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Financial Aid FAQs
What is Financial Aid?
Financial Aid is monies made available by federal and state governments and private sources in the form of grants, loans, fee waivers, scholarships, and part-time employment. These monies are available to make it possible for students to continue their education beyond high school, even if they and their family cannot meet the full costs of the postsecondary school they choose to attend.
The basis for such assistance is the belief that students (and their parents) have the primary responsibility for meeting their educational costs. Financial Aid is available to fill the gap between a family's contribution and the student's educational expenses.
When and how often do I need to apply for financial aid?
You need to apply for financial aid once every academic year. You do this by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year.
The best time to apply each year is between Jan. 1st and March 2nd prior to the start of the school year (Fall semester). You have until the end of that academic year to apply for aid (provided you are still enrolled), but we strongly recommend applying early each year when more types of aid are available. Also, you will have more time to resolve any problems that may come up, and still get your aid at the beginning of the term when it is most needed.
Where do I get the FAFSA application?
You can obtain a paper FAFSA in our office (SSC Room 110) your local public library, your local high school, the financial aid office of any college, or by calling 1-800-4FED AID.
It is a recommended alternative that you apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. If you plan to apply over the Internet, it is also recommended that you first obtain a Personal Identification Number (PIN) from the U.S. Department of Education that you can use as an electronic signature when submitting your FAFSA on the Web. If you don't already have a PIN, you can request one at http://www.pin.ed.gov/ Your parent can also request his/her own PIN.
Be sure to list Los Angeles Southwest College's Title IV School Code (007047) on Step 6 of your FAFSA.
Why does the FAFSA ask for income from the year before I go to school?
Studies have shown that "verifiable income" information from the base year is more reliable and accurate than "projected income", and fairly measures a family's ability to pay for college the next year.
If you are applying early (as recommended), we suggest that you also fill out your tax returns as early as possible. If your tax returns are not done early, you should estimate the prior year's income, taxes paid and current assets (using W-2s or pay stubs, and business/investment records) as accurately as possible in order to get your FAFSA in early. You can always make corrections to your information at a later time (although this may cause brief delays).
I'm not even sure who's information needs to be reported on the FAFSA, or where to find the answers, or even what a particular question means. Who do I call for help with completing the FAFSA?
There are many ways to get help filling out your FAFSA. First, be sure to carefully read the instructions attached to the application.
In addition, our office (SSC Rm. 110) has periodically scheduled workshops on how to fill out the application line-by-line. You may also call us or come in during our open counter hours for assistance with particular FAFSA questions.
Or, if you have FAFSA questions, you can call the U.S. Department of Education directly toll-free at 1 (800) 4 FED AID (1-800-433-3243) or go to FAFSA on the Web for online help, including live chat with a customer service representative.
The most common cause of delays and missed opportunities is students not filling out the form correctly and accurately the first time! If you have any questions, please ask before you submit the FAFSA or before you submit any corrections to your Student Aid Report (SAR)
I don't live with my parents and they don't give me any money for school. Why do I have to report their income on the FAFSA?
For financial aid purposes, the U.S. Department of Education classifies all aid applicants into two categories -- Dependent students and Independent students. Dependent students must include their parent's income information on their FAFSA.
Dependency status is determined by the questions on Step 3 of the FAFSA. Whether or not you live with your parents, whether or not they claim you on their tax return, or whether or not they give you any money are NOT factors in determining dependency status.
Nor are these sufficient reasons to have your dependency status overridden by your financial aid administrator's professional judgment. Remember, the FAFSA measures a family's ability, NOT willingness, to pay for college. If you are truly unable to obtain your parent(s)' information due to extreme unusual circumstances, you may speak to a Financial Aid Technician regarding professional judgment, but be prepared to adequately document your special circumstances.
My parents make a lot of money. Isn't it just a waste of time to apply for financial aid?
Absolutely not! Remember, there is no fee charged to apply for financial aid. The only way to know if you are eligible or not is to submit the application. Additionally, not all aid (such as certain types of student loans) is based on having financial need. DO NOT DISQUALIFY YOURSELF FROM GETTING FINANCIAL AID BY NOT SUBMITTING THE FAFSA!!!
