Financial Aid Application Process

Do you have your PIN (Personal Identification Number)?
If you file online you will need to apply for a PIN via the PIN website found here, so you can sign the FAFSA online. If you plan to file online you should apply for a PIN first. A PIN Identifies you to the federal government without have to sign a document and send it in the mail, much like a credit card PIN.
If you are male, did you register with selective service?
All male Citizens and resident aliens must register for selective service if they are between the ages of 18 and 26. If you came to this country after your 26th birthday you are exempt from this law. Any male who is not registered will not qualify for federal funding. You can register via mail at your local post office, online at http://www.sss.gov/, or by using the FAFSA itself answering "Yes" to question 22.
Do you have a high school diploma, GED, or a qualifying ATB test?
Provide the admissions office with this information when you register for classes. If you have graduated from high school and are not yet 18 years of age we will ask for a copy of your high school diploma. ATB tests are given by appointment only. Call the assessment office at 691-7332 to schedule your Ability to Benefit test.
Are you in a degree/certificate program offered at CRC?
There are two parts of your program we look at when you apply, your educational goal and your degree. You must be in a degree/certificate program offered at CRC to receive aid at CRC. You must also have an educational goal that can be obtained at Cosumnes River College.
View list of CRC degrees and certificates.
NOTE:Some of the certificates offered at CRC are not eligible for financial aid or their eligibility is pending. See the links below to view these certificates:
Ineligible Certificates Pending Eligibility Certificates
These are acceptable Educational Goals for financial aid:
1. Obtain an AA degree and transfer to a 4-year college
2. Transfer to a 4-year without an AA
3. Obtain AA degree without a transfer
4. Earn a vocational degree without transfer
5. Earn a vocational certificate without transfer
Note: Educational Goals and degrees/certificates must match. You cannot be funded for more than one program at a time, and excessive changes in your program may cause delay or denial of aid.
Did you complete a FAFSA, either online or through the mail?
Applications to be mailed can be picked up in our Financial Aid Office. Please remember that CRC school code is 007536.
Have your tax information ready.
Any information that you use to complete the FAFSA may be requested by Financial Aid Office which has the legal authority to request copies of all supporting documents. Do not give copies of this information to anyone but the financial aid office. Scholarship agencies and loan agencies can not ask you this information. If someone asks for your financial aid information and you are not sure about giving it to them, do not do so - and let us know as soon as possible.
When you complete the FAFSA you should hear from the CRC Financial Aid Office within 2-3 weeks. At this point in time you should attend one of the MANDATORY Financial Aid Info-Sessions.
At any time after you have applied for financial aid AND registered for admission at the college; you may check the status of your financial aid online anytime. Click on the Financial aid status link to the left and follow the instructions to log in and you can see the awards you have been given, the documents that we have received or are waiting for, and any other important information regarding your financial aid. Use your student ID to log in (without the "w") and click on "Forgot your PIN?" or "First Time User" link. Follow the instructions displayed in the window. If you cannot reset your PIN online, for any reason, you can come to our office for assistance resetting your PIN.
Provide any document that we ask for and deliver it to our office immediatly. When your file is completed you will receive an award letter usually within 4-6 weeks. If you wish to take out a loan for additional aid, you must attend one of our loan workshops. The financial aid process may take up to 2 months to complete from applying for the FAFSA to having a finished file. Please apply early. You can apply every year beginning January 1, well before the Fall semester.