Apply for Financial Aid

To qualify for federal and most state financial aid, you must meet several requirements:

1. Citizenship or Eligible Non-Citizen Status

• You Must Be:

  • A U.S. citizen, OR
  • An eligible non-citizen (such as a permanent resident, resident alien, refugee, or asylee).
    
    

• Important Notes:

  • Some California aid programs may have less strict rules for non-U.S. citizens.
  • Not Eligible:
    • Non-immigrants on temporary visas (for example, F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2, and others such as A, B-1, B-2, C, D-1, D-2, E, G, H series, K, L, M series, N, O series, P series, Q, R, S, TN, TD, V, TWOV, and NATO visas).
    • Individuals with only a “Notice of Approval to Apply for Permanent Residence” (Form I-171 or I-464).
    • Holders of G series visas (for international organizations).
    • Undocumented students or those with only temporary statuses like certain DACA cases (note: DACA recipients may be eligible for state or college aid; they should complete the FAFSA and check with the Financial Aid Office).
      
      

• Documentation:
  Social Security cards or driver’s licenses are not enough to prove citizenship or eligible non-citizen status. You must provide the specific documentation requested by the Financial Aid Office.

For more details on non-U.S. citizens’ eligibility, visit:
Non-U.S. Citizens Eligibility.

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2. Additional Eligibility Requirements

• Enrollment:

  • You must apply to and be enrolled at Las Positas College.
  • You need to be officially enrolled in a degree, certificate, or eligible transfer program in a declared major.
    
    

• Academic Progress:

  • You must be making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) according to the college’s financial aid policy.
    
    

• Financial Need:

  • Demonstrate financial need by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application.
    
    

• Loan/Grant Standing:

  • You must not be in default on any Federal student loans or owe a repayment on a Federal student grant.
    
    

• Educational Background:

  • You must have a high school diploma, GED, or a state-approved equivalent.
    
    

• Documentation:

  • Provide all documentation requested by the Financial Aid Office (check MyPORTAL for details).

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By meeting these criteria, you can be considered for federal and most state financial aid. Make sure to review all requirements and submit the proper documentation to the Financial Aid Office. Please confirm with our office on your eligibility and send all information with your 'Zonemail' email acccount & include your W#.

The Dream Act are two laws that passed in 2011 that allow AB 540 students to apply for and receive state & insitutional financial aid,

• If you are an AB 540 student and meet all of the following criteria, you are exempt from paying non-resident enrollment fees:

  Attendance Requirement	Completion of a Course of Study
  3 years of high school, adult school, community college (credit courses: only 2 Full-time years are considered) or any combination of the above in California OR 3 years of high school coursework and attended a combination of CA elementary, secondary, and high school	CA high school diploma, CA adult school, GED or the equivalent (HiSET, TASC, CHSPE) Degree from a CA Community College Fulfilled minimum transfer requirements to a UC or CSU Campus

• For more information, please view Quick Guide to SB 68 by Immigrants Rising
• You will need to submit documents to Admissions and Records to establish AB 540 status. 
• If required, complete an AB 540 CALIFORNIA NONRESIDENT TUITION EXEMPTION REQUEST affidavit saying you have filed (or will file when you are eligible to do so) for an immigration status. 

Types of Aid Available

Students only need to submit ONE California Dream Application to apply for multiple financial aid programs.

California College Promise Grant (Fee Waiver)

This grant covers the $46 per unit enrollment fee at California community colleges for eligible students.

Support from EOPS, CARE, or CalWORKs

These programs provide services such as tutoring, book vouchers, and additional financial assistance for eligible students.

Apply directly through each program's department:

• EOPS (Extended Opportunity Programs & Services)
• CalWORKs (California Work Opportunity & Responsibility to Kids)
• CARE Program (Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education)

Cal Grant A, B, & C

Provides financial assistance for tuition and school expenses when transferring to a four-year university.

