COVID-19 and Financial Aid

If your (or your spouse’s or parent’s) income or employment has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, or you have extenuating circumstances related to your income that the financial aid office should be aware of, you may be able to request an appeal to use your more recent income on your 2021-22 FAFSA.

This type of appeal is referred to as an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Appeal. The purpose of this appeal process is to evaluate any special circumstances that may have impacted the amount or type of aid a student may be eligible to receive. These decisions happen on a case-by-case basis. Students will need to complete verification prior to completing an EFC appeal.

Before you request an appeal, log in at cypresscollege.verifymyfafsa.com and check to make sure you’ve completed verification. If you have not yet completed Verification, and do not see that option when you log in, please contact your designated Financial Aid Technician.

To request an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Appeal: (View a video tutorial, or step-by-step instructions with screenshots.)

1. Log in at cypresscollege.verifymyfafsa.com (using your myGateway information).
2. Click the blue request button on the top right-hand side.
3. Choose “Family Contribution Appeal” by clicking on the green + button.
4. Briefly explain your reason for request, such as “loss of employment” or “decrease in salary.”
5. Click submit – you should now see the Appeal in your task window (it will be in its own tab).
6. Click the gray button to fill out the form, select the special circumstance that applies to you.
7. Provide a detailed statement that explains your change in income, then sign your form and click submit.
8. Upload any documentation that helps support your case (such as your most recent pay stubs, letter of last date of employment, and proof of any unemployment benefits received.).

If you have specific questions, please reach out to your designated Financial Aid Technician, or contact us through Cranium Café for live assistance.

Students that drop any course prior to the Freeze Date will need to repay any Pell grant funds that were paid to them for that course. Students that drop a course (earning a W grade or get an Incomplete) will not owe back their Financial Aid (the aid is based off Frozen Units) as long as they do not drop ALL of their courses. However, it may impact your Satisfactory Academic Progress in future semesters. To find the freeze date for the current semester, please check the disbursement schedule.

Students that drop all of their courses before the Freeze Date will have to repay the Pell grant funds that were awarded to them. Students that drop all of their courses after the Freeze Date will have their eligibility calculated based on the percentage attended/earned and any unearned amount will have to be repaid by the student. This is called a Return to Title IV calculation, in which you will be notified the amount you owe within two weeks of completely withdrawing. Complete withdrawals may also impact your Satisfactory Academic Progress in future semesters. To find the freeze date for the current semester, please check the disbursement schedule.

If you have received all eligible grants and you need additional financial assistance, you may apply for a Federal Student Loan. (Loans are not available for the summer session).

For more information, please visit our Loan section: cypresscollege.edu/financial-aid/federal-aid-programs/.

If you would like to pursue obtaining a student loan, please reach out to Nishad Marathe (Loan Coordinator) at nmarathe@cypresscollege.edu.

Complete either the FAFSA (fafsa.gov) or CADAA (dream.csac.ca.gov). The 2020-21 year applies for the current school year (through summer 2021). Students have until June 30, 2021 to submit their 2020-21 application.

The 2021-22 year begins fall 2021. Applications for the 2021-22 aid year will be available starting October 1, 2020.

Once you submit and we receive your application, you may need to complete additional required documentation through our online software at cypresscollege.verifymyfafsa.com. (You’ll receive an email with instructions once we receive your application).

Cypress College partners with ECMC Solutions to help navigate your federal student loans! With a mission of student success, Solutions provides FREE one-on-one counseling:

• Discuss options for manageable repayment
• Learn important facts about forbearance and deferment
• Access your balance and know your servicer
• Discover best practices to manage your loans
• Guidance if you fall behind on payments or are nearing default
• Financial literary resources

ECMC Solutions counselors will always introduce themselves by name and let you know they are calling on your behalf. Solutions counselors call only from U.S. area codes such as (651) and (612). ECMC counselors will ask you to confirm your identity to ensure we are speaking with you before sharing any information.

ECMC Solutions services are provided to you free of charge. Counselors are available to help you through ECMC Solutions Live chat, email, or by phone at (877) 331-3262.

