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Financial Aid Applications

What Are Financial Aid Applications? 

Financial aid applications are how to students apply for financial aid. Students and their parents share thier finacial informaion to determine their financial need. That information then gets shared with the colleges students’ listed on the app. Each college that accepts the student will then provide the student with a finacial aid award (aka description of how much aid they are receiveding and what types of aid they are eligible for). Students and families can then use that information in finalizing their decision of which college to attend. 

When Do I Apply?

Class of 2026 will apply no later than March 2, 2026 for the 26-27 school year. 

Students will apply every year they want to receive financial aid.

FAFSA vs CADAA

FAFSA vs CADAA

 

CADAA

Terms and Special Cases

  • The CADAA asks questions to determine if an undocumented student meets AB 540 criteria, which allows the student to receive in-state tuition and state financial aid.

    To qualify for AB 540, a student must satisfy ALL of the criteria below: 

    1. Satisfaction of either:

    • High school attendance in California for three or more years,
    • Attainment of credits earning in California from a California high school equivelent to three or more years of full-time high school coursework and a total of three or more years of attendance in California elementary schools, California secondary schools, or a combination of those schools. 
    • Attainment of credits earned at a California adult school
    • Credits earned at a California Community College
    • A combination of the schools listed above.

    2. Meet one of the following requirements:

    • Graduation from a California high school (or attainment of the equivalent)
    • Attainment of an associate’s degree from a California community college
    • Fulfillment of minimum transfer requirements from a California community college to a UC or CSU campus

    3. Will register or enroll in an accredited and qualifying California college or university. 

    4. If applicable, complete(d) an affidavit to legalize immigration status as soon as you are eligible

    ​​​​​​​5. Do not hold a valid non-immigrant visa (F, J, H, L, A, B, C, D, E, etc.) 

  • A "U Visa" is a type of nonimmigrant visa for victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and are helpful to law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of such criminal activity.

  • Students hold a temporary immigration status because they are unable to return to their home country safely due to conditions or circumstances like war, environmental disasters, or epidemics.

  • Does DACA status or having a Social Security Number impact eligibility?

    • Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status is not required to apply for the CADAA. 
    • If you received DACA status and you have a Social Security card, but it says “VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION” you are not eligible to complete the FAFSA. You must meet the AB 540 criteria on the prior slide to be eligible for the CADAA.
    • Your parent’s citizenship status does not impact your eligibility to receive financial aid under the CADAA or FAFSA.

    • Foster youth who are undocumented immigrants may qualify to receive Special Immigration Juvenile Status (SIJS). Undocumented children who are a dependent of the juvenile court who cannot be reunified with one or both of their parents due to abuse, abandonment or neglect, and for whom it is not in their best interest to return to their country of nationality, may be able to obtain SIJS and apply to become a lawful permanent resident, also known as obtaining your Green Card.
    • Students with a pending application for SIJS are not eligible for federal financial aid and should submit the CADAA until they have received permanent resident status (i.e., a Green Card/Alien Registration).
    • If an undocumented student in foster care does not have an application for SIJS pending, the child welfare agency should be contacted for eligibility screening.

FAFSA

Class of 2026 Parents & Students should fill out the 26-27 FAFSA between Oct 1, 2025- March 2, 2026. 

 

Before you do the FAFSA:

STEP 1: Make sure parent’s 2024 taxes has been filed. (Students will not be eligible for federal fiancial aid if taxes have not been filed.) 

 

STEP 2: Identify who are contibutors to the FAFSA. Typically the student and parents, but depending on family situation might be unclear. Click this link to see which parent(s) are your contributor(s). 

 

STEP 3: Parents and students (aka contributors) create your FSA ID.

Click here to Create FSA ID.

Click here for a Video on How to Create FSA ID. 

These are accounts for life- so parents may alreday have an account if they applied for FAFSA for themseleves or an older child- make sure to recover your login information so you can complete your portion. You can complete the Forgot Username/Password steps or call 1-800-433-3243 for assistance. 

 

Working on the FAFSA: 

STEP 4: Student will start the Student Section of the 26-27 FAFSA application.

Here is a video walking you through the FAFSA form. The Student Section walk-through is from 0:00- 14:25.

Click here to start the FAFSA. (Click Start New Form- if you are doing this for the first time. Click Edit Existing Form- if you have already started and are coming back to complete it) 

 

STEP 5: Parent/ Contributor wll receive an invite to their email from the Department of Education to complete their portion of the FAFSA. 

