Special Situations
Colleges know that not all students fit a particular mold.
Parents Are Unwilling to Help
For many families, the amount that is expected of them is too high to pay out of current income. See the Parents section for more information.
Financial circumstances may change from the time that you applied for financial aid to the time that you actually are about to attend college. If this is the case, you should contact the college financial aid office. They may be able to make adjustments to your financial aid eligibility.
Sometimes, even if they have the resources, parents are unwilling to contribute the amount that colleges expect of them. Unfortunately, there is often little that a college can do in this situation except offer additional assistance through student loan programs. However, if adverse family conditions exist and can be documented, the financial aid office does have some flexibility.
Whatever your situation, schedule an appointment with a financial aid officer to see how they can help.
Undocumented Students
If you're an undocumented immigrant, you may qualify for in-state tuition rates at University of California (UC), California State University (CSU), and California Community College campuses and save thousands of dollars. AB 540, signed into law in October 2001, authorizes undocumented students who meet specified criteria to pay in-state tuition at California public colleges and universities.
You Qualify If...
- You have attended a California High School for 3 or more years,
- You have or will have graduated from a California High School or have attained a GED,
- You have registered at or are currently enrolled at an accredited institution of higher education in California,
- You have filed or will file an affidavit as required by individual institutions, stating that you will apply for legal residency as soon as possible. (The affidavit will be kept by the college and remain confidential.)
If you filed an application for permanent residency one year before enrolling in college, you may already be eligible for the lower in-state tuition costs and to receive California state aid. To find out, contact your college financial aid administrator.
If you have a student visa, you're not considered an immigrant, so you don't qualify for in-state tuition rates.
AB 540 does not provide access to federal or state financial aid. Nevertheless, AB 540 reduces tuition fees at colleges and universities for undocumented students and can save thousands of dollars in educational costs.
More Information
