Page Contents

• How to Apply
  • The application form
  • The Federal Student Aid PIN
  • New SDSU students
  • Continuing SDSU students
  • The application period
• Deadlines
  • Deadline suggestions
• Applying for Cal Grants
• The Student Aid Report (SAR)
• General Financial Aid Eligibility Requirements
  • Requirements for receiving financial aid from SDSU
• When Parents Must Provide Information on the FAFSA
• Types of Aid Available
  • Grants
  • Loans
  • Federal Work Study (FWS)
  • Scholarships
  • Other Resources
  • Other Financial Assistance

How to Apply

The application form: 

You and your student apply for aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is the standard form used to apply for ALL financial aid: grants / work study / student and parent loans.

• Go to "FAFSA on the Web" at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov to apply for financial aid.
• To be considered for all types of state and federal aid, complete the FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible (see Deadlines below).
• SDSU's Federal School Code is - 001151.

The Federal Student Aid PIN: 

The PIN is an identifier that enables you to electronically—

• sign the FAFSA,
• make corrections to the "Parent Information" section of your processed FAFSA, and
• complete the PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN).

Apply for a U.S. Department of Education Personal Identification Number (PIN).

Parents of new SDSU students: 

You and your student should apply for aid now. Do not wait until he/she is admitted to the university.

• The application for financial aid will be reviewed at the same time your child's application for admission is being processed.
• After your student has been officially admitted to the university and his/her financial aid file is complete, he/she will be able to view the aid award notice on AidLink. 
  • Please note:  Federal privacy laws protecting student rights prohibits the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships(OFAS) from disclosing students' personal financial aid information without their explicit authorization.
• Tell your student to check AidLink and his/her e-mail regularly for—
  • additional information you and/or your student may be required to provide, and
  • messages from this office.

Parents of continuing SDSU students: 

You and your student must reapply each year for aid.

Deadlines

• All parents/students: Submit the FAFSA anytime after January 1, but in time to receive aid before the last day of the semester for for which your student is attending the academic year.
• First time Cal Grant Applicants: Submit the FAFSA postmarked on or before March 2.

Deadline hints:

Apply early!

• Funds are awarded throughout the application period. However, the university has a limited amount of grant and work study funds and makes awards on a first come, first served basis. 
• If your and your student's federal tax returns will not be completed in time to apply early, you may use estimated income tax information. We may later request a copy of your and your student's tax returns to verify income information.
• To ensure that you receive aid at the beginning of the fall semester, urge your student to apply before May.
• For summer aid, your student should apply as early as possible after January 1.

Applying for Cal Grant

Parent information is not required for Cal Grant applications.  The FAFSA is the only application necessary for parents.  Link to more information about Cal Grants.

The Student Aid Report (SAR)

Within two weeks of filing the FAFSA, the federal processing center will send a SAR to your student by e-mail or mail. 

• If all information is correct, he/she should keep it on file. 
• If any information is incorrect, he/she will need to make corrections and return it to the Central Processing System.

General Financial Aid Eligibility Requirements

For an in-depth discussion about eligibility, go to Step 4 - How Financial Aid is Awarded — Eligibility for Financial Aid.

Requirements for receiving financial aid from SDSU:

Student's must —

• be a United States citizen, permanent resident, or other eligible noncitizen,
• be admitted to a degree or credential program at SDSU,
• have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent,
• maintain satisfactory academic progress,
• demonstrate aid eligibility according to federal and state regulations, and
• reapply for aid each year.

When Parents Must Provide Information on the FAFSA

You must provide information on the FAFSA if your student answered "No" to all of the student status questions in Step Three of the FAFSA. Your information is required even if your student does not live with you or receive any financial support from you.

The Federal Need Analysis formula requires that this information be collected and used to calculate your ability to assist your student with his/her educational costs.

Types of Aid Available

Grants: Money that does not have to be repaid.

• Federal Pell Grant
• Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)
• National SMART Grant
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
• State University Grant (SUG)
• Educational Opportunity Program Grant (EOPG)
• Cal Grant A and Cal Grant B

Loans: Borrowed money you and your student must repay with interest.

• Federal Perkins Loan
• Federal Direct Student Loans
• Federal Direct Parent Loans

Federal Work Study (FWS): Money your student earn while enrolled in school to help pay for educational expenses.

Scholarships:  Money awarded to students who demonstrate certain qualities such as academic or athletic accomplishments, musical or artistic ability, or specialized fields of study.  Scholarships do not need to be repaid.

There are three Scholarship application filing periods at SDSU—

1. Fall: Mid-August through Mid-October
2. Spring 1: Mid-November through Mid-February
3. Spring 2: Mid-March through April

Applications for SDSU-based scholarships are available—

• online at the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, Scholarships Web page , and
• at individual SDSU departments.

Other information available on the SDSU Scholarships Web pages including —

• useful links to other sites including free scholarship search sites, and
• other scholarships available that are not endowed through SDSU.

Other Resources: Financial assistance through defined scholarship programs, fellowships, and traineeships.

Other financial assistance:  Financial assistance provided through sources other than the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships, such as—

• Veterans Educational Benefits
• Private scholarships
• Alternative loans

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