Hours of operation are Monday–Thursday 7:30 a.m.–8 p.m. CT, Friday 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. CT.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Government implemented measures to pause student loan repayments and set interest rates to 0%. These benefits will end on August 31, 2023. Interest will begin accruing on September 1, 2023, and student borrowers will need to start making payments in October 2023.

Make sure you contact your lender or ECMC Solutions for more information. You can also review this Federal Student Aid help page for more details on preparing for repayment.

Cypress College has signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and intends to use no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 2003(a)(1) of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students, for HEERF III. Cypress College awarded funds for the Summer 2021 semester on July 20, 2021 and began awarding for the fall 2021 semester on October 5, 2021.

The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP is about 50% of our Total Student Population.

The methodology used for student selection was structured using eligibility determined by the Department of Education. This used student data from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) as well as enrollment data to determine student eligibility for the first round of awards. The first round of eligible students must be enrolled in at least 1 unit for summer 2021, submitted a FAFSA or CADAA and have completed all eligibility requirements (U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens, males registered with Selective Service, be a high school graduate or GED, or otherwise meet ATB (Ability to Benefit) requirements), have a complete financial aid file, and have an EFC of 5,711 or less. To be eligible for a Summer 2021 HEERF III grant, students must: 1. Have completed a 20-21 FAFSA or 20-21 California Dream Act Application and have a valid processed record with EFC (Expected Family Contribution) listing Cypress College, 2. Have a complete 20-21 financial aid file, 3. Be considered a Cypress College student (home campus is Cypress College), and 4. Be currently enrolled in at least 1 unit or more at Cypress College at the time of awarding. Priority was given to any student with an EFC of 5,711 or less as of July 20, 2021.

Cypress College has completed the awarding process for the summer 2021 $250 Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) grant from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) for emergency financial assistance as a response to COVID-19. This is a grant that does not need to be repaid and will not affect your future financial aid eligibility. Funds are limited and awarded on first-come, first-served basis.

Eligibility requirements and disbursement amounts for fall 2021 are to be determined. This page will be updated as soon as we have more information.

For the summer 2021 HEERF III (ARP) grant, students must (as of 7/20/21):

• Have successfully completed the 2020-21 FAFSA (US Citizens and Eligible Non-citizens) or a 2020-21 CADAA (Non-Residents)
• Have a complete 2020-21 financial aid file with no outstanding financial aid requirements
• Be a Cypress College student: summer 2021 home campus according to Admissions & Records must be Cypress College
  • If you received Pell grant funds from another school during Summer 2021, you are not eligible to receive this grant from Cypress College – please check with your primary school for HEERF III.
• Be currently enrolled in at least 1 unit for Summer 2021 (or already successfully completed 1 unit for summer 2021)
  • If you dropped ALL of your summer 2021 courses, you are not eligible.
• Have a GOOD, WARNING, or PRO1 SAP status
• Have an EFC of 5,711 or less

Beginning the week of October 4, 2021, Cypress College plans to begin awarding fall 2021 Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) grant from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) for emergency financial assistance as a response to COVID-19. This is a grant that does not need to be repaid and will not affect student’s future financial aid eligibility. Funds are limited and awarded on first-come, first-served basis. The Cypress College Financial Aid Office will identify and notify eligible students (based on the criteria below) via their preferred email address in myGateway.

Cypress College has completed the awarding process for fall 2021 Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) grant from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) for emergency financial assistance as a response to COVID-19. This is a grant that does not need to be repaid and will not affect student’s future financial aid eligibility. Funds are limited and awarded on first-come, first-served basis. The Cypress College Financial Aid Office will identify and notify eligible students (based on the criteria below) via their preferred email address in myGateway.

For the fall 2021 HEERF III (ARP) grant, students must (as of 10/4/2021):

• Have successfully completed the 2021-22 FAFSA (US Citizens and Eligible Non-citizens) or a 2021-22 CADAA (Non-Residents)
• Have a complete 2021-22 financial aid file with no outstanding financial aid requirements
• Be a Cypress College student: fall 2021 home campus according to Admissions & Records must be Cypress College
• Be currently enrolled in at least 1 unit for fall 2021 (or already successfully completed 1 unit for fall 2021)
  • If you dropped ALL of your fall 2021 courses, you are not eligible.
• Have an EFC of 10,000 or less

For eligible students, the award amount was based on their Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from their 2021-22 Financial Aid Application (FAFSA/CADAA).