What if the information I am required to provide on my FAFSA does not reflect my family's present situation?
The first step is always to complete the FAFSA accurately, providing the information asked for on the form, and to submit it. The information on the FAFSA is a "snapshot" in time, and is used to measure your household's ability to pay for your education. If you or your family has more recently experienced unusual, unexpected circumstances that may affect your ability to pay, see a Financial Aid Technician regarding a professional judgment. Be prepared to adequately document your unusual circumstances.
What is Los Angeles Southwest College's School Code for Step 6 of the FAFSA?
(007047). Listing this code (007047) on your FAFSA gives your authorization for the U.S. Department of Education to send your processed SAR information to Los Angeles College. If we do not have your information, we cannot award you aid.
How can I obtain a fee waiver at Los Angeles Southwest College?
To qualify for a fee waiver, the applicant must be a California resident and be enrolled in at least one (1) unit. To apply, complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Applicants who meet the fee waiver eligibility criteria will automatically be processed for a fee waiver.
Late applicants may also obtain a Board of Governor's Waiver (BOGW) application at the Financial Aid Office, inside the Schedule of Classes, or at the "Forms" section of this website. Complete and submit the application to the Financial Aid Office for approval. The Financial Aid Office will make a determination on the spot if the applicant qualifies for the fee waiver.
The BOGW waives the $20 per unit enrollment fee and the $11 health fee ONLY. It does not waive parking, books, Auditing fees, Associated Students (ASO) fees, Student Representation fees, Health fees, or any other fees or expenses.
The waiver is good for the entire academic year (Summer through Spring) and is valid at all nine campuses of the Los Angeles Community College District. You need to reapply once per school year.
Students who apply (and are eligible) for a BOGW after they have already paid their fees, may request a refund of their enrollment fees from the Business Office, as long as it is done within the academic year.
What happens if I drop all my classes after I've received financial aid? Do I have to pay the money back?
If you withdraw or are excluded from all your classes before the 60% point of any term, you will most likely have to pay part of your "unearned" financial aid back to the government. (Work-Study earnings and the BOGW fee waiver are not affected by this.)
You will be notified by our office of how much you owe. Failure to repay will prevent any future financial aid anywhere in the United States. Try your best to avoid a complete withdrawal! Seek the advice of a counselor and/or your instructors before withdrawing.
What can I do to avoid unnecessary delays in the processing of my financial aid application?
First, be sure to complete the application accurately to avoid future corrections. Second, respond promptly to pending document letters sent to you by the Financial Aid Office. Third, apply early and avoid the rush.
Also, be sure to keep handy all of the documents you used to fill out the FAFSA, such as tax returns & W-2s. The government or the school may request that you prove (verify) any information that you or your parents reported on your FAFSA application. Failure to do so may result in delays or lost aid.
How will I know if I have financial aid checks available for me?
Financial Aid warrants (checks), except for loans, are mailed to the students. Warrants are not forwarded, so it is important that the mailing address in the Admissions Office is current. Students must first receive an Award Offer Letter from the financial aid office before they can expect to receive a check.
Pell Grants are typically paid twice a semester. Other grants, scholarships, and loans are typically paid once a semester. Work-Study earnings are paid every two weeks.
Financial aid recipients also have the option to have their grant funds electronically transferred directly to their savings or checking bank account. Please see the Business Office if you wish to set up an electronic fund transfer (EFT).
What is on the Award Offer Letter?
The Award Offer Letter comes from the college Financial Aid Office after processing of your file has been completed. The college uses the information from your government Student Aid Report (SAR) and other college records to determine what types of aid you are eligible for and for how much. Most financial aid is used to help reduce your Financial Need.
The Award Offer Letter contains a listing, or "package", of all awards you are eligible for and any other financial resources available to you for your education during a particular academic year or term. The type of awards available decrease as time goes on, which is another reason to apply very early for aid.
