Apply for Aid

Awarding Process

Financial aid applications are processed centrally by federal Central Processing Services (CPS). The processor does not award or deny funds. They assist in calculating financial need. Awards are based on the following:

Step 1: Completing Verification

If a student's financial aid application is selected for review by the Financial Aid Office Quality Assurance Program, the Financial Aid Office must receive all supporting documentation from applicant and parents (or spouse if married). This involves cross-checking information from all documentation (including the application) related to earned income, untaxed income, expenses, assets, liabilities and household size. This process is called "verification".

Step 2: Assigning Budgets

Financial aid students are assigned a Standard Nine-Month Student Budget which includes basic costs of fees, books and supplies, room and board, transportation and personal expenses.

Step 3: Calculating Family Contribution

The Financial Aid Office verifies parent and student contribution as calculated by the Federal need analysis formula. This family contribution is the amount which the family may reasonably be expected to contribute toward meeting the student's college expenses. Details about how the family contribution is calculated are located under the "Eligibility" section. The formula process is called "need analysis". The theory of need analysis is based on the following assumptions:

• Students have primary responsibility to pay for their education
• Parents, to the extent that they are able, have responsibility to pay for their children's education.
• Parents will contribute, as they are able, funds for their children's education.
• Families should be evaluated in a consistent and equitable manner while recognizing that special circumstances can alter a family's ability to contribute.

All students (dependent and independent) are expected to contribute toward their education. Your expected contribution is determined by adding together all resources which include:

• Earnings from employment;
• All other assistance such as Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), Social Security and Veterans' Benefits;
• A percentage of assets such as savings and investments.
  

Step 4: Establishing Financial Need

From the need analysis, we are able to determine the relative financial strength or ability to pay for postsecondary educational expenses. Financial need is determined by subtracting the amount of the expected contribution from the standard budget. The remainder equals financial aid eligibility or "financial need".

What It Costs - Expected Contribution = Financial Need

Receive Award

The federal Central Processing Services will inform you and CSUSB about your Expected Family Contribution. Then CSUSB will tell you how much - and what sorts of - aid you qualify for. Federal student aid may not cover all college expenses.

Financial aid is awarded in the form of a "package" or combination of different types of assistance. Preferential treatment is given to undergraduate and graduate students who have the greatest financial aid eligibility and who have a completed file in the CSUSB Financial Aid Office by April 15, prior to the start of the new academic year.

CSUSB defines an academic year as three terms, the first begins in September, the second in January and the third term begins in April. There are approximately 10 weeks of instruction per term.

All financial aid awards are subject to change based on new financial information or changes in federal or state funding.

Below are three examples of how a student may be awarded financial aid. YOUR FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE WILL BE DIFFERENT.

In the above example, the expected family contribution amounted to $800 ($800 from parents and $0 from the student). The student's need of $16,233 was met through the Pell Grant, State University Grant, Federal Work Study and Federal Subsidized Direct Loan and Pell Grant. The student's remaining budget was met through Federal Direct PLUS Loan.

This particular student lives at home and has a lower expected contribution from parents. Therefore, this student warrants additional assistance in the form of a Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG).

Below is an example of the same student but he/she did not apply by March 1 and did not complete his/her file by April 15.

In this example, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal Work Study, State University Grant (SUG) funds have been exhausted. However, student qualified for a SMART GRANT. Early applications are given first consideration for grant assistance. A limited amount of Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants, Federal Work Study and State University Grant are available. The student's remaining budget was met through Federal Direct PLUS loan. Apply early! 

Awarding Policies

California State University, San Bernardino reserves the right to adjust or cancel financial aid awards at any time due to changes in availability of funding or in a student's financial need, state residency, marital or academic status or failure to comply with state, federal and university regulations.

Policy One – California State University, San Bernardino reserves the right to review, adjust or cancel financial aid awards at any time because of changes in federal, state, or CSUSB availability of funds.

Policy Two – State University Grant funds are awarded based on need and on a first come, first served basis to cover part or all of registration fees.

Policy Three – To be eligible for State University Grant, you must enroll in a minimum of 6 units of undergraduate, credential, or 2nd BA course work or a minimum of 4 units of classified graduate course work.

Policy Four – Pell Grant is based on academic year eligibility and will be adjusted each quarter according to the number of units in which you enroll.

