Parent & Family Financial Aid Information
Financial Aid Information for Parents & Families
Congratulations parents & families!
We are pleased to have you and your student as part of our Cal Poly Pomona community. To ensure the financial aid process is simple and clear, we offer resources to help parents & families help their students apply for, receive and manage financial aid. The following sections are designed to answer basic questions you may have while preparing your student for college and beyond.
Your student has certain rights regarding their education records when beginning attendance at a post-secondary institution, or upon reaching the age of 18. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) transfers the rights to the student. Limitations are placed on student record information that may be released to third parties (which includes parents, guardians and/or caregivers) without the student’s written permission unless it is considered directory information.
We want you to know that we strictly adhere to FERPA. Although it does limit what we can share with you about your student, it protects your student. Students can authorize the release of their records via the Registrar’s Office. For more information regarding FERPA, please see the Registrar’s Office website.
Parents & family members who wish to discuss their student’s financial aid should encourage their student to complete the Confidentiality Release Form / FERPA Authorize e-form, which is available from the Registrar’s Office website.
The Cal Poly Pomona Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships and the Cal Poly Pomona Student Accounting & Cashiering Services Office work together as partners in the “financing” process of a student’s education. Through coordination of efforts, we ensure timely delivery of funds, application of funds/payments toward outstanding university – related charges, and release of excess funds.
Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships | Student Accounting & Cashiering Services |
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finaid@cpp.edu | sacs@cpp.edu |
Evaluates student’s eligibility for aid | Posts Billing Statements (Bronco Direct) |
Verifies financial aid application information | Emails student re: Outstanding Charges |
Packages Financial Aid | Receives and applies payments to outstanding charges |
Oversees scholarship processing | Applies financial aid funds to outstanding charges |
Releases financial aid to Student Accounting & Cashiering Services | Manages installment / Payment Plan |
Evaluates Special Circumstances and Appeals | Releases excess funds (financial aid refunds) |
Provides information and advising on financing your Cal Poly Pomona education | Places Financial Holds for late / non-payment |
Monitors compliance with State & Federal Financial Aid Regulations | Provides 1098-T Forms |
Costs to Attend Cal Poly Pomona
Many things can influence the costs of attending college. At Cal Poly Pomona students are given a cost of attendance – which reflects the estimated expenses for the nine-month academic year. This information is based on the academic program of the student and their housing plans as indicated on their financial aid application.
Review the current Cost of Attendance budgets
The cost of college can include a variety of items, including some you might not expect. By understanding college costs, you can explore options for how to lower your costs. You should work with your student to develop a budget to help your family understand the impact of college costs. Taking time to make a budget can help you r student make smart financial decisions today and reach their goals in the future. Setting up a budget is simple. They just need to take the time to get started. To learn more about personal budgeting, visit Federal Student Aid's website .
Students Who Are Not Residents of California
Students who are not residents of California may face challenges in finding enough financial resources to attend Cal Poly Pomona. To find out about the residency rules, visit the Office of Admissions Residency page. Be sure to develop a financial plan to meet your student's educational expenses until the time your student graduates from Cal Poly Pomona. Financial tools, such as private loans, outside scholarships, and college savings plans can help.
Although your student must be admitted before they can receive a financial aid offer at Cal Poly Pomona, they should apply for aid before being admitted. Your student can file the financial aid application (FAFSA or CA Dream Application) as early as October 1 each year. The priority deadline for consideration of California or Cal Poly Pomona Grant aid is March 2nd. Some aid programs have limited funding, and are awarded on a first come, first served basis – so apply as early as possible to be considered for all types of aid.
- If your student is a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, they apply for financial aid every year by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) .
- If your student attended high school in California and is not eligible to submit a FAFSA, they may be to complete the California Dream Application . See the California Student Aid Commission website for more information and the California Dream Act Application
You can help your student keep track of the filing deadlines by marking your calendar each year and working with them to start this process during the winter break .
California Residents
Visit the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) website for information on applying for Cal Grant and Middle Class Scholarship funds.
Eligibility for a Cal Grant is based on the information in your student’s financial aid application as well as their academic history. Cal Grants may be renewed for up to four years of full-time enrollment.
In order to be considered for a Cal Grant, students must have their GPA verified by the appropriate college or high school office. The deadline to submit the GPA to CSAC is March 2nd each year.
Review the following pages for more information on applying for financial aid:
How to Apply – FAFSA Applicants
How to Apply – DREAM Applicants
Completing a financial aid application is the first step in determining a student's eligibilty for financial aid. Your student's eligibility depends on their Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the aid application, their year in school, their enrollment status, and the cost of attendance at the school they will be attending.
The EFC is an index number that we use to determine how much financial aid your student would receive if you they were to attend Cal Poly Pomona. The information you and your student report on their FAFSA form or the CA Dream Application is used to calculate their EFC.
Calculating the Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
Parent and student income and assets are used to determine the amount of your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) toward college cost. The EFC consists of a Parent Contribution and a Student Contribution toward cost of attendance. For the 2021-2022 academic year, your family's expected contribution is based on income from the 2019 calendar year income and assets reported at the time you file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Dream Act Application.
Appealing the Contribution
Cal Poly Pomona does not negotiate financial aid packages in response to offers from other schools. However, we will consider a change to the family contribution when extraordinary circumstances warrant a review.
