To receive financial aid, you must:
- Be accepted and enrolled as a regular student in an eligible program leading to an Associate Degree, transfer to a four-year college or university to obtain a bachelor’s degree, or certain certificate programs that are eligible for financial aid. Be sure to declare an “Education Goal” on the admissions application;
- Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen;
- Demonstrate financial need for need-based program;
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress in course of study according to the standards and practices of CCSF;
- Not owe a refund on a Federal Pell Grant or Federal SEOG;
- Not be in default on any Federal Perkins, Federal Stafford Loan, Federal Direct Loans, or California Loan to Assist Students/PLUS;
- Male applicants between the ages of 18 through 25 must be registered with Selective Service (see information below);
- Have a valid Social Security Number and be sure to provide your social security number on the admissions application;
- Must not have federal benefits suspended due to drug offense conviction while receiving federal student aid;
- Have a high school diploma (or equivalent) or pass an independently administered test (Ability to Benefit Test) or complete six degree applicable units.
Ability to Benefit Policy
Federal regulations, effective July 1, 1991, require post-secondary institutions to certify whether a student without a high school diploma or its equivalent has the ability to benefit from the instruction provided by the institution prior to the awarding of any federal financial aid funds.
In order for the student to demonstrate his/her "ability to benefit:", and thereby become eligible to receive Title IV (federal financial aid), the student who lacks a high school diploma or its equivalent must pass an independently administered test approved by the U. S. Secretary of Education.
Please call the Testing Office at 239-3129 for information regarding testing sites and schedules.
OR
Complete six degree applicable units at CCSF. You can also transfer units completed at other colleges or universities. For evaluation of transferred units please contact the Office of Admissions and Records. When CCSF determines that you earned 6 degree applicable units, and the ATB requirement is cancelled, please bring any requested documents to complete your file. Please check your Financial Aid status on CCSF’s WebSTARS.
Selective Service Registration Requirement
The federal Military Selective Service Act requires most males residing in the United States to register with the Selective Service System within thirty days of their eighteenth birthday. Most males between the ages of 18 and 25 must be registered. It's the law. In California, students subject to the Act who fail to register are also ineligible to receive any need-based student grants funded by the state or a public postsecondary institution.
Selective Service registration forms are available at any U.S. Post Office, and many high schools have a staff member or teacher appointed as a Selective Service Registrar. Applicants for financial aid can also request that information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) be used to register them with the Selective Service. Information on the Selective Service System is available and the registration process may be initiated online at http://www.sss.gov/.
You do not need a social security number. When you do obtain a social security number, let Selective Service know. Provide a copy of your new social security number card; be sure to include your complete name, date of birth, Selective Service registration number, and current mailing address; and mail to the Selective Service System, P.O. Box 94636, Palatine, IL 60094-4636.
Be sure to register before your 26th birthday. After that, it's too late!
Selective Service does not collect any information which would indicate whether or not you are undocumented. You want to protect yourself for future U.S. citizenship and other government benefits and programs by registering with Selective Service. Do it today.
Gender and Registration: Only individuals who were born male are required to register.