• Students with EFC of 5,846 or less received $2,000 for fall 2021.
• Students with EFC of 5,847 to 10,000 received $1,000 for fall 2021.

Cypress College has signed and returned the certification and agreement form, and intends to use the funds to provide emergency financial aid grants to students, in an amount equal to the student portion of HEERF I.

The total amount of HEERF III funds available to students = $13,854,009.

Amount disbursed to students as of December 31, 2022 = $13,824,509

Total number of students applied/disbursed = 9,675
*The 9675 is not the unduplicated student count. For example, students who received the HEERF 3 grant for fall 2021 could have also received the grant for spring 2022.

Amount of Grant: 

• Summer 2021: 1,311 eligible students were awarded $250 in emergency aid.
• Fall 2021*:
  • 618 students were awarded $1,000,       
  • 4,675 students were awarded $2,000   
  • 1 student was awarded $2600
  • 64 students were awarded $3000  
• Spring 2022: 5,254 students were awarded $500   
• Summer 2022:
  • 1,414 students were awarded $500
  • 1 student awarded $159  

*During March 2022, there were 84 students who were identified to no longer meet the Fall 2021 State Emergency Grant (CCAEMR) eligibility requirements. 84 awards were cancelled, and the funds were replaced with HEERF 3 funds. Fall 2021 HEERF 3 grant amounts have been updated to account for the transfer of funds.

*During March 2022, the Cypress College Financial Aid office cancelled HEERF 3 funds for students who had BankMobile returns (stale checks) due to not setting up a refund preference in BankMobile from summer 2021 through spring.

The Cypress College Financial Aid Office reviewed all students as of Tuesday, July 20, 2021, to verify the student has completed a FAFSA/CADAA application, with a valid output record (ISIR) with EFC, listing Cypress College, and is currently as of Tuesday, July 20, 2021, a Cypress College student, enrolled in 1 unit or more, and with a Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) status of good, warning, or probation (Pro1). Priority was first given to any student with an EFC of 5,711 or less.

Students who met these requirements were awarded $250. Students who were awarded, received a notification via email “Financial Aid Offer,” and is also viewable in the myGateway student portal. Disbursement was made, and funds were sent to Bank Mobile, via our normal financial aid refund process. Any student who chose to not register for a Bank Mobile profile will be sent a paper check, beginning August 13, 2021, until funds are exhausted.

An email notification was sent to all eligible fall 2021 HEERF students, notifying them of their eligibility and awarding for this grant.

Due to the late disbursement date in the summer 2021 semester, there was no advertisement of the grant offering other than this page and on the COVID 19 homepage for Cypress College.

Cypress College has signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and intends to use no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 314(a)(1) of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students, for HEERF II. Cypress College will award funds over the spring 2021 semester, beginning April 13, 2021.

The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 314(a)(1) of the CRRSAA is about 50% of our Total Student Population.

The methodology used for student selection was structured using eligibility determined by the Department of Education. This used student data from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as well as enrollment data to determine student eligibility for the first round of awards. The first round of eligible students must be enrolled in at least 1 unit for spring 2021, submitted a FAFSA and have completed all eligibility requirements (U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens, males registered with Selective Service, be a high school graduate or GED, or otherwise meet ATB (Ability to Benefit) requirements), have a complete financial aid file, and have an awarded Pell grant.

Unlike HEERF I, HEERF II greatly expanded eligibility.  Students do not need to meet SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress) or be in Probation status.  Additionally, the requirement was removed where a student needed to apply or opt-in to certify that they had COVID related expenses for HEERF II.  Students are also now allowed to be in an online program, which was not allowed for HEERF I.

