009) information when estimating how much the family will be able to contribute towards a student's education during the coming school year.
What do you do if you have special circumstances that aren't listed in the application?
Talk to your Financial Aid Administrators (FAA). If your family's circumstances have changed from the base year (i.e. 2008 for the 2009-2010 award year) due to loss of employment, loss of benefits, or death or divorce, the FAA may decide to adjust data elements used to calculate your Family Contribution (EFC), which may increase your eligibility for student aid.
If you live with a relative other than your parents, whose income information do you report?
Only if the relative is your adoptive parent, as defined on the FAFSA. You can be considered to be dependent only on your parent(s) and may report only parental information on the FAFSA. You must report any cash support given by relatives, but not in-kind support (such as food and housing) from relatives.
What if you live with a boyfriend or girlfriend who pays the rent?
You should not report any information for a friend or roommate unless the two of you are actually married or are considered to have a common-law marriage under state law. You must report any cash support given by the friend as untaxed income but should not report in-kind support (such as food). You would have to report as income the rent the roommate paid if your name were on the lease and if the roommate were paying the rent on your behalf.
When is work considered student aid?
Generally, grants and scholarships are not considered to be taxed or untaxed income. If you have an ROTC scholarship, a private scholarship, or any other kind of grant or scholarship, that grant or scholarship will be considered as an available resource by the financial aid office when packaging aid but will not be reported as income on the application. You should report grants and scholarships that are reported on the tax return (because they are in excess of tuition, fees, books, and required supplies). You should report these items as exclusions from income.
What's the difference between cash support and in-kind support?
Cash support is support given either in the form of money or money that is paid on your (the student's) behalf. You must report cash support as untaxed income. Thus, if a friend or relative gives you grocery money, it must be reported as untaxed income. If the friend or relative pays your electric bill or part of your rent, you must report those payments.
Why must you supply educational level information on your parents?
Some states and institutions make money available to support students who are first-generation college students. It also serves statistical purposes.
If you are an emancipated minor, are you now independent?
The status of emancipated minor is not recognized by the Department of Education for financial aid purposes; such a student must meet one of the other listed criteria to be independent.
If you are an active duty military member, are you considered a veteran?
No, you are a veteran only if you have been discharged from Active Duty other than dishonorably. Only a member of the National Guard who was activated in a situation such as Desert Storm and then discharged would meet the definition. Active Duty members of the military are not veterans until discharge.
If your parents have not filed taxes and will not be able to file in time, can they wait?
If there is a risk of not meeting an application deadline for state or institutional aid, the parents should calculate and report to the best accuracy their income and tax information. But, be prepared to supply tax returns if selected for verification by the Department's Central Processing System. If selected for verification, issurance of aid will require the submission of copies of the completed tax returns.
If your parents are divorced, whose information do you need?
The parent that you lived with the most during the past year. It does not make a difference which parent claims you as a dependent for tax purposes. If you did not live with either parent or lived equally with each parent, the parental information must be provided for the parent from whom you received the most financial support or the parent from whom you received the most support the last time support was given.
What should you do if the stepparent whom you live with refuses to supply information?
If you are a dependent student and your parent is remarried, the stepparent's information must be included or you will not be considered for federal student financial aid.
How does a family decide who should be counted in the household size?
Anyone in the immediate family who receives more than 50% support from the dependent student's parents or the independent student and spouse may be counted in the household size even if that person does not reside in the house, as in the case of a sibling who is over 24 but still in college and receiving the majority of support from parents. Siblings who are dependent as of the date you apply for aid are also included, regardless of whether they receive at least 50% of their support from their parents. Oother person who resides in the household and receives more than 50% support from the parents may also be counted such as an aunt, cousin, etc. so long as the support is expected to continue throughout the award year (2009- 2010). Documentation may be required to verify the support. An unborn child who will be born during the award year may also be counted in the household size. Household size and tax exemptions are not necessarily the same. Tax exemptions look at the previous year or tax year, and household size refers to the school year for which the student is applying for aid.
If your parents are separated but filed a joint tax return, how is the information reported?
You should use only the qualified parent's financial information (the parent with whom you lived the most in the most recent twelve months). Use a W-2 form or some document that demonstrates the qualified parent's share of the income and a tax table for the tax liability.
If you (the student) are separated but filed a joint tax return, how is the information reported?
You should give only your portion of the exemptions, income, and taxes paid.
Who qualifies to be counted in the number in college?
Any person who is counted in the household and will be attending any term of the academic year at-least-half time. He or she must attend an eligible program at an eligible institution. To be counted in the number in college, the person must also be working toward a degree or certificate leading to a recognized education credential at a postsecondary school that is eligible to participate in federal student aid programs. You (the student) need not be enrolled half time, however, to be counted in the number in college.
What happens after you apply?
If you submit a paper version of the FAFSA, within four weeks, the U.S. Department of Education will send you a Student Aid Report (SAR). On the SAR will be either a request for further information or a number called an Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The Department uses a formula (Federal Methodology, established by Confress to calculate the EFC from the information you provide. Your college uses the EFC to determine the amount of your Federal grant, student loan, or work-study award, if you are eligible.
What if you don't get a SAR or you need another copy of your SAR?
If you do not get a SAR within four weeks, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800/4-FED-AID. You can use the automated system if you have a touch tone phone, to verify if your application has been processed, or you may request duplicate copies of your SAR. You will need to provide your Social Security Number, the first two letters of your last name, and date of birth. If you do not have a touch tone phone, you can call 1-319/337-5665 to request duplicate copies of your SAR or to find out the status of your application.
What should you do if your or your family's financial circumstances drastically change?
Some questions ask you to make projections, for example, about your family status for the coming year. If the answers to these questions change, you should check with the financial aid administrator(s) at the schools you are interested in attending as soon as possible. The income and expense information reported on this form must be accurate for the past year (2008 for the 2009-2010 school year), not for the coming year.