How to Apply for Financial Aid

Cal Maritime Federal School Code: 001134

Step 1

Complete the FAFSA or renewal FAFSA

The basic application to apply for financial aid for any American school is called the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This application is used to apply for federal, state and institutional sources of financial aid. This year, the Department of Education is encouraging everyone to use the online FAFSA by printing far fewer of these applications on paper. The FAFSA on the Web Worksheet can be downloaded by clicking on the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet.

Apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. If the FAFSA is completed online and correctly, the process is shortened in time and eliminates a lot of frustration. Please remember that our School Code is 001134. Be sure to list Cal Maritime when completing Step 6 of the FAFSA. If applying online is impossible, you may obtain a paper FAFSA from the U.S. Department of Education.

Students must renew their financial Aid applications yearly. Continuing financial aid applicants will be e-mailed during December or January each year. Be sure to keep your
e-mail and permanent address current with the federal processor because your renewal FAFSA or PIN will be e-mailed to the address on file as of September. If you do not receive a FAFSA or PIN by the end of January, go to www.fafsa.ed.gov and complete a FAFSA online. You may also make your address, phone number, and college choice corrections on the web using your PIN. To request a PIN or a duplicate PIN, visit the Web site at www.pin.ed.gov. Remember that if you are a "Dependent" student according to the FAFSA criteria, both student and parent must sign with their own pins.

Step 2

Apply online between January 1 and March 2 !

Students who file during this time period and who demonstrate the highest need will be given priority for financial aid funding. After March 2, awards will consist of the remaining available funds.

New applicants for Cal Grants (including entering freshmen) must submit a GPA Verification Form as well as the FAFSA by the March 2 deadline.
GPA Verification Forms are available from your high school counselor or any California college Financial Aid Office and can be submitted directly to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC).

Step 3

Review your Student Aid Report (SAR) and make any necessary corrections

If you list your email address and submit your FAFSA on the Web, within two weeks you should receive your Student Aid Report notification from the Federal Processor. If anything prevented the Federal Processor from completing the process, you will receive notification of what your next step should be.

Review your SAR carefully for any errors. If application information has changed, follow the instructions on the SAR to make corrections and return it to the address provided or correct it online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Be sure Cal Maritime (School Code 001134) is listed as an institution authorized to receive your application information. If no updates or corrections are required, keep the SAR for your reference.

Step 4

Submit Award Letter and Loan Reply Sheet(s)

The Cal Maritime Financial Aid Office will receive your application information electronically from the Federal Processor 1-3 weeks after you apply. If you have been admitted to Cal Maritime, we will compute your eligibility for financial aid. You will receive a Financial Aid Award Letter will be asked to logon to accept your awards.

If you need to complete the verification process, or need other information to receive an EFC from the Federal Processor, the Financial Aid Office will send you a letter detailing what documentation is necessary before you can receive your Award Letter.

Please submit all documentation to:

In person:

Cal Maritime Financial Aid Office, Administration Building.

By mail:

Cal Maritime
Financial Aid Office
200 Maritime Academy Drive
Vallejo, CA 94590-8181

By fax: (707)654-1007

Complete and return your Award Letter and Loan Reply Sheet(s) as soon they are received. Failure to return your Financial Aid Award Letter or submit your Loan Reply Sheets, or any other documents may result in partial or full cancellation of your financial aid.

Step 5

How to get your financial aid money

You must submit all requested documentation in order to receive your financial aid. All funds are used first to pay any charges at Cal Maritime. If any funds remain after those deductions, checks will appear in your mailbox on campus by the end of your second week of class. If there is Plus money to return, it will be sent to the parents.

Who May Apply?

To receive aid from federal student aid programs you must:

• Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student progressing toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program.
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
• Have a valid Social Security Number
• Make satisfactory academic progress
• Sign the statement on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) certifying that you will use federal student aid only for educational purposes, that you are not in default on a federal student loan, and you do not owe money on a federal student grant
• Register with Selective Service – if required

Dependent vs. Independent student:
If you can answer “yes” to any of the following questions, you are independent and will not need to provide parent information on your FAFSA. If you cannot answer “yes” to any of these questions, you are considered dependent for 2007-2008.

• Were you born before January 1, 1984?
• Will you be working on a master’s or doctorate program (such as an MA, MBA, MD, JD, or Ph.D., etc.) during the school year 2007-2008?
• As of today, are you married? (Answer “yes” if you are separated but not divorced.)
• Do you have children who receive more than half of their support from you?
• Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you, now and through June 30, 2008?
• Are you an orphan or ward of the court or were you a ward of the court until age 18?
• Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?

California Registered Domestic Partners: If a student or parent is a California Registered Partner, please notify the Financial Aid Office. You will need to complete a separate form to be eligible for California state funds.

Cal Maritime Scholarships

All scholarships for entering students are originated in the Office of Admission.
 

Continuing students receive e-mail notifications in January to complete the 2008-2009 CMA Foundation Scholarship Application.