Teaching Credential students: To receive a Federal Pell Grant, you must be classified as a ‘PBAC’ (post-baccalaureate credential) AND you must be a credential OR a conditionally classified credential student. In addition, you must be enrolled in at least 6 units of teaching credential courses. Prerequisite or ‘waiver’ courses are not included in calculating your enrolled units for purposes of the Federal Pell Grant program.

Policy Five – You are responsible for paying registration fees if you do not receive financial aid to cover your university charges in full. Failure to pay your remaining balance on time may result in you being dropped from your courses and/or inability to register for future terms.

Policy Six – If you stop attending a class, you are responsible for following the withdrawal procedures and deadlines published in the class schedule. Withdrawal from one of more courses may result in cancellation or repayment of part or all of your aid.

Policy Seven - If you received a grant payment and your enrollment status is reduced during a term, you may be billed for any overpaid amount.

Policy Eight – If you withdraw from the University, any fee refund due will be returned to the appropriate financial aid account.

Policy Nine – When the University prepares your disbursement, your aid will be applied towards your university account for allowable institutional charges. Any funds remaining will be issued to you in the form of a check or will be sent to your banking account through Direct Deposit.

Policy Ten – Your eligibility is based on enrollment and educational expenses. You must be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible for a Federal loan (6 units of undergraduate, credential, or 2nd BA course work or a minimum of 4 units of classified graduate course work).

Graduate master’s degree student: must be enrolled in a minimum of 4 units of courses numbered 500 or higher or 6 units of lower division courses that meet their Master's Degree enrollment requirement.

Policy Eleven – Your eligibility for financial aid programs is contingent upon your meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policies. You must complete the required number of units as described in the SAP Policy.

Policy Twelve – Regulations governing financial aid are subject to change at any time without notice.

Policy Thirteen – Your financial aid offer will be void and/or one or more financial aid programs (as appropriate) will be cancelled if it is based on any error in determining eligibility for aid whether you or the Financial Aid Office made the error.

Policy Fourteen – Your award may be adjusted or cancelled due to changes in financial aid need, state residency, dependency, marital or academic status or if you fail to comply with State, Federal and University regulations.

Awarding Assumptions

If, in a prior year, you received fee coverage assistance through a program such as any fee waiver program, Cal Grant, Military Tuition Assistance, etc., we assume you will receive those funds for the current academic year. Contact us immediately if this assistance has changed or if you will have assistance from any source not listed on your Financial Aid Award Notification.

For UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS, we have assumed: They will carry a full time load of 12 or more units per quarter (minimum of 6 units per quarter is required to receive financial aid); You will attend all three quarters of the academic year. If you graduate at the end of the Fall or Winter quarter and plan to return to CSUSB to pursue another degree, you must notify our office. You have declared a degree objective with the Records, Registration & Evaluations Office; You will ONLY attend CSUSB during the current academic year. If you attend another college during the year, you must notify us immediately;

For PELL ELIGIBLE CREDENTIAL STUDENTS, we have assumed: They will carry a full time load of 12 or more Pell eligible units per quarter. Please view the list of Pell eligible courses located under "Eligibility" section; You have been admitted into a Conditionally Classified Credential or Credential Program; You are pursuing a single subject, multiple subject or special education credential.

For GRADUATE STUDENTS, we have assumed: They will enroll in 4 or more units per quarter of 500 level courses or higher; You declared a Master's degree as your degree objective; You have been admitted into the master’s program by your department, which is on file with Records, Registration & Evaluations

For CERTIFICATE STUDENTS: They need to contact the Financial Aid Office for Financial Aid eligibility.

For ALL POST BACCALAUREATE & CREDENTIAL/CLASSIFIED STUDENTS, we have assumed: They will enroll in 12 or more units per quarter; They will attend all three quarters of the academic year. If they graduate at the end of the Fall or Winter quarter and plan to return to CSUSB to pursue another degree, they must notify our office.

Additional Awarding Information

Submission of false or incomplete information may result in immediate cancellation of a student's award and repayment of all funds that have been received. It may also result in consequences with the university and the Federal government.

An award notification is not a guarantee that a student will receive financial aid. The Financial Aid Office (FAO) is required to clarify or confirm such things as Selective Service status, post-baccalaureate status, dependency, citizenship, admission status, grade level, and satisfactory academic progress (SAP). Students may view the CSUSB Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy under Apply for Aid >Eligibility. Be sure to read it, as it applies to you. However, funds will not be authorized to disburse until all conflicting items have been resolved. ***Failure to comply with these standards may result in cancellation of future aid.**