Types of Aid

The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Grant is 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 a student’s future financial aid eligibility. Funds are limited and awarded to eligible students on first-come, first-served basis. For more information, please visit our COVID-19 & Financial Aid page.

The Federal Pell Grant Program and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program (SEOG) provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate students to promote access to postsecondary education. Pell Grants are entitlements that are available to all who qualify. SEOG grants are based on first-come, first-served with the greatest amount of financial need.

Grant amounts are dependent on: the student’s expected family contribution (EFC) as calculated by completing the FAFSA; the cost of attendance (as determined by Cypress College); the student’s enrollment status (full-time or part-time); and whether the student attends for a full academic year or less. Students may not receive Federal Pell Grant funds from more than one school at a time.

Financial need is determined by the U.S. Department of Education using a standard formula, established by Congress, to evaluate the financial information reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and to determine the family EFC.

The fundamental elements in this standard formula are the student’s income (and assets if the student is independent), the parents’ income and assets (if the student is dependent), the family’s household size, and the number of family members (excluding parents) attending postsecondary institutions.

The EFC is the sum of: (1) a percentage of net income (remaining income after subtracting allowances for basic living expenses and taxes) and (2) a percentage of net assets (assets remaining after subtracting an asset protection allowance). Different assessment rates and allowances are used for dependent students, independent students without dependents, and independent students with dependents. After filing a FAFSA, the student receives a Student Aid Report (SAR), or the institution receives an Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR), which notifies the student if he or she is eligible for a Federal Pell Grant and/or SEOG Grant and provides the student’s EFC.

As of July 1, 2012, the Federal Government lowered the lifetime eligibility (LEU) for Pell Grants. The regulation applies to all students, regardless of attendance past and present. The Department of Education will notify students on their Student Aid Report (SAR) whether or not they exceed the 12 full time semesters of lifetime Pell Grant eligibility. Once the Department of Education determines a student is ineligible due to this regulation (LEU), students will not be able to appeal. This new regulation is not part of the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy (SAP) and it only affects the Federal Pell Grant.

• Loan Application Process
• Loan Eligibility Policy

An educational loan is a form of financial aid that must be repaid, with interest. Grants, scholarships, work-study and other forms of gift aid typically cover the full cost of an education at Cypress College. However, some students find that they must supplement their savings with student loans.

Community colleges remain an affordable option for students. Loan debt and increasing loan default rates are concerning for Financial Aid Offices due to the impact it can have on the institution. As a result, the Cypress College Financial Aid Office has adopted the following loan procedures for student borrowers. These procedures were implemented due to increasing student loan debt for graduates who eventually earn a BA/BS degree. Therefore, Cypress College Financial Aid has a strict policy on established loan limits to (1) help students minimize debt, (2) help students keep aggregate loan eligibility available for when they transfer to four-year institutions, and (3) help improve financial literacy and responsibility so that future economic hardships and credit damage can be prevented.

The Cypress College Financial Aid Office strongly discourages students to borrow loans without first discussing their options with a Financial Aid Technician.

If you are interested in obtaining a loan, please contact Financial Aid Technician Nishad Marathe at nmarathe@cypresscollege.edu.

Deadline to submit for spring 2024 loan application: Friday, May 10, 2024

• Wednesday January 31, 2024 @ 3:15 – 4:45 p.m.
• Tuesday February 13, 2024 @ 5:45 – 7:15 p.m.
• Wednesday February 28, 2024 @ 10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
• Tuesday March 12, 2024 @ 3:15 – 4:45 p.m.
• Tuesday March 26, 2024 @ 10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
• Wednesday April 24, 2024 @ 3:15 – 4:45 p.m.
• Wednesday May 8, 2024 @10:15 – 11:45 a.m.

• Wednesday January 17, 2024 10:15 – 11:45 a.m. CCCPLX-414

We have teamed up with ECMC Solutions to provide you with a single resource for all your federal student loan-related questions! Solutions, a service of the non-profit organization ECMC, is dedicated to helping students manage educational loans, and their resources are available to you free of charge.