• Deadlines:  September 2
• Apply using the California Dream Application and GPA Verification Form
• To qualify for GPA verification from LPC, students must have completed at least 16 college units (excluding basic skills and ESL courses). Otherwise, GPA verification must come from the student’s high school.

California Dream Act Service Incentive Grant (DSIG)

The California Dream Act Service Incentive Grant Program (DSIG) provides up to $3,000 per year for students who complete community or volunteer service.

• Must be a Cal Grant B recipient to qualify.
• Available to 2,500 students annually.

Chafee Grant (Foster Youth)

Financial aid program for current and former foster youth.

• Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but funds are limited.
• Apply using the California Dream Application and Chafee Grant Application

Tuition Difference After Establishing AB 540 Status

Institution	CA Resident Tuition for Fall & Spring Semester	Non-residents (taking 12 semester units) for Fall and Spring Semester
Las Positas College	$1,104*	$8,064
CSU	$5,742*	$16,812
UC	$12,570*	$47,293

*This is an estimate and the actual amounts are subject to change. 

Resources for Dreamers

• CSAC Resources for California Dream Act Application 
• Undocumented Students
• I Can Afford College 
• TODEC Legal Center

Your dependency status determines whose information is used to calculate your Student Aid Index (SAI)/Expected Family Contribution (EFC):

• Independent Student:
  Only your information (and your spouse's, if you are married) is used. You are considered an Independent Student if any of the following apply:

  • You were born before January 1, 2001 (as asked on the 2024–25 FAFSA).
  • You are married.
  • You have legal dependents of your own.
  • You are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces (having served on active duty).
  • You are a ward of the court or both of your parents are deceased.

• Dependent Student:
  If none of the above conditions apply, you are considered a Dependent Student, which means you must provide your parents’ income information on your FAFSA.

For more details, visit:
FAFSA Dependency Status Information

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Overriding Dependency Status

In some cases, you can have your dependency status changed through a Dependency Override Petition if you face extenuating circumstances (for example, situations involving abuse or other adverse family circumstances). To be considered for an override:

• You must document your circumstances with support from a professional familiar with your situation.
• You need to file a Request for Professional Judgement of Unusual Circumstances (2024–2025 Dependency Override Petition).

For guidance on this process, please contact a Financial Aid Advisor at lpcfinaid@laspositascollege.edu.

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Additional Support

If you are at risk of homelessness, you may be referred to Cassondra Reinsel, Student Resources Program Manager, who can provide immediate assistance and connect you with additional support services and resources.

Make sure to review your dependency status carefully, as it affects the information you provide and your eligibility for federal financial aid.

It’s not too late! If you have not yet submitted your FAFSA or CADAA for the correct aid year, you may still be eligible for grants for the fall and spring semesters. You can still submit an application and recieve retroactive payment.

If you have questions, please:

• Email us from your Zonemail account (include your W#)

Understanding FAFSA Submission Summary & Financial Aid Offers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OUgHGlU8Mg 

Check Your Financial Aid Status

Once you submit your FAFSA or CADAA, you must log in to My Portal to complete any required steps:

1. Go to MyPortal
2. Select CLASS-Web
3. Select the Financial Aid Tab
4. Click My Eligibility
5. Select Student Requirements
6. Choose the correct Aid Year

All required documents must be submitted before financial aid funds are released. No funds will be disbursed (except for the LPC Promise Scholarship) until all requirements are met.

If you are required to "Verify My Application", please note that processing may take several weeks.

Additional:

• Double-check that you submitted the correct FAFSA for the right aid year.
• Confirm that you entered our Federal School Code: 030357 in your application.

If you need further assistance, reach out via Zonemail or visit our Office.

If you cannot find your financial aid information, it may be due to the following reasons:

• You did not submit the FAFSA or CADAA.
• You did not enter our Federal School Code (030357) on your FAFSA.
• You submitted your FAFSA, but we have not yet received it (processing takes about 7–10 days)