Financial Aid & Scholarships

How am I going to pay for college?

smiling graduating students holding certificates

The prospect of going to college is an exciting milestone in any graduating student’s life. One of the important considerations to prepare for is how you plan to pay for your advanced degree.

Financial aid includes grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and loans. This money can help you pay tuition, textbooks, transportation, and sometimes can help with rent.

It is important to be prepared and apply for financial aid early. It may be overwhelming at first, so we prepared this information to help you become familiar with the different kinds of financial aid available. Your counselor can help you determine what kind of financial aid is right for you and apply for it.

Find a Scholarship

Financial Aid Resources

General Financial Aid info

Information on financial aid for college and tips on how to help ease the burden of college expenses

I can afford college website

How to apply for Financial Aid

Student Resource Guide

Scholarships, Internships, Fellowships, and Other Opportunities

Collegeboard.com

Preparing for and finding the right school

California Dream Act

Help for undocumented students who want to attend college

Students of Military and Veterans Financial Aid

Financial Aid for Military and Veterans

Types of Financial Aid

Grants

Think of a grant as the ultimate graduation gift, because you don’t have to pay it back.

Pell Grants (federal aid) are awarded to low-income students and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG) are for low-income students with exceptional financial need.

Cal Grants (state aid) are free money guaranteed to every high school senior that applies on time and meets income, eligibility and GPA requirements. http://www.calgrants.org

Chafee Grant for Foster Youth

Free Money for Foster Youth for College or Career Training

Work-Study

Work at a part-time job that may help you with a career, and use the earnings to help finance your education.

Scholarships

Free money for college, usually based on your area of study or merit, such as good grades, high test scores, athletic, musical or other special talents, community service and sometimes financial need.

Scholarships.com

Complete a free profile then get matched to scholarships and grants you’re qualified for.

Student Scholarships.org

Large collection of scholarships

Fast Web Scholarship and College Searches

Resource to help find scholarships

Hispanic Scholarship Fund

Empowers Latino families with the knowledge and resources to successfully complete a higher education.

Loans

Federal loans are low-interest loans that come in all shapes and sizes.

Perkins Loans are administered by the college and are for students with exceptional financial need.

Subsidized Stafford Loans are available to students who meet financial requirements and are attending school at least half-time. With this loan, the government pays the interest from when you get the loan money until you leave school. An unsubsidized Stafford Loan is available to any student regardless of financial need, but the student pays the interest.

PLUS Loans are available for the parents of students attending college.