All the figures (i.e. dollar amounts) on the Award Offer Letter are based on the assumption of full time enrollment (12 or more units per semester). If you are enrolled less than full time, the amounts you actually receive may be less.
You may accept or decline any item on your Award Offer Letter, although we will assume that you will accept all grants and fee waivers.
Why is the amount of grant money I received less than the amount listed on my Award Offer Letter and disbursement notification?
The amount of Pell Grant and Cal Grant you receive is based on the number of units you are actively enrolled in at the time the disbursements are made. The amounts listed on your Award Offer Letter and Disbursement Letter reflects the awards for a "full-time" student. Everyone's letters show this full-time amount based on the assumption (before the school year started) that you could be attending Full-Time. Your actual disbursements may be less depending on your actual unit load:
A "Full-Time" payment (100% of award) is for students in 12 or more active units per semester.
A "3/4-Time" payment (75% of award) is for students in 9 to 11 active units per semester.
A "1/2-Time" payment (50% of award) is for students in 6 to 8 active units per semester.
A "Less-Than-Half-Time" payment (% will vary) is for students in less than 6 active units per semester.
NOTE: Only the Pell Grant program might pay for less-than-half-time enrollment; for all other programs, you need to be at least half-time (6 or more units).
Also keep in mind that the Pell Grant at LASC College is normally disbursed twice during a semester (once at the beginning of the semester and again after the 60% point of the semester); therefore the amount of a check you receive may not reflect the entire amount you are entitled to for that whole semester.
Also, you will not be paid for "late-starting" shorter term classes (like P.A.C.E) until those classes actually begin (even if you are enrolled in them before they begin).
Finally, if you have an approved financial aid Extension or Reinstatement Appeal, you will only be paid for those classes which were approved on your appeal, even if your actual unit load is higher.
What's the difference between grants, work-study, and loans?
Grants are "gift aid" that does not, with certain exceptions, have to be repaid.
Loans must be repaid (plus any accrued interest), but you don't have to start repaying until after you leave college or drop below half-time enrollment (6 units).
Work-Study is earned by working part-time while in school. Money earned never has to be repaid, but you can't earn more than the amount of your work-study award.
For more information on specific types of awards available at LASC, see our Main Page.
I'm enrolled at two colleges. Can I receive financial aid from two different schools at the same time?
No. You may apply for financial aid at any number of schools, but you cannot receive aid from more than one school during the same term(s). You must decide which school will be the paying, or primary, school.
In certain cases, the main school you are attending (the primary school) may agree to include units being taken at another school (the secondary school) towards your overall aid payments if the units at the secondary school are needed to complete your educational objective/goal at the primary school. Ask a Financial Aid Technician about a Consortium Agreement if you have this situation. Keep in mind that LASC College will be the primary school only if the secondary school is another two-year college and will pay only after the secondary course(s) is/are approved and successfully completed.
An "automatic" Consortium Agreement exists among the nine campuses of the Los Angeles Community College District (including ITV), and, if eligible for aid, you would be paid for all units taken within the District, as long as you maintain at least one (1) unit at the primary campus.
I plan to go to LASC College in the Fall and transfer to a different college in the Spring. Will my financial aid transfer with me?
Yes and No. Financial aid doesn't "automatically transfer" from one college to another because each institution may participate in different aid programs and each has its own aid "packaging" policy. It is also the responsibility of each college to determine a student's eligibility for the various aid programs.
A student applies for financial aid only once per academic year. Academic years and terms may also vary from school to school but generally run from July 1st of one year through June 30th of the next. While a student may not get federal aid from two schools during the same terms, she may get aid from one school during one term and another school during a different (non-overlapping) term within the same academic year -- as long as she doesn't exceed the maximum aid amount she is eligible for in a particular academic year and for a particular aid program!
When transferring mid-year to the new school, the student does NOT fill out a new FAFSA application. (Remember, just one application per year.) Instead, the student adds the new school (using it's Federal School Code) to her existing Student Aid Report (SAR) and the new college's financial aid office will review that aid file, determine eligibility, and award aid, taking into account any aid the student has already received elsewhere that academic year. The new school may require it's own additional forms.
