General FAQ's

I need assistance with completing my FAFSA or CDA , who can help me? 

The Titan Hub offers FAFSA/CADAA workshops during the Fall and Spring semester to assist students to complete their respective applications. For more information on these workshops, visit the Titan Hub page and click events to view date/times for workshops and Zoom drop-in meetings.

How do I make a phone or zoom appointment with a Financial Aid Counselor?

There are three options to request an appointment with a Financial Aid Counselor 
Appointment are 30 minutes long and counseling hours are Mondays-Fridays 9am-3:30pm, except Wednesdays: 12:30-3:300pm 
Complete a ticket using the Financial Aid Questions: our website inquiry ticketing system on our Contact Us page. Please include which type of appointment (Phone or Zoom) and provide a phone number as well as 2-3 days/times for the appointment. 
Call our office at (657) 278-3125 during our office hours: Monday, Tuesdays, Thursdays: 8am-6pm, Wednesdays: 12:30pm-6pm, Fridays: 8am-5ppm 
Visit our office during our office hours: Mondays, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 8am-5pm, Wednesdays: 12:30pm-5pm 

Is there any other financial aid I can apply for?

The Office of Financial Aid provides students with the financial aid that they are eligible for based on the Student Aid Index (SAI) on their FAFSA or CADAA. If there has been a change in your financial situation, there may be assistance available. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid to set up an income appeal appointment with one of our counselors. 

Is there a deadline to accept my financial aid awards?

There is no deadline to accept your financial aid awards. If you have grants or scholarships, the Office of Financial Aid will automatically accept these awards on your behalf. If you would like to accept loans, you would need to accept them on your student homepage under “view financial aid.” We recommend that you accept your loans early if you are planning on using loans to pay for tuition and fees. 

Must I be accepted for admission before I apply for financial aid?

No. If you wait until you're admitted to apply, you may miss the March 2 priority deadline to qualify for Cal Grants & other aid programs. You may apply for financial aid any time beginning October and no later than March 2 for the following academic year. In fact, we encourage you to apply for financial assistance before you are admitted to the University. 

Should I wait until my taxes are filed before I do my FAFSA?

Not if you’ll miss the March 2 priority deadline. We encourage you to complete your taxes as early as possible so that your FAFSA is accurate. However, if you or your parents cannot complete the taxes before March 2, use your best estimate of income and taxes. Just indicate on your FAFSA that you’re using estimated figures. Once you file your taxes, you can make corrections to your FAFSA application or complete the Data Retrieval Tool to update your tax information. 

When will I hear about my Financial Aid?

Most of our communications regarding your financial aid application and awards are sent electronically. Check your email and TITAN Online regularly to ensure you meet any critical deadlines. 
If you file your FAFSA by the March 2^nd deadline, you should receive an email acknowledgment from our office by early April. Some students are required to submit copies of tax returns or other information to our office before we can determine award eligibility. In general, we begin priority filers in mid-March. Files are reviewed and awarded according to the FAFSA filling data and the file complete date. 

Do I have to be full-time to receive financial aid?

No. You will qualify for most types of financial aid if you’re enrolled at least half-time, defined at Cal State Fullerton as 6 semester units. You may qualify for a Federal Pell Grant payment with fewer than 6 semester units. For further details including special graduate enrollment conditions, see our enrollment Q & A. 

Do I have to apply for financial aid each year?

Yes. Your financial situation must be reassessed each year. However, after the first year you apply for financial aid, you may be eligible to file a “renewal FAFSA” which is quicker and easier to complete. The federal FAFSA processor will notify you about renewing your FAFSA.

What is a Student Aid Index (SAI) and when do I provide it? 

The “Student Aid Index” is a formula based index number ranging from 1500-999999. Where your SAI falls within the SAI range helps your school determine how much financial support you may need. Your SAI is calculated using information that you and your contributors provide on the FAFSA form such as income and assets of yourself, parents, and spouses and any federal benefits received such as SNAP or Social Security disability. It’s not a dollar amount of aid you’ll receive, what your family is expected to provide, or your financial aid offer. 

What is the maximum financial aid I may receive during an academic year?

Your total financial aid, including scholarships and loans, may not exceed your cost of attendance. You are responsible for notifying our office if you receive outside aid such as a scholarship, fee waiver, fee reimbursement, or grant. We will review your total financial aid package and determine if any adjustments are required.

Do I need to renew my FAFSA for the spring semester?

No. Your current financial aid application covers the full current academic year of Fall, Spring, and Summer. When the financial aid applications open on October 1st of every year, you're applying for financial aid for the next academic year.

Do I have to notify the Financial Aid Office if I plan to enroll part-time?

No. All financial aid offers shown in your TITAN Online Financial Aid “Award Summary” represent the amount you may receive if you are enrolled full-time. If you are not enrolled full-time, at the time disbursement is processed, your payment is adjusted automatically according to your “enrollment status”. If you are enrolled in 6-8 units, your status is half-time; if you are enrolled in 9-11 units, your status is three-quarter time; if you are enrolled in 12+ units, your status is full-time.