•  Financial Aid
     
    This is last year's info.  Financial aid info for Class of 2023 will be available October 1, 2022

    Click here for the 2021 Financial Aid e-mail 

    Click here for the FAFSA   

    Click here for the CA Dream Act Application

     
    FINANCIAL AID
     
    Beginning in October of your senior year, you should be initiating the financial aid process.
     
    What is Financial Aid?
    Financial aid consists of scholarships, grants, loans, and employment opportunities that are available to help students pay for higher education. It is intended to supplement family resources, not replace them.
     
    There are two basic categories of financial aid:
    • Merit-based, which is generally given in recognition of special skills, talents, and/or academic ability. These include Merit scholar, ie top 10% of the class, outstanding athlete, accomplished musician, etc.
    • Need-based represents the major portion of help available for post-secondary education. Need-based (commonly called financial need,) is the difference between what it will cost to attend to post-secondary institutions and what the family will be able to pay.
     
    The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is our U.S. government-sponsored program that provides college grants. The FAFSA goes online on October 1st of the student's senior year for the award period of the following academic year. Students should file only one FAFSA regardless of how many colleges they are considering. Clicking here will take you directly to the FAFSA web site, where you can fill out an application online. For public schools in California, the deadline to file the FAFSA is March 2nd. Students not eligible for federal financial aid should complete the CA Dream Act Application.
     
    In Marin, we are fortunate to have an additional source of financial aid. 10,000 Degrees, located in San Rafael, is a non-profit organization committed to helping families complete the FAFSA. They also provide financial help for college and vocational programs. Free workshops are also available. Click here to visit the 10,000 Degrees website.
     
    Students and their families are expected to contribute to the cost of college to the extent that they’re able.  This is called the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The FAFSA will generate the EFC for a family. 
     
    For California financial aid (Cal Grant), TUHSD electronically submits the GPA Verification Form, for most students. If you are notified that your GPA Verification form was not submitted electronically, you must file the paper version of the Cal Grant GPA Verification form.  This form must be completed by March 2nd (September 2 for community college). Students must have at least a 3.0 GPA to be eligible for Cal Grant A and a 2.0 for Cal Grant B.  Cal Grant does NOT need to be repaid and is based on need. For more information, go to the CSAC website.
     
    Some private schools require the CSS Profile as well. These are typically schools that award their own funds to accepted students. This form requests more complete financial information than does the FAFSA. Each institution customizes the profile. Complete the CSS Profile here.
     
    LOANS:
    Subsidized, Unsubsidized, and parent loans may be available through the college’s Financial Aid Office. Interest rates and repayment plans vary. For a good overview of the student loan process, please visit  Student Loan Report
     
    WORK STUDY:
    If additional funding is needed, students may be eligible for jobs on campus. This is called the     Federal Work-Study Program. To qualify for this, the students must complete the FAFSA  or CA Dream Act ( if applicable) and be awarded work-study.
     
     

    SCHOLARSHIPS:

    Colleges are required to provide a net price calculator on their website. Often school-based scholarships will be shown on the net price calculator. The net price calculator will give you an idea of how much aid you will receive from that specific school. It is often found in the Financial Aid section.  Here is an example of a net price calculator.
     
    The following links will take you to popular scholarship sites.
     
    Search over $1 billion in scholarships at Fastweb or FinancialAid.org
     
    Scholarship based on academics and accomplishments.
     
     
     
    For an idea of college costs, click here.
     
    IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER:
    -Apply for financial aid, no matter what!
    -Watch for deadlines!
    -Apply as early as possible.
    -Answer all questions completely, accurately, and do not leave any blank.