Contact ECMC for any of your student loan repayment questions:

• One-on-one federal student loan repayment advice.
• Repayment plan options – choosing a long-term option.
• Forbearances and deferments – what they are and when might you need them.
• Use the resources at Solutions as often as you need them — they are free.

Contact a Solutions counselor through live chat, email, by phone at (877) 331-3262 or visit the ECMC Solutions website.

The Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program is funded and regulated by the U.S. Department of Education. Under the program, grants are provided to institutions to create job openings for eligible students. The program is administered on the Cypress College campus by the Financial Aid Office in accordance with federal regulations and North Orange County Community College District Guidelines.

The FWS program provides opportunities to students who have financial need and want to earn a part of their educational expenses through employment. Student may work up to 6 semesters. Funds are extremely limited for Federal Work-Study, once funds are exhausted, we cannot place any additional students in FWS jobs, regardless of how successful they were in being placed in a FWS job in the past.

Who is eligible?

In order to qualify for employment under Federal Work-Study, students must:

• be a US citizen or eligible noncitizen
• submit a FAFSA for the aid year they plan to attend
• have $5,000 of unmet need (please refer to your Award letter for this information)
• be in Good standing for SAP (Warning and Pro 1 also accepted)
• enroll in and maintain 6 units or more during the spring and fall semesters

How do I apply?

1. Submit a FAFSA for the academic year you plan to attend.
   • Answer “yes” to the question asking if you are interested in FWS.
2. Complete your financial aid file.
3. Email the Financial Aid Office (please include your student ID number) to join the FWS interest list.
4. Eligible students will be notified via email with instructions on how to apply for jobs.

What is the hiring process?

Employment begins and ends in the Financial Aid Office. Students must receive a referral form from the financial aid office before discussing any Work-Study employment possibilities with any department.

How much will I get paid?

All Work-Study students are paid at a rate consistent with current student assistant wages established by the District and based upon the level of skills required to perform the job (upon approval by the Financial Aid Office), not by the length of time the student has been employed. A student’s Work-Study allocation is for one year beginning July 1 for returning students, the first day of the fall semester for new students, and ending May 30 for all students. Returning or continuing students must be rehired each year and may not continue working after May 30 until they have been awarded or rehired.

The California College Promise Grant (CCPG) is a state-sponsored program that waives enrollment fees for qualifying students who are California residents. The CCPG is only available at California Community Colleges. CCPG applicants do not have to be enrolled in a minimum number of units – whether you take 0.5 units or 21 units, your enrollment fees will be waived. CCPG applicants only need to apply once per year for the fees to be waived for the academic year (fall, spring, and summer).

The CCPG pays for enrollment fees only. Students are responsible for all other fees that apply (health fee, course material fees, parking permit, student ID, etc.). Assistance for the purchase of books and supplies must be applied for separately by submitting a FAFSA or Dream Act application.

How to Apply

To apply for the CCPG, students must complete the application, which is accessible through myGateway. To access it, click on WebStar in the left-hand column under shortcuts. Once you’re in WebStar, navigate to the Financial Aid tab where you will find the application labeled as “California College Promise Grant Application – CYPRESS.” Students who submit a CCPG application may also need to submit proof of prior year income, such as 1040 Federal tax return and W2s. Electronic signatures for the CCPG application are available for dependent student’s parents.

• Method A – designed for students on public assistance programs: TANF/CalWORKs, SSI/SSP (Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Program), SSAI, SSAS, or General Assistance. Certification must be obtained from the appropriate agency and documentation will be required to verify your eligibility. Most documentation must be dated within the last 60 days. Students apply for this method through myGateway.
• Method B – designed for low-income students whose PPY (prior prior year) income was within qualifying income guidelines. Students apply for this method through myGateway. Federal tax returns may be required.
• Method C – awarded to students who applied through the FAFSA or Dream Act application and demonstrate a financial need of $1,104 or more. Students who qualify under Method C do not need to complete a separate CCPG application via myGateway.
• Method D – designed for students under the age of 25 who can verify that they have been without residence (homeless) in the last 24 months. They will select “yes” on the application in myGateway and provide proof to the Financial Aid Office for verification.
• Method F – designed for Dependents of Disabled or Deceased California Veterans or National Guard, recipients and children of recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor, or dependents of victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack. Certification must be obtained from the appropriate agency and documentation will be required to verify your eligibility. Most documentation must be dated within the last 60 days.

