Financial Aid | Steps to Apply
Step 1: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or CA Dream Act Applications (CADAA)
FAFSA
Complete the 2020-2021 Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA). Make note of MSJC school code: 001246. DO NOT mail your FAFSA to MSJC. Be sure to check out the "Before Beginning a FAFSA"
section of the federal website. The FAFSA on the Web Worksheet will help you know
what documents to gather so your FAFSA on the web experience will be quick and painless.
If you (and your parents if dependent) are a first-time user, you will be required to create an FSA ID and will enter your name, date of birth, Social Security number, contact information, and challenge questions and answers. The FSA ID, which consists of a user-created username and password. It allows users to electronically access personal information on federal student aid web sites as well as to electronically sign a FAFSA.
View the step-by-step guide to creating an FSA ID
You will be able to sign your FAFSA electronically. This saves time!
Approximately 3 to 5 days after you filed your FAFSA with the Federal Processor, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) via e-mail, if you provided a valid e-mail address on your FAFSA. If you do not have a valid e-mail address on file, your SAR will be mailed to you by the Federal Processor within 7 to 10 days. If you do not receive your SAR, please call 1-800-433-3243 or check on-line at Federal Student Aid.
Review the SAR to make sure all the information is correct. If corrections are needed, complete Part II of the SAR and mail Part II back to the Federal Processor. If you have your PIN, you may make corrections on-line. If no corrections are needed, keep the entire SAR for your records. MSJC will receive this information electronically
CA Dream Act Application (CADAA)
If you are an undocumented AB540 student, complete the 2020-2021 CA Dream Act Application. You may estimate your income if you have not completed your 2018 IRS tax return.
Review your application to make sure all the information is correct. Check your application status and/or make corrections.
Step 2: Cal Grant GPA Verification
If you are a California resident or eligible AB540 student and did not receive a Cal
Grant in previous years, you must submit a 2020-2021 FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application
and a completed GPA Verification Form to California Student Aid Commission by March
2, 2020. Follow the instructions below to determine which school verifies your GPA
on the 2020-2021 Verification Form.
- If you earned less than 16 college semester units prior to Spring 2020, then you must
submit the GPA Verification Form to your high school for verification. Check with
your high school for their deadlines to submit the form.
- If you earned 16 or more college semester units, including at least 1 unit at MSJC
prior to Spring 2020, you submitted your high school graduation date as well as all
of your official transcripts to MSJC Enrollment Services and they have been evaluated
by MSJC Enrollment Services, then MSJC will automatically send your cumulative GPA
to the California Student Aid Commission electronically. You do not need to submit
a GPA Verification Form.
- If you have completed 16 units but DO NOT have your high school graduation date on
file with MSJC Enrollment Services or have not submitted all of your official transcripts
and had them evaluated by MSJC Enrollment Services, then you must manually complete
a GPA Verification Form with the Evaluation Office.
- If you completed your high school education with a GED, a copy of your certificate
must be submitted along with the GPA Verification form and mailed to the Student Aid
Commission.
- If you have not attended MSJC at least in one term within two years prior to the term of the electronic submission, you will need to complete a paper GPA Verification form to the California Student Aid Commission on your own.
Step 3: Acknowledgement Email
After we receive your student aid report or California aid report, we will review
the information to determine if additional documents are needed from you (i.e. tax
transcripts, etc.) This is done to ensure the accuracy of the information you reported,
as required by federal and state regulations.
You should receive an acknowledgement email in your student email account 1-2 weeks after you receive your SAR. If you do not receive an acknowledgement email you may call (951) 487-3245 (San Jacinto Campus) or (951) 639-5245 (Menifee Valley Campus) to check your status.
Please note: If you received a California College Promise Grant based on your initial FAFSA or CADAA submission and later determined ineligible, you will be rebilled for your registration fees.
Step 4: Submit Documents
Submit all documents requested on your acknowledgement email. Make copies of all documents
before submitting, and put your (the student's) name and student identification number
on each page submitted. Documents may be submitted securely using the Student Support Hub or via mail. Please do not send documents that have not been requested by the MSJC Financial Aid
Office.
Step 5: Verification
Your application along with the supporting documents is reviewed for accuracy. We
will only review the files of students that are eligible to receive aid. This review
process may take 4-6 weeks. Applications are reviewed in order by date you completed
your file (submitted all requested documents). During this process, it may be necessary
to request additional information for clarification or to resolve discrepancies. You are encouraged to respond quickly. If you are in an ineligible SAP status we will only review your file once you have
reinstated.
Step 6: Award Notification Email
Once your file is awarded, you will be sent notification to your student e-mail that
your financial aid awards are available to view on your Self-Service. Self-Service will provide you with the types of aid programs offered to you along
with eligible amounts per term and /or by year based on a full-time enrollment status.
Step 7: Disbursement
After receipt of the financial aid award notification email, aid will be disbursed
according to the disbursement schedule. BankMobile will disburse any eligible funds based on the refund preference you selected. Please refer to our Disbursement Schedule & Important Dates. Refunds for each semester
will be processed through BankMobile no earlier than the first week of classes.
*Note: You must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements to receive your financial aid. Refer to the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (available in the Financial Aid Office or at the MSJC/Financial Aid website) for more information on this requirement.