Financial Aid Information
This newsletter is updated for 2023-24 application.
What is Financial Aid?
Financial Aid is any form of funding that helps students and their families pay for college and vocational training. It provides opportunities and access to college and career programs, and helps cover the gap between family income and the price of post-secondary education.
How do I pay for college and/or career training?
Grants, Scholarships, Work-Study, and Student Loans are different types of Financial Aid. We will briefly review each type of financial assistance below. For more detailed information, watch our recording of the 2022 Financial Aid Night posted above.
Grants: money that does not have to be repaid
Scholarships: money that does not have to be repaid
Work-Study: money that you work for
Student Loans: money that you will need to pay back later
Grants
Federal Grants
Pell Grant (Max $6,895 a year)
Fill out the FAFSA
State Grants
Cal Grant A ($5,742 (CSU) & $12,570 (UC), Income based, High School GPA 3.0)
Cal Grant B ($1,656, Income based, High School GPA 2.0)
Cal Grant C ($1,094, Income based, Vocational, Technical Programs)
Promise Grant ($46/unit), NOT Income based, 1st yr college student, Full Time
Student Success Grant
Fill out the FAFSA or CADAA (DREAM ACT)
Money available to colleges in California only
TIP! Students can help families pay for college by getting good grades and
doing well in school.
Other Types of California State Grants
Middle Class Scholarship
- Must be enrolled at a UC or CSU
- Can receive between 10% and 40% of tuition and fees
- Receive up to 4 years, depending on education level
- Must be enrolled at least half time
- First-time college student
- Family Income up to $191,000
- Must complete the FAFSA or Dream Act Application to be considered, click here to apply.
- UC maximum award for 2019-20 is $5,028
- CSU maximum award for 2019-20 is $2,298
- For more information, click here
California Chafee Grant
- Assists current and former foster youth to help pay for college or career/technical training
- Administered by the Commission through an interagency agreement with California Dept of Social Services (CDSS)
- Max annual award amount is $6,000 per academic year, based on unmet need
- Portable award (eligible schools outside of California)
- $20 million in additional funding to increase access awards for former or current foster youth at California public schools
- For more information, click here
Promise Grant
- California Community Colleges offer up to 2 years of free tuition, book assistance
- First-time college student
- Must take a minimum of 12 units per semester, maintain a 2.0 GPA, must be a California resident
- No income requirement
- Signing the Palomar Promise Grant application is required in addition to the college application and FAFSA.
- It is a first-come, first-serve program and funds will run out!
- For more information, click here
Scholarships
Scholarships are available to students based on GPA, ethnic background, gender, athletic, artistic, or creative abilities. Be sure to check with each college for institutional and merit scholarships. Poway High School has the scholarship deadline log with local scholarship opportunities, and the list below include a few trusted scholarship websites (just to name a few):
Remember, scholarships are free money that does not have to be repaid!
Work Study
Remember, work study is money you work for!
Work study allow students to earn a paycheck to help pay for college expenses
Federal program - FAFSA application
Part-time job while enrolled in college
Jobs are on-campus
Flexible hours
Accommodates class schedule changes
Easy for travel
Lots of different job opportunities
Sounds great, How do I get financial aid?
The FAFSA is called the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The application is FREE. If you are asked to pay for the FAFSA, then it's probably a SCAM.
The FAFSA application is sent to the colleges you are applying to. You will have an opportunity in the application to list up to 10 colleges. List your top colleges first. With this information, colleges will determine your financial need and email you a financial aid reward letter. A reward letter is mostly likely sent out in the spring.
The FAFSA Application
Available October 1st for the following academic year. Priority funding deadline is March 2nd. Don't wait until the last minute! Apply at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.
The Dream Act Application is an alternative application to the FAFSA for applicants without a social security number or DACA. The application is available October 1st. Apply at https://dream.csac.ca.gov/landing.
To begin the FAFSA, you will need to create an FSA ID.
What is an FSA ID?
Please remember to do the following when creating your FSA ID:
- Write your name as it appears on your Social Security Card
- Make sure your birthday is correct
- Make sure your social security number is correct
- Write down your username and password and keep it in a safe place
- Write down your challenge question answers and keep them in a safe place
Tip! You may want to think about creating a separate email account for your college and financial aid information. Inboxes today are loaded SPAM and hard to manage.
Which FAFSA do I complete?
If you plan to start college Fall 2023, then complete the 2023-2024 Aid Year: Report 2021 Income. If you plan to take summer school before Fall 2023, then you will need to fill out the 2022-23 and 2023-24 applications.
FAFSA Reference Materials
- StudentAid.gov/completefafsa - answers to commonly asked questions
- Call for help with your application - 800-433-3243 (800-4FED-AID)
- YouTube.com/FederalStudentAid - lots of great videos explaining the process
- Twitter.com/FAFSA
- Facebook.com/FederalStudentAid
myStudentAid Mobile App
Conveniently Manage Your Student Aid
Complete, sign, and submit the FAFSA using the mobile app.
Download the Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play
POWAY HIGH COUNSELING
Email: jbrown@powayusd.com
Website: http://www.powayusd.com/phs
Location: 15500 Espola Road, Poway, CA, USA
Phone: (858)748-0245
Twitter: @counseling_phs