To be eligible for a HEERF II grant, students must: 1. Complete a 20-21 FAFSA and have a valid processed record with EFC (Expected Family Contribution) listing Cypress College, 2. Have a complete 20-21 financial aid file, 3. Be considered a Cypress College student (home campus is Cypress College), and 4. Be currently enrolled in at least 1 unit or more at Cypress College at the time of awarding. Priority is first given to any student awarded a Pell Grant as of April 9, 2021.  Subject to available funding, the second category to be awarded will be students who may not be awarded Pell Grant, but based in order of EFC from lowest EFC to highest. Finally, as funding permits, we will award students who have a valid FAFSA record (ISIR) and are currently enrolled. Funding will continue until all funds are exhausted. 

Cypress College has signed and returned the certification and agreement form, and intends to use the funds to provide emergency financial aid grants to students, in an amount equal to the student portion of HEERF I.

The total amount of HEERF II funds available to students = $4,000,359.00.

Amount distributed to students as of May 4, 2021 = $4,000,359.00.

Total number of students applied/disbursed = 4,849 Amount of Grant: Eligible students were awarded $825 in emergency aid – one student was awarded the remaining $759.

1. The Cypress College Financial Aid Office reviewed all students as of Friday, April 9, 2021, to verify the student has completed a FAFSA application, with a valid output record (ISIR) with EFC, listing Cypress College, and is currently as of Friday, April 9, 2021 a Cypress College student, enrolled in 1 unit or more. Priority was first given to any student awarded a Pell Grant as of April 9, 2021.  Subject to available funding, the second category to be awarded will be to students who may not be awarded Pell Grant, but based in order of EFC from lowest EFC to highest, as long as they did not or have not already received a baccalaureate degree and have exceeded the 600% Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU) for Pell grant. Finally, as funding permits, we will award students who have a valid FAFSA record (ISIR) and are currently enrolled. Funding will continue until all funds are exhausted. 
2.  Students who met these requirements will be awarded $825, as funding permits. Students who are awarded, receive a notification via email “Financial Aid Offer,” and which is also made viewable in the myGateway student portal. Disbursement is made, and funds are sent to Bank Mobile, via our normal financial aid refund process. Any student who chooses to not register for a Bank Mobile profile will be sent a paper check, beginning May 14, 2021, until funds are exhausted.
3. If funding permits, during the subsequent weekly rounds, the Financial Aid Office will also consider later applicants who had not applied by the date of the first round.

Due to the later date in the spring 2021 semester, and the relaxed requirements for the grant, with no application, there is no advertisement of the grant offering other than this page on the COVID 19 homepage for Cypress College.

• IRS Instructions

Depending upon availability of funds, by mid-June 2021, Cypress College will also award aid for AB540 and DACA students, who were not eligible for HEERF II, up to $500. These grants, using State funding sources, will also be in the amount of $500 and will be awarded to enrolled students who met that criteria.  More information will follow once those funds are received by the State. It is anticipated there will also be no application process.

For the spring 2021 HEERF (CARES Act) grant, students must:

• Have successfully completed the 2020-21 FAFSA (US Citizens and Eligible Non-citizens)
• Have a complete 2020-21 financial aid file with no outstanding financial aid requirements
• Be a Cypress College student: spring 2021 home campus according to Admissions & Records must be Cypress College
• Be in Good / Warning / or Probation standing for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for spring 2021
  • If currently disqualified, you must submit a SAP Appeal and be approved first (deadline to submit SAP Appeal: April 30, 2021) 
• Be currently enrolled in spring 2021 courses (or already successfully completed a spring 2021 course)
  • If you dropped ALL of your spring 2021 courses, you are not eligible

Please make sure to complete any outstanding 2020-21 financial requirements as soon as possible, as your HEERF application cannot be processed until you do so.

As of March 2021, we have awarded all HEERF funds for the spring 2021 semester.

For the fall 2020 HEERF (CARES Act) grant, students must:

• Have successfully completed the 2020-21 FAFSA (US Citizens and Eligible Non-citizens)
• Have a complete 2020-21 financial aid file with no outstanding financial aid requirements
• Be a Cypress College student: fall 2020 home campus according to Admissions & Records must be Cypress College
• Be in Good / Warning / or Probation standing for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for fall 2020
  • If currently disqualified, you must submit a SAP Appeal and be approved first (deadline to submit SAP Appeal: November 29, 2020) 
• Be currently enrolled in fall 2020 courses (or already successfully completed a fall 2020 course)
  • If you dropped ALL of your fall 2020 courses, you are not eligible

Please note: if you have already applied and received an HEERF award for fall 2020, please do not apply again. At this time, students cannot receive multiple awards.

