Applying for Financial Aid

The FILING APPLICATION PERIOD for FAFSA and the CA DREAM ACT is December 31, 2023 - June 30, 2024.

We highly encourage all students to apply for financial aid if they are planning to attend a four-year university, community college, or trade school. 

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA):

 Students with a social security number need to complete the FAFSA (fafsa.ed.gov) by March 2, 2023. The District will automatically submit current seniors' GPAs, unless student has opted out of the submission.

If you have questions or need assistance you can contact FAFSA directly at 1-800-4FED-AID (1-800-433-3243)

CA Dream Act: 

Students without a social security number and/or students who went through deferred action (DACA) process need to complete the CA Dream Act (https://dream.csac.ca.gov/) by March 2, 2023. The District will automatically submit current seniors' GPAs, unless student has opted out of the submission.

Four of the most common types of financial aid include:

1 .Grants - Grants are FREE money. Grants are given based on a student's financial need. Students must file a FAFSA/Dream Act in order to eligible to receive grants.

2. Loans - Loans are borrowed money that you must pay back, usually with interest. To learn more about loans, click here.
3. Work- Study- Work-study is like having a job, however, the money earned does not count against a student when reporting their taxes on their FAFSA the following year. Additionally, students who receive work-study are often receive priority versus student who do not have work-study when applying to a job. If you are interested, make sure to mark yes on your FAFSA application. Eligibility is determined upon filing your application. 
4. Scholarships- The Valencia Counseling Office provides an extensive array of scholarships for students to apply to. Students may be eligible for a number of scholarships based on academic achievement, interest/hobbies, talent, career goals, sports, etc. Scholarships and more information are available online and at the College and Career Center.