1. Today’s Agenda
General Financial Aid Information (What & How)
SF State Student Center (Sections to Know)
Financial Aid Deferment
Understanding Your To Do List
Verification of 2015 Tax & Income Information
Financial Aid Awards (Types and Process)
Grants, Loans, Work Study
Scholarships
SF State Mobile App

2. What is Financial Aid?
Financial Aid is money to help you pay for college
Financial Aid can be given from:
The federal government
Your state of residence
The school you attend
An external organization
Financial Aid consists of:
Grants and Scholarships: free funds
Loans: borrowed funds
Work-Study: earned funds

3. What Can Financial Aid Cover?
Tuition (your classes, school gym access, health services, student services & fun school activities!)
Housing (at home, in the dorms, own place)
Books & Supplies
Transportation (BART, bus, car & parking, bike)
Personal Expenses (Educational Related Costs)

4. Estimated Cost of Attendance @ SF State
On/Off-Campus
Tuition & Fees (full-time) $7,254
Room & Board $14,502
Books & Supplies $1,948
Transportation $1,565
Personal Expenses $1,450
TOTAL $26,719
Edit to add once numbers are ready

5. How Is Financial Aid Eligibility Calculated?
Cost of Attendance
Estimated Family Contribution (EFC)
Financial Need
Registration & Fees
Room & Board
Books & Supplies
Transportation
Personal Expenses
Total Cost of Attendance
Student Contribution
+ Parent Contribution (If Applicable)
= Estimated Family Contribution
(EFC)
*The calculation of the EFC is based on the information submitted on the FAFSA, such as income and investments
- EFC
= Financial Need
*Determines a student’s eligibility for Federal & State Financial Aid

6. How Do You Apply for Financial Aid?
Priority Deadline for was March 2nd, but you can still apply online using 2015 tax information!
FAFSA
Who is Eligible:
U.S. Citizens
Legal Permanent Residents
T-visa Holders
Eligible Non-Citizens
Not eligible for FAFSA? Attend the AB 540/Undocumented Student Success Workshop to learn about financial aid through the CA Dream Act!

7. SF State Gateway Login with your SF State ID Number and Password
Create a Password if you are a first-time user

8. Accessing Your Student Center
Click on Student Center button under Financial Section

9. SFSU Student Center Holds & Alerts To Do List View Financial Aid
Accept/Decline Awards
Report Other Financial Aid
Drop Down Box:
Account Activity
Charges Due
7. Enroll in Direct
Deposit

10. Section 1: Holds & Alerts

11. Financial Aid Deferment
This alert means you may have pending financial aid, and will not be dis-enrolled from your classes.
This occurs because the deferment delays the payment deadline until financial aid funds have disbursed

12. Section 2: To Do List

13. To Do List
Add updated student center screenshot with student that has verification items
If you have items listed, select the More button to view the item instructions

14. Accessing To Do List Items
Add updated student center screenshot with student that has verification items
Click hyperlinks to view instructions for each item

15. Note: 1040 TAX RETURNS ARE NOT ACCEPTED!
Verifying Your Income
Students are randomly selected by the Dept. of Education to verify household income and family size
FILL OUT Income Verification Sheets AND
SUBMIT Tax Return TRANSCRIPTS
Note: 1040 TAX RETURNS ARE NOT ACCEPTED!
Verification can take 3-4 weeks to process

16. Obtaining a 2015 Tax Return Transcript
Go to and choose the option to Get a Tax Transcript under “Tools” section
You (and your parent) can obtain a transcript online same-day or via mail in 5-10 days

17. Student Center: Finances

18. Section 3: View Financial Aid
Once you have completed all required To Do List items and you have cleared any holds on your account, you will be awarded financial aid

19. GRANTS = Free $$ Federal Grants: Pell Grant
SEOG (Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant)
State Grants:
Cal Grants A/B
State University Grant
EOP Grant
Middle Class Scholarship

20. WebGrants for Students
Create an account on
to verify your Cal Grant eligibility
If you are eligible for a Cal Grant, make sure
SF State is listed for you to receive your financial aid award

21. Federal Direct Student Loans: Borrowed $$
Subsidized Loans:
Government pays interest while you’re in school
3.76 % Interest (Subject to change after July 1, 2017)
Maximum amounts: Freshmen: $3,500; Sophomores $4,500; Juniors/Seniors $5,500
Unsubsidized Loans:
Interest accrues while you’re in school
3.76% Interest (Subject to change after July 1, 2017)
Maximum amount for Dependents: $2,000

22. Federal PARENT PLUS LOAN = Borrowed $$
6.31% Interest Rate
Subject to change after July 1, 2017
Accrues while student is in school
If Parent is declined, student can increase Unsubsidized Loan by contacting Financial Aid Office
Freshman/Sophomores: $4,000 for academic year
Juniors/Seniors: $5,000 for academic year
Should we put all screenshots in? Or link to Plus Website (under assumption that screenshots are on site)? Also, we have the option for the Plus Loan flyer

23. How to Apply for the Parent PLUS Loan

24. Section 4: Accept/Decline Awards
Any grants you are eligible for will be automatically accepted, while you must manually accept any loan offers
Additional To Do List items may appear after accepting loans

25. How Financial Aid Works
1. DISBURSEMENT If financial aid is all in order, financial aid FIRST goes toward tuition and other charges (ie. Housing) on student’s account
2. REFUND
Student and/or Parent receives the extra funds from financial aid awards once all charges are paid for
2. BALANCE DUE
Student does not have enough financial aid to cover charges, so student must pay any remaining balance OR

26. Section 6: Drop Down Box
To access Account Activity and Charges Due, you must access “other financial…” drop down box

27. Section 7: Enroll in Direct Deposit
If you have a refund, you can sign up for direct deposit to receive the refund in your bank account
Have your banking and routing numbers available to sign up!

28. balance returned to you or your parent.
Account Activity
Payment section: View the disbursement of your financial aid and any out of pocket payments.
Refund section:
balance returned to you or your parent.
*Refunds from the Parent Plus Loan will be sent as a check to parent unless specified otherwise on Plus Loan Application
$$$ to you!

29. Read this important message about coverage!
Account Summary
Check the Account Summary under your Student Center to see if you have a Balance Due!
Read this important message about coverage!

30. Start the Scholarship Search

31. View Campus/External Scholarships Under
Use Academic Works!
View Campus/External Scholarships Under
Opportunities and Sign In to Apply. Refine search by major, department, or college by choosing option to Show Filters

32. SF State Mobile App
The Student Center screens are viewable on the Mobile App!
Step 1: Download the
SF State Mobile App
Step 2: Go to Payments & Aid
Step 3: Login to access your account

33. SF State Office of Student Financial Aid
Contact Us!
SF State Office of Student Financial Aid
Phone: M-F 9:00 to 4:30 ||
In-Person: M-F 9:00 to 5:00,
Student Services Building - One Stop