California colleges urge students to fill out financial aid applications as deadline looms

California Community Colleges are urging students to submit their financial aid applications by Sept. 3, as federal financial aid applications are still down by more than 40,000 submissions.

When the Department of Education released an overhaul of the federal aid application for the first time in more than 40 years, the goal was to make it easier for students to apply and qualify for college financial aid.

What followed was a bureaucratic nightmare, leading to more than 30 issues with the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid and leaving many students still unable to complete their applications less than a month before the college decision deadline.

After students from mixed-status families were unable to complete the federal forms due to a technical error, the California Student Aid Commission announced in April that it would open the California Dream Act Application to all students as an alternative for state and campus-based financial aid.

Now, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and the California Student Aid Commission are urging community college students to submit their aid applications to be considered for all types of financial aid. Financial aid can be used to pay for tuition, fees, books, transportation, childcare, rent and other expenses.

“Current and prospective students should act now,” said Gina Browne, the assistant vice chancellor for equitable student learning and impact at the California Community Colleges. “No matter your financial status, I encourage you to submit your FAFSA or California Dream Act Application by Sept. 3 so you can get the most aid available, determine the amount of aid you are eligible for and better prepare for the academic year so you can really focus on your reaching your higher education goals.”

The California Student Aid Commission said that as of Tuesday, more than 40,000 fewer students had submitted a financial aid application as compared to last year, leaving hundreds of millions of dollars in debt-free financial aid left on the table.

College students need to submit a financial aid application in order to receive federal and state aid, scholarships, paid campus positions, loans and more.

The deadline for all types of financial aid is Sept. 3, including the Cal Grant, which is state aid that doesn’t need to be paid back.

“Nearly half of our students are not paying fees or tuition because they’ve filed a FAFSA or California Dream Act Application and are receiving financial aid that is covering those costs,” Browne said. “Don’t miss your chance to change your future. Financial aid is available year-round at community colleges but if you miss the Sept. 3 deadline, you could miss out on thousands of Cal Grant dollars which can really make a huge difference.”