The Financial Aid Application (FAFSA or CA DREAM Application) is based on income and resources from a prior tax year. We realize that students and families may have extraordinary circumstances and that financial situations can change – and that these changes may not be reflected on the aid application. These changes to income or resources can significantly impact your ability to meet the student’s educational costs. Cal Poly Pomona’s Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships is here to assist you and can guide you through the process of submitting a Special Circumstances Appeal to have your situation (and possibly financial aid) re-evaluated.
In order to have a Special Circumstance Appeal reviewed, your student must be an admitted student.
Get Access
The best way to track what's happening with your student's aid and bills is to establish regular check-ins with your student to discuss upcoming bills that may be due and deadlines that need to be met to ensure your student continues to receive aid. Check to make sure your student has visited their MyCPP Student Center to see their financial aid records and has taken the necessary steps to access their loans, if they plan to take out student loans. Visit our Loans page to find out more about student loans.
Types of Aid Available
There are four basic types of financial aid available: Scholarships, Grants, Employment, and Loans. Our office will determine a student’s eligibility for awards based on the information from their aid application. As we are made aware of scholarships that have been awarded to a student, we will add those to thier award package, and make any necessary adjustments to other awards – as total financial aid cannot exceed the student’s cost of attendance budget. Visit our Undergraduate Aid Programs page for more information.
Grants and Scholarships? How Can You Student Get Them?
Grants are types of aid that eligible students do not have to repay or work for. Grants come from many sources and have different eligibility guidelines. Cal Poly Pomona evaluates student eligibility for federal and university grants. State agencies determine eligibility for state grants. To learn more about grants offered at Cal Poly Pomona, visit our Undergraduate Aid Programs page.
Scholarships are another form of free money that do not need to be repaid and can come from many different sources. Visit our Scholarships page for more information about scholarships administered by Cal Poly Pomona. If your student has received notification that they are receiving a scholarship award from a source outside of Cal Poly Pomona, you can learn more about how our office manages these outside awards.
Student Loans
Students who attempt to juggle full time work and full time studies may have difficulty completing their academic programs. Not working, or working a moderate amount, and using a student loan can help students keep their focus on their studies and education goals.
Student loans for college are an investment in the student’s future. Loans can help pay for tuition and university charges right away. The student loans offered as part of the aid package come with low interest rates and favorable repayment options. Review more information about loans on our Loan Information page. Students can always accept a lesser amount than what was offered.
Students Who Are Not Residents of California
Students who are not residents of California may face challenges in finding enough financial resources to attend Cal Poly Pomona. To find out about the residency rules, visit the Office of Admissions Residency page. Be sure to develop a financial plan to meet your student's educational expenses until the time your student graduates from Cal Poly Pomona. Financial tools, such as private loans, outside scholarships, and college savings plans can help.
Financial aid is offered for an entire academic year; however, student bills are generated by semester. After a student registers for courses, tuition and campus fees are calculated by Student Accounting & Cashiering Services and typically require a full payment by the published due date.
Every student receives email notification of Outstanding University Charges / Balance Due – until there are NO outstanding charges/balance due. Students should also check their Student Center (MyCPP) to find out their balance and the due date.
EVEN IF a student has financial aid, she/he will receive a notification of Outstanding Charges. This is to ensure that ALL students remain aware of the cost of their tuition and fees – even if they have financial aid covering those costs. For those with financial aid, an Anticipated, or Pending, Aid amount will display. If the student’s anticipated aid is greater than tuition and fees, no payment will be due until after financial aid is released at the beginning of the semester.
When Aid Is Released
For the majority of students enrolled in classes, accepted financial aid will automatically be credited to student bills 10 days prior to the start of classes each semester.
In order for a student’s financial aid to be released for payment of University charges, they must:
- Have an Award Summary that contains “Official” awards, as opposed to estimated awards
- Have Accepted the Awards on their Aid Summary in their MyCPP Student Center
- Complete their To-Do List on their MyCPP Student Center
- Loan borrowers – complete the required loan steps for new borrowers
- Enroll in classes
- Be maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Review our Getting Your Aid page for more information on how financial aid pays your student’s charges and how excess funds (refunds) are released.
Paying Remaining Charges
After all financial aid has credited to the account; there are still other options for assistance with any remaining balance:
For more information about obtaining a Parent PLUS Loan or Private Education Loans, refer to our Loan Information page.
A college education is one of the most important investments of your lifetime. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships does more than connect students with sources of financial aid—we can also help them learn how to use their resources wisely with an eye toward lifelong financial stability.
There are many tools to help students and families estimate costs, budget, keep track of aid and bills due, and maximize their funds. Check out our Financial Wellness page for more information.
Students aren't the only ones going through a big change as college begins. That's why we hold spring/summer Parent and Family Orientation. Parent and Family Orientations include multiple topics helpful for parents and family members, including a presentation from the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships. Please view our latest presentation for an example of what our office presents during Parent and Family Orientations.
Plan ahead and help make sure your student is taking the appropriate steps to keep their Financial Aid while attending Cal Poly Pomona.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Students must meet academic progress guidelines to retain federal, California State and Cal Poly Pomona aid. SAP is reviewed at the end of each semester. Visit our Understanding SAP page to learn more about SAP guidelines.
Renew the Aid Application Each Year
A new financial aid application must be filed each year. The application becomes available October 1st and the priority submission deadline to be considered for California State and Cal Poly Pomona aid is March 2nd of each year.
Look out for Correspondence
Respond quickly to all requests made by the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships staff. Cal Poly Pomona University will send important information about Financial Aid to students through the student's University email and the MyCPP Student Portal.