Additional Information

• The Financial Aid office reviews your application.
• You must be a California resident.
• The CCPG will cover fall, winter, spring, and summer semesters.
• The CCPG only covers enrollment fees, it is not a book award or book grant, and it is not a loan.
• If you apply for the CCPG after you pay your fees, you may be reimbursed, as long as you complete and submit your application prior to the end of the semester. Reimbursement comes in the form of a check in the mail from the Bursars office.
• If a student is determined later to have been ineligible for a CCPG who was already awarded, the CCPG will be automatically cancelled and the fees reassessed to the student’s account.
• The last day to award the California College Promise Grant is June 30 of each academic year. Application must be received in time to process and award before June 30.

Requirements for the CCPG Fee Waiver

The CCPG requires students to meet Academic and Progress Standards:

• Academic Standard: a CCPG recipient must maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA or higher.
• Progress Standard: a student must complete more than 50% of cumulative courses attempted.

All students must maintain both standards to continue to receive the CCPG. If these standards are not met for two consecutive semesters, then the students will lose their CCPG eligibility. Current and former foster youth 24 years old or younger are exempt from the Academic and Progress standards.

Cal Grants are offered by the State of California and administered by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC). Like Pell Grants, Cal Grants do not have to be repaid. Cal Grants are available for undergraduate students who are enrolled in at least six units per semester and who have not earned a bachelor’s or a professional degree – unless pursuing the Bachelor’s Degree in Funeral Service at Cypress College. You may not receive Cal Grant funds from more than one college at a time. To apply for a Cal Grant, you will need to complete the FAFSA or the CA Dream Act Application.

How to Apply

Step 1: Apply.

To apply for a Cal Grant, students must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Dream Act application by March 2 each year. (There is a second deadline of September 2 for community colleges only, but we recommend submitting my March 2 to qualify for maximum possible aid).

Step 2: Verify your GPA.

Students must also verify their GPA with the state each year. March 2 is the priority deadline, and Community Colleges have a second chance deadline to submit a GPA verification on September 2 each year. This will allow students who complete 16 units after summer session to apply for a Cal Grant.

To verify your GPA:

• If you are a current student at Cypress College or registered in courses within the last 5 years and have completed at least 16 units at Cypress College*: we will automatically submit your GPA verification electronically.
  
  *Please note that we are only able to verify units completed at Cypress College – even though Fullerton College is our sister school we are unable to include their units for Cal Grant GPA Verification.

• If you completed at least 16 units at Cypress College but have not attended Cypress College within the last 5 years: please submit a GPA Verification Form to the Financial Aid Office.
  
• If you have not completed at least 16 units at Cypress College: you will need to contact your previous school to have your GPA certified.

If you are not sure if your GPA was submitted, please check your Cal Grant tab in your WebGrants account or contact our office for assistance.

What types of Cal Grant are available at Cypress College?

There are three types of Cal Grants that a student might receive at Cypress College:

1. Cal Grant A — designed for students transferring to a four-year college/university in California. If you receive a Cal Grant A, you will not receive funds while at Cypress College, unless you are pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Funeral Service or have certified that you are a student that has dependents. Your Cal Grant A will be placed on reserve by the state for up to two years until you transfer to a four-year college. You can confirm this information by logging into your WebGrants account.
2. Cal Grant B — designed for financially needy students who meet the grade point average and family income asset requirements as determined by the CSAC. Cal Grant B pays up to $1,648 per year while you are attending Cypress College.
3. Cal Grant C — designed for two-year vocational students. This grant is available for up to two years. If you qualify for this grant, please log into your WebGrants account and submit the online Cal Grant C Supplemental Form by the specified deadline.