The concepts explained here are the same for a student who attended another college in Fall and is transferring to LASC in the Spring. The Financial Aid Office will review and, if eligible, award Spring aid after the student initiates a financial aid file at LASC (on a first-come, first-served basis).
As always, when transferring schools, it is important to plan ahead.
I'm still enrolled in high school, but I'm taking some or all of my classes at LASC. Can I get financial aid?
No. Students who are still in high school are not eligible for federal or state financial aid even if they are taking classes at LASC, whether for high school or college credit. Financial aid is only for post-secondary students, which means you must already have a high school diploma, or have passed an equivalency exam or GED.
Students who are California residents and are otherwise eligible may have their enrollment fees waived by the state fee waiver (BOGW), but this is generally unnecessary as courses taken for high school credit are not charged enrollment fees. Check your status with the Admissions & Records Office.
Is Financial Aid based on race?
No. Race and ethnicity are not factors at all when determining the federal and state financial aid eligibility of a student. They may be criteria for some privately-funded scholarships.
What is the minimum number of units I have to take to receive financial aid?
For the Federal Pell Grant Program and State Board of Governors Fee Waiver Program (BOGW), students must be enrolled in at least one (1) unit. For all other programs, students must carry a minimum of six (6) units or half-time enrollment to receive aid. Full-time enrollment is twelve (12) or more units.
Why does the Financial Aid Office limit the scope of information it gives out over the telephone?
The Financial Aid Office does not release some specific student financial aid information over the telephone in order to protect the student's right to privacy. The "Family Education Rights and Privacy Act" (FERPA) of 1974 (Buckley Amendments) permits access to student's records only if we can be reasonably sure that the requestor is the student. Therefore you will be asked to provide certain identifying information if calling on the phone. This, however, does not guarantee that all requested information will be released, as it depends on the content and complexity of the inquiry. Some issues are best handled in person and, if this is the case, the caller will be informed of that by the staff member.
The Financial Aid Office staff is always happy to answer general financial aid questions over the telephone.
Always have picture I.D. with you when you come to visit the Financial Aid Office.
Are you open during the Spring, Summer and Winter breaks?
Yes. Los Angeles Southwest College Financial Aid Office is open during the Spring and Summer breaks and the Winter intersession.
Why does it sometimes take so long to process a financial aid application?
The Financial Aid Office at Los Angeles Southwest College is committed to processing financial aid applications as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, several situations prevent the Financial Aid Office from processing an application in a timely manner.
First, applications with conflicting or inaccurate information may require a correction which can mean several days of delay. Second, additional documents may be required after the correction of an application, and the Financial Aid Office will not be able to process an application with missing documents. Third, applications sent in later in the year will be processed in the order in which they were received. Applications may be submitted as early as January for the following Fall -- so avoid the rush and apply early!
What can I do to avoid unnecessary delays in the processing of my financial aid application?
First, be sure to complete the application accurately to avoid future corrections. Second, respond promptly to pending document letters sent to you by the Financial Aid Office. Third, apply early and avoid the rush.
Also, be sure to keep handy all of the documents you used to fill out the FAFSA, such as tax returns and W-2s, DHS (INS) documentation, Social Security card, etc. The government or the school may request that you prove (verify) any information that you or your parents reported on your FAFSA application. Failure to do so may result in delays or lost aid.
I'm a foreign student on a student visa. Can I get financial aid at Southwest?
For the most part, No. A foreign national who is in the United States for a temporary purpose (such as studying, tourism, temporary employment, etc.) is not eligible for federal or state government financial aid such as Pell Grant, Cal Grant, BOGW, or Perkins Loans.
Undocumented (illegal) immigrants are also ineligible for federal and state financial aid, even if they are exempt from paying non-resident tuition fees under California law (AB 540).
In addition, a foreign student should investigate whether his own national or local government, home college or university, or some other non-profit organization from his country offers aid to study abroad.