Here is a video walking you through the FAFSA form. The Parent Section walk-through is from 14:25-25:10.

Click here to work on the FAFSA. (Click Edit Existing Form)

 

Once your done with the FAFSA:

STEP 6: Once it gets processed you will receive an email letting you know if corrections are needed. You can always log back in to make corrections, after it has been processed. Students can also go back in and add colleges, if needed. 

CADAA

Class of 2026 Parents & Students should fill out the 26-27 CADAA between Oct 1, 2025- March 2, 2026. 

 

Before you do the CADAA:

STEP 1: Understand how you meet AB 540 requirements. 

 

STEP 2: Make sure parent’s 2024 taxes has been filed. (Students will not be eligible for federal fiancial aid if taxes have not been filed.) 

 

STEP 3: Students, if you are a new user, register your account. Save them somewhere safe, where you won’t forget, like a contact on your phone or a piece of paper you keep with other important documents.

Click here for a video walking you through registration. Watch from 24:20 – 33:50.

Please note the video is older, so the years/dates are inccorect. Class of 2026 is completing the 26-27 CADAA. The application will be asking for financial info from 2024.

 

Working on the CADAA: 

STEP 4: Student will start the 26-27 CADAA application. 

Here is a video walking you through the CADAA form. Watch from 34:00 – 1:20:00.

Please note the video is older, so the years/dates are inccorect. Class of 2026 is completing the 26-27 CADAA. The application will be asking for financial info from 2024.

 

STEP 5: Parent will sign the CADAA.  

Here is a video walking you through parent signing. Watch from 1:19:40- 1:20:40.

Please note the video is older, so the years/dates are inccorect. Class of 2026 is completing the 26-27 CADAA. The application will be asking for financial info from 2024.

 

Once you’re done with the CADAA:

STEP 6: Once it gets processed you will receive an email letting you know if corrections are needed. You can always log back in to make corrections, after it has been processed. Students can also go back in and add colleges, if needed. 

Next Step: Cal Grant

Studnets in California are potenitally eligible for the Cal Grant. Free money from the state of CA meant to assist with educational expenses. Students are eligible based on financial need and GPA. 

NEXT STEP: Create a WebGrants 4 Students account to view and manage your state financial aid awards such as the Cal Grant and Middle Class Scholarship.

  • Your GPA will be submitted by MIT Academy.
  • You can see what state grants you are eligble for. 
  • You will eventually identify the college you will attend so funds can be sent. 
  • School changes, address changes, and leave of absence requests can all be made through this account.

Other Financial Aid App: CSS Profile

The CSS Profile is an online application used by SOME colleges and scholarship programs to award college aid. You complete the CSS Profile in addition to the FAFSA/ CADAA, because the CSS Profile allows families to provide a more complete picture of their financial circumstances than the FAFSA/ CADAA alone.

  • Here is a list of colleges that require the CSS Profile (check the CSS Profile – Domestic Students column). Check to see if colleges you are applying to- require it. 
  • Application opens October 1st. Deadline varies by college, check with the college’s financial aid office. Deadlines are set for 11:59pm EST time. 
  • The CSS Profile is free to domestic undergraduate students whose family income is up to $100,000. If you do not receive a Fee Waiver, the fee for the initial application is $25. Additional reports are $16. Payment may be made via credit or debit card.

Before you do the CSS Profile:

STEP 1: Make sure you have the documents you will need: completed tax returns, W-2 forms and other records of current year income, records of untaxed income and benefits, assets, and bank statements.

 

STEP 2: Create your User Account if you haven’t already. 

  • Students, if you have a College Board account, sign in using the same credentials. This will save you time and help us apply fee waivers you received to your CSS Profile application.
  • Only noncustodial parents will create a separate parent account. Learn more about creating a parent account on the Profile for Parents page.

 

Working on the CSS Profile:

STEP 3: Start your CSS Profile.

Click here for a video walking you through the CSS Profile. 

 

Once you’re done with the CSS Profile: 

STEP 4: Review your dashboard. Your dashboard includes your payment receipt and any next steps, such as uploading documents through the Institutional Documentation Service (IDOC). You may also add additional schools at any time by clicking on “Add a College or Program.”

 

STEP 5: If you made a mistake on your application or need to include additional information after you submit, you can update your application by clicking “Correct Your CSS Profile” on your Dashboard. 

 

If you need assistance: Chat live or speak by phone with CSS Profile, Monday–Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.