How will I know if I’m awarded a Cal Grant?

If you file a FAFSA or Dream Act application and the GPA verification was submitted to the CSAC, you will receive a Cal Grant notification letter directly from the CSAC.

Once Cypress College receives the Cal Grant roster from the CSAC, we will confirm your eligibility prior to awarding and disbursing your Cal Grant.

Can I switch and receive different types of Cal Grant?

No. Once you have received your Cal Grant (A, B, or C), you cannot change your type of Cal Grant in the following years.

If you don’t want to receive your Cal Grant and save it – you can request a “Leave of Absence” for up to 2 years. This can be done through WebGrants 4 Students.

How will I receive my Cal Grant?

Financial aid disburses at different points throughout the semester. Please review the disbursement schedule for disbursement dates for each semester (fall, spring, and summer).

All Cal Grant recipients will automatically have their award applied to their student account to pay any outstanding balances. Cal Grant B recipients have an alternative option: Cal Grant B students may elect to receive the full disbursement of their access award directly, to use towards educational expenses not charged on the student account.  If a student would like to choose this alternative method, they must request and complete an authorization form in the Student Verification Portal prior to the semester’s freeze date.

The Student Success Completion Grant (SSCG) is a grant available to Cal Grant recipients. Funding is limited each year and is not guaranteed for every eligible student. Cal Grant recipients may be eligible to receive up to $8,000 per year. Each semester’s disbursement will be based on the student’s enrollment, which must be at least full-time in order to receive a disbursement. Students enrolled in 12 units or more (but less than 15 units) will be eligible to receive $1,298 for the semester. Students enrolled in 15 or more units will be eligible to receive $4,000 for the semester.

Eligible students for this grant must meet all of the following requirements:

1. Must be receiving a Cal Grant Award
2. Must enroll in 12 or more units per semester by the “Freeze Date”
3. Must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress. View the CC SAP Policy.

Students who qualified for the SSCG are encouraged to meet with their academic counselor to ensure that they have a comprehensive Student Education Plan and are on track to complete their program within the timeframe outlined in the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.

Click this link for more information: Student Success Completion Grant.

The Chafee Grant is available for former foster youth students who were in foster care between the ages of 16-18 years old. Eligible students must submit a one-time Chafee Grant application at chafee.csac.ca.gov and submit a FAFSA or CA Dream Act application. Students must claim this award before you reach your 26^th birthday as of July 1 of the award year. Please check your eligibility on your WebGrants account.

Support Services for our Students

• Guardian Scholars Program
  This program is tailored to the needs of current and former foster youth and is designed to help you be successful both personally and academically. Please contact Lili Perez at (714) 484-7241 or lperez@cypresscollege.edu.
• EOPS offers comprehensive support services are provided to promote access to college and once the student is enrolled, to increase retention and/or transfer to four-year universities and colleges. T: (714) 484-7368 E: eops@cypresscollege.edu
• Counseling
• DSS
• Tutoring
• Basic Needs/Food Bank
• CalFresh Current and Former Foster Youth may be eligible for CalFresh benefits.

WebGrants 4 Students (WGS)

WebGrants 4 Students (WGS) is your portal for Cal Grant, Chafee and Middle Class Scholarship awards. The California Student Aid Commission contacts students via email so it is critical that you keep this information current on your WGS account.

The Middle Class Scholarship (MCS) is offered by the California Student Aid Commission and provides Cypress College students in the Funeral Service Bachelor of Science Degree with a scholarship. The deadline to apply for an MCS award is March 2 each year.

Students must meet the general financial aid requirements in addition to being under the MCS income/asset ceilings.

This scholarship is treated the same way as a grant and is applied to a student’s financial aid package as the last award. The MCS award will automatically be applied to their student account to pay any outstanding balances.