As of November 18, 2020, we have awarded all HEERF funds for the fall 2020 semester. We will update this section as soon as we have information regarding the possibility of awarding for spring 2021.

Cypress College has signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and intends to use no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

Cypress College has received $3,573,967.

Cypress College has awarded $3,573,967 to 7,152 students as of November 18, 2020.

The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is about 50% of our Total Student Population.

The methodology used for student selection was structured using eligibility determined by the Department of Education. This used student data from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as well as enrollment data to determine student eligibility for the first round of awards. Eligible students must be enrolled for spring, enrolled in an on-campus program, and eligible for the FAFSA, completing all eligibility requirements (U.S. citizens, HS graduates or GED, males registered with Selective Service, meeting SAP or in Probation status, and completing verification requirements.). These student populations are sent an electronic link to an Emergency Grant request form to be completed and submitted for evaluation and awarding. Instructions and guidance are provided on the form.

Weekly rounds of awarding were processed since the funding was made available, through the end of the spring semester. HEERF information for subsequent terms is forthcoming.

1. Student submits a “HEERF Request Form” during the application period, which began on May 5, 2020 and closes Friday, July 30, 2020.
   • The financial aid office staff reviews all requests on a first-come-first-serve basis.
2. Review includes checking to see if the student:
   • has completed a 2019-20 FAFSA application and qualifies for federal Title IV aid,
   • has a complete 2019-20 Financial Aid file (not outstanding requirements),
   • was enrolled or completed at least 1 spring 2020 course,
   • has Cypress College as their home campus for spring 2020
   • is Good, Warning, or Pro1 for Satisfactory Academic Progress.
3. Students who meet all Title IV eligible requirements and who apply, and were enrolled in at least .5 units at the time of request (or if applied after end of spring 2020, successfully completed at least one course), are awarded $500. Students who are awarded, receive notification via email “Financial Aid Offer,” and is also made viewable in the myGateway student portal. Disbursements are made, and funds are sent to Bank Mobile via our normal financial aid refund process within 10-14 days. Any student not eligible for BankMobile account was sent a paper check.
4. Students who are not eligible are sent an email requesting they follow up with our office. Students who later completed their financial aid requirements were considered for awards, until the end of the semester, and if eligible at that point, awarded as in number 2 above. During the subsequent weekly rounds, the Financial Aid Office also considered later applicants who had not applied by the date of the first round.

Cypress College has signed and returned the certification and agreement form, and intends to use the funds to provide at least 50% of the emergency financial aid grants to students.

The total amount of HEERF funds remaining available to students is $0.

Amount distributed to students as of November 18, 2020 is $3,573,967.

*Estimated number of students eligible for HEERF: 22,915

Total students disbursed funds: 7,152

Amount of Grant: Eligible students are awarded $500 in emergency aid.

• CHERFM: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund – Minority Serving Institutions
• CHERFI: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund – Institutional Portion

The college first announced the aid to students in an email with a link to an application. The college also posted several general announcements to all students informing them of the funds being available and how to apply for the funds. The information was shared broadly on the college’s COVID-19 website, the college weekly newsletter, as well as the Financial Aid Office website, the Financial Aid Office Facebook page and the college’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. These are communications the college used to reach students:

• Generic Email Letter to students (PDF)
• Financial Aid website

Get instructions for Cares Act funds for tax purposes here.

• September 30, 2020
• December 31, 2020
• March 31, 2021
• June 30, 2021 (1)
• June 30, 2021 (2)
• September 30, 2021
• December 31, 2021
• March 31, 2022
• March 31, 2022 CARES Fund 16667
• March 31, 2022 CARES Fund 16662
• June 30, 2022
• September 30, 2022
• December 31, 2022
• March 31, 2023
• June 30, 2023
• September 30, 2023
• December 31, 2023
• March 31, 2024