Applying for Financial Aid
Federal Aid
Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step in becoming eligible for Financial Aid. You will need to have an FSA ID to electronically sign your FAFSA Application. If you plan to attend College of the Desert, please include our school code, 001182, on your FAFSA Application.
You will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR), once you have submitted your FAFSA Application. If you included our school code on your application, we will receive an Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR), which is an electronic copy of your application. Once we receive your ISIR, we will post required documents (if applicable) on your student self-service portal. We will also send you an email to your MyCOD email if there are additional documents required. Please note, our department must receive the missing documents in order to move forward with processing your financial aid.
You must reapply for the FAFSA each academic year. The FAFSA opens October 1st for the following academic year. Please be sure to pay attention to financial aid deadlines, failure to do say may result in not being able to receive financial aid.
State Aid
You must be a resident of California or a verified AB540 student to be eligible for state aid.
California Dream Act (CADA)
AB 131 allows eligible AB 540 students to access state-funded financial aid programs such as Cal Grants, university grants and CCPG. The CADA also allows Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students to apply for the CCPG. The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) developed the California Dream Act Application to determine the financial need of students who are not citizens or legal permanent residents. Students with a valid social security number should complete the FAFSA and those that do not have a valid social security number should complete the CADA.
The CADA application will determine eligibility for the Cal Grant, Student Success Completion Grant and CPPG.
You must reapply for the CADA each academic year. The CADA opens October 1st for the following academic year. Please be sure to pay attention to financial aid deadlines, failure to do say may result in not being able to receive financial aid.
California College Promise Grant
The California College Promise Grant is a program that is designed to provide educational assistance for eligible California residents, AB540 or DACA students attending a California community college by waiving the per-unit enrollment fee at community college throughout the state. Students can apply by completing the FAFSA, California Dream Act Application or the CCPG application which can be picked up at the Financial Aid Office.
Cal Grant
Students attending College of the Desert are eligible to receive Cal Grant B or C. The state funded grants are available to California residents who apply by March 2nd for the next school year and qualify based on standards set by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC). In addition to completing a FAFSA/CADA, you must also complete the “Cal Grant GPA Verification Form.” This form must be submitted for CSAC to evaluate your eligibility. College of the Desert will transmit GPAs electronically every February and September for students who have completed at least 16 units, but less than 24 units called the reestablished GPA or a community college GPA if the student has 24 units of transferrable coursework. Only Cal Grants B and C may be used at College of the Desert, but Cal Grant A may be used for future study if you decide to transfer to a four-year college or university in California. There is an additional deadline of September 2nd for students completing the FAFSA that are attending a community college.
Student Success Completion Grant
The Student Success Completion Grant (SSCG) is a grant for Cal Grant B and Cal Grant C recipients attending a California community college full-time (12 units or more). The program is designed to encourage students to maintain full-time status throughout their academic career. Students will be eligible for $649 per semester (fall and spring) if they are in 12-14.9 units and $2,000 per semester if they are in 15 or more units.
Previous: Eligibility Requirements for Federal Financial Aid
