Eligibility Requirements for Federal Financial Aid

Meet the Following Requirements

You can be eligible for Financial Aid if you:

• Have a high school diploma or GED (or equivalent)
• Enroll in an eligible program for an associate degree, transfer degree or certificate
• Are a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen (see below)
• Show financial need by completing the FAFSA and a Financial Aid Review (except in the case of unsubsidized loans)
• Register with the Selective Service if you are a male between 18 and 26 years of age
• Do not owe a refund or repayment on a federal grant
• Are not in default on a federal educational loan
• Have a valid social security number (if you are a dependent student, your parent is not required to have a valid social security number)
• Are not convicted of possession or selling illegal drugs while enrolled and receiving financial aid

If You meet the Requirements, Follow These Steps for Financial Aid

1. Submit all required forms and documents requested by Financial Aid
2. Meet and maintain satisfactory progress requirements 

Eligible Non-Citizen

• U.S. Permanent Residents with a Permanent Resident Card (I-551)
• Conditional Permanent Residents (I-551C)
• Those with an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) showing the designations of the following:
  • Refugee
  • Asylum Granted
  • Parole
  • Cuban-Haitian Entrant
  • Those with an Immigration Court document approving Asylum
  • Documentation of entering the U.S. under the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act

California Dream Act

This program determines financial aid eligibility for:

• Undocumented students
• Students who left the state but graduated from a California high school and meet the requirements of AB 540

Go to the State of California’s Dream Act website for more info.