Financial Aid

Cal State East Bay offers students more than $69 million in grants, loans, scholarships and other financial aid each year. To determine if you are eligible to receive financial aid, submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the Federal Department of Education. Most students at Cal State East Bay are eligible to apply for financial aid. Many types of aid are available including grants, loans and the federal work study program.

When to Apply for Financial Aid

File the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1 of the year you plan to enroll in the University. You must also apply for aid with a FAFSA each year, and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress to continue to receive financial aid.

Priority Deadline - March 2

File no later than March 2 to receive priority consideration. Because aid is offered on a first-come first-served basis, those who apply by the priority deadline receive priority funding. While your application will still be considered if it is received after March 2, you greatly increase your chances of receiving aid by meeting the priority deadline. Use the Title IV Code: 001138 when applying for aid at Cal State East Bay. Some individual aid programs have other application requirements and deadlines you must meet to qualify. For grants, loans and work study deadlines, see the information in this site or contact your financial aid office or program advisor.

Cal Grant Deadline - March 2

California residents applying for a Cal Grant must also submit a GPA Verification Form to the California Student Aid Commission. This form is completed by your school and must be received by the Commission by March 2. Visit the Cal Grant Web site for complete information on how to apply.

How to Apply for Financial Aid

To apply for and to receive financial aid, complete the following steps:

1. Complete a FAFSA online: You may apply directly to the FAFSA site and complete the application there, where you can also apply for aid at more than one university or college, if you wish.      
2. Submit all Financial Aid documents: Submit all Financial Aid documents that are noted in your MyCSUEB To Do List by the document deadlines listed below. Forms showing as "Initiated" are forms you are required to submit to the Office of Financial Aid. The status of each required financial aid document will display as "Received" approximately 10-15 days after you submit it. If an item is incomplete, the status will show "Returned" and you must wait for the document to be returned by mail to your home with directions on the missing items.
3. Complete your semester units, otherwise a hold will be placed on your financial aid
4. View your award in MyCSUEB: An award will display on MyCSUEB when your financial aid award is available an you will received a Horizon E-mail. To view the status of your financial aid application, log in to MyCSUEB and select "View Financial Aid" when it becomes available.
5. Complete at least 75% of your courses and maintain at least a 2.0 GPA as an undergraduate, or 3.0 GPA as a graduate, postbaccalaureate, or credential student
6. Make sure to update your contact information (mailing address, e-mail, phone numbers) on MyCSUEB
7. Check your MyCSUEB To Do List often
8. For questions or problems, visit the Enrollment Information Center on the First Floor of the Student Services and Administration Building on the Hayward Campus. Remember to file for financial aid every academic year by the priority deadline of March 2nd
9. Submit your documents for financial aid on time. The document deadlines are shown in the following table:

10. Financial Aid Document Deadlines

    Quarter	Document Deadline
    Spring 2012	February 1, 2012
    Summer 2012	May 4, 2012
    Fall 2012	July 6, 2012
    Winter 2013	November 9, 2012
    Spring 2013	February 1, 2013

    Evaluation Process: 4 to 6 weeks

    After all requested documents are submitted, the 4 to 6 week evaluation process begins. Your application status may change, and/or additional documents may be requested from you. Check your To Do List in MyCSUEB often.

    Award Notification

    An award message will be sent via Horizon E-mail when your financial aid award is no longer estimated and is ready to accept. No paper notices will be mailed. You may view your Financial Aid Award online at MyCSUEB Self Service, Student Center, click on "View Financial Aid" or "Accept/Decline Financial Aid", then click on the appropriate adi year. Financial aid is based on full-time enrollment. If you plan to be enrolled less than full-time, complete the Office Action Form. Financial Aid funds may be proprated for students who are enrolled for less than full-time.
    Please note: Failure to return this form will delay your disbursement. Fee deferrals are temporary and are issued after all requested documents are submitted to the Office of Financial Aid. To prevent enrollment cancellation, you must submit all requested documents prior to the document deadlines. A fee deferral will hold classes and delay payment of registration fees only while the financial aid process is completed.
    Note: it is your responsibility to pay your academic costs if you complete your financial aid file after the quarter has started. A fee deferral will not be issued.

    Complete a FAFSA Each Year

    Students must apply each year to obtain financial aid or to continue receiving aid by submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the Federal Department of Education. After you apply for aid, your award notification will become available in MyCSUEB. After accepting the award offer, you must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress to continue receiving aid while you are a student.

    Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress

    To continue to receive financial aid after it is awarded, students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress toward the timely completion of a degree or credential to be eligible for aid. You must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress in courses completed and attempted by keeping up your grades and your overall progress in your program. If you need assistance with your academic progress, contact your academic advisor. See Academic Advising for more information. 
    For more information, refer to and download the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.

Receiving Financial Aid

After you have submitted all requested documents and your financial aid eligibility is determined, your financial aid is disbursed to your student account in MyCSUEB. Your financial aid is used to pay any outstanding University debt, and the balance of your aid is mailed to your local address on file. If you do not wish to use your financial aid to pay University debt and fees, you must pay these debts yourself and notify the Office of Financial aid before your aid is disbursed and mailed to you. To notify the Office of Financial aid, send an e-mail message from your Horizon student e-mail account and mail to: finaid@csueastbay.edu.

When Financial Aid is Delivered

Each quarter, Cal State East Bay begins disbursing financial aid on a specific date. After this date, Student Financial Services (Accounting) conducts three disbursements each week. Before your aid is disbursed, you must submit all requested documents, accept your aid (via MyCSUEB) and enroll in the required number of units. You must also allow time for the Office of Financial Aid to review your verification documents and make any necessary corrections to your FAFSA data and your award.

A federal or state drug conviction can disqualify students from receiving Financial Aid. Please see the Notice of Financial Aid Penalties for Drug Law Violations for complete details.