Financial Aid

For the Fall 2023 semester to the Spring 2024 semester (2023-2024 academic year), you must complete the 2023-2024 FAFSA.

The CSUMB school code is 032603.

The priority deadline was March 2, 2023. If filed by this date you will be considered for Federal and State financial aid. We strongly encourage you to apply by March 2nd of every year.  

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be different for the upcoming 2024–2025 aid year. Refer to this page as a resource to help you prepare! Learn more about the FAFSA Simplification Act. The priority deadline is May 2, 2024.

What to Expect During the Soft Launch of the 2024-25 FAFSA Form

During the soft launch period, the Department will be monitoring site performance, conducting planned pauses for maintenance, and making updates to improve the user experience for students and families.

Students and families will have ample time to complete the 2024-25 FAFSA, and do not need to rush to fill out the form immediately when the soft launch period opens, as FSA will not transmit results to schools until the first half of March. Here is what students, families, and schools can expect during the soft launch:

• Contributors (the student, parent, student’s spouse, or parent’s spouse), including those without a Social Security number (SSN), will be able to create a StudentAid.gov account to access and complete the online FAFSA form. Contributors who already have a verified account username and password will use their existing credentials to sign in and access the form. For instruction on how to create a FSA ID for parents without SSN, see documents below: 
  • FSA ID English
  • FSA ID Spanish
• FSA will initiate planned pauses for site maintenance and to make updates as needed to create a better FAFSA experience for students and families. During these pauses, users who are already online will be able to complete their work, but other users may not be able to begin or resume work on the 2024-25 FAFSA form. Users who go on-line during a temporary pause should check back at a later time to complete the form.
• Applicants may experience a waiting room feature, which will help control website volumes to ensure optimal performance of the form.
• If a student completes their form during the soft launch period, their information will be stored for processing. They do NOT need to return to resubmit their application after the soft launch concludes.
• If a student completes their FAFSA form, but a contributor cannot access the site during a period when the site is unavailable, the contributor can return to complete their portion of the form as soon as the site becomes available again. Any data entered in the form is still in the system and is secure.
• If FSA initiates site maintenance while a student or contributor is completing an application, they will be able to continue until they have completed the form.
• After all sections of the online FAFSA form are completed and submitted, the student will receive a confirmation email noting their submission date, their estimated Student Aid Index (SAI), and estimated Federal Pell Grant eligibility. However, the student will not receive a FAFSA Submission Summary until FSA processes the FAFSA, the first half of March.

What This Means for Students and Families

Because full processing of FAFSA forms will not start until the first half of March, students and families will have ample time to complete the 2024-25 FAFSA and do not need to rush to fill out the form immediately when the soft launch period opens.

FSA is updating its messaging to students and their families on StudentAid.gov and in other external communications to explain:

• The schools they selected will receive their FAFSA eligibility information starting the first half of March. Students will receive an email informing them when that information has been sent to the schools.
• Students will receive an email when their FAFSA Submission Summary is available to review on StudentAid.gov.
• Students should begin to receive aid information from schools they have been accepted to several weeks after the school received their FAFSA information.

Tips for the 2024-2025 FAFSA Form

• Use these tips to help you successfully complete the 2024–25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) 

Students who meet the AB540 criteria can apply for state and institutional financial aid by completing the California Dream Act Application (CADAA).

For the Fall 2023 semester to the Spring 2024 semester (2023-2024 academic year), you must complete the CADAA.

The CSUMB school code is 032603.

The priority deadline was March 2, 2023. If filed by this date you will be considered for state and institutional financial aid. We strongly encourage you to apply by March 2nd of every year.  

For 2024-2025, the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) has made updates to the CADAA. The application became available as of December 31, 2023, and the priority deadline is May 2, 2024.

What This Means for Students and Families

• AB 540 Affidavit inclusion:
  Following the progress of Assembly Bill 1540, CSAC will include the questions for the determination of nonresident tuition exemption (commonly referred to as AB 540 affidavit) within the CADAA and provide a way to allow institutions to collect a student’s answers to the AB 540 affidavit. Note: Colleges and universities will continue to make final determinations of AB540 eligibility.
• Parent Signature Process changes:
  The parental signature is more streamlined with a 1-step process, which eliminates the separate PIN creation process.

The FAFSA asks for important personal and financial information. It is important that you complete the application correctly and accurately. Have the following information ready:

• Your Social Security number 
• Your parents' Social Security number (Dependent applicants only)
• Your driver's license number if you have one
• Federal tax information
• Untaxed income information
• Information on cash, savings, investments, and business and farm assets (if applicable)

More details on required information for the FAFSA can be found on Federal Student Aid.

The FSA ID is what you will use to sign the FAFSA electronically. Both the student and parent need to have separate FSA IDs and you can sign up at any time. Visit the FSA ID page on the Federal Student Aid website for more information.

All financial aid applicants are considered either "dependent" or "independent." Dependent students are required to include their parents' information on the application. For further guidance visit the Federal Student Aid website for more dependency status information.

If you are facing any special circumstances, please stop by the Financial Aid Office or call us at (831) 582-4074 so we can further assist you.

Completing the FAFSA is only the first step in completing the required documents for financial aid. Be sure to check your email regularly and your OASIS Student Portal. If additional information is required, we will notify you via email to upload the appropriate documents through Student Forms. 

For more information about general next steps, visit the Federal Student Aid website.

The CADAA asks for important personal and financial information. It is important that you complete the application correctly and accurately. Have the following information ready:

• Federal tax information
• Untaxed income information
• Information on cash, savings, investments, and business and farm assets (if applicable)

Must meet eligibility requirements, for more information visit the California Student Aid Commission's DREAM Act Application website.

All CADAA applicants are either "dependent" or "independent." Dependent students are required to provide information about their parents on the CADAA. Independent students do not need to include their parents' information.

If you are facing special circumstances, please stop by the Financial Aid Office or call us at (831) 582-4074 so we can further assist you.

For further information review the CADAA Q&A. 

Completing the CADAA is only the first step in completing the required documents for financial aid. Be sure to check your email regularly and your OASIS Student Portal. If additional information is required, we will notify you via email to upload the appropriate documents through Student Forms. 

For more information, visit the California Dream Act Application website.