SRJC Financial Aid Office
To find out more about the SRJC Financial Aid
Programs or to speak with a member of our staff,
look us up online or come by our offices on the
Santa Rosa and Petaluma campuses.
Santa Rosa Campus
Bernard C. Plover Hall
Phone: (707) 527-4471
financialaid.santarosa.edu
Office Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
and Friday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Wednesday: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Petaluma Campus
Jacobs Hall Room 116
Phone: (707) 778-2461
Office Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday:
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Both offices closed on Friday
during June and July
The Sonoma County Junior College District does not
discriminate on the basis of race, religious creed, color,
national origin, ancestry, ethnic group identification,
physical disability, mental disability, medical condition,
genetic condition, marital status, sex, gender, gender
identity, gender expression, genetic information or sexual
orientation in any of its policies, procedures or practices;
nor does the District discriminate against any employees
or applicants for employment on the basis of their age. This
non-discrimination policy covers admission, access and
treatment in District programs and activities--including
but not limited to academic admissions, financial aid,
educational services and athletics--and application for
District employment.
SANTA ROSA JUNIOR COLLEGE
FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS
Federal Aid
State Aid
Pell Grant
These grants are Gift aid or free money to help pay
for tuition and other college expenses for low income
students. Award amounts vary, up to $5775 per year
based on enrollment and Estimated Family Contribution.
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
Grants offer up to an additional $750 per year to help pay
college expenses for the most needy students. Limited
funds are awarded on a first come, first served basis.
Federal Work Study
This program offers part-time employment on campus.
Work flexible hours and gain valuable experience.
Direct Subsidized Loan
Don’t ever borrow more than you need. Loans must
be repaid. No interest builds until six months after you
graduate or drop below 6 units. Maximum = $3500 for
first-year students; $4500 for second-year students.
Subsidized eligibility for new borrowers is limited to 150%
of your program/goal length. If you do not complete your
goal within this time, you will lose your interest subsidy
and your loan balance will increase.
Direct Unsubsidized Loan
This is money that must be repaid, it’s not need based
aid. Despite high EFCs, students may borrow up to $3500
in their first year and up to $4500 in their second year.
Independent students may borrow up to an additional
$6000 per year. Dependent students may borrow up to
an additional $2000 per year. Interest accrues while in
school. It is a good idea to pay interest while in school,
but you are not required to do so. The interest rate is
determined each year on July 1st and is fixed for the life of
the loan. Interest rates cannot exceed 8.25%. The interest
rate for the 14/15 year was 4.66%.
Some undocumented students may qualify for state aid
in California. For more information contact our office or
visit financialaid.santarosa.edu/dream-act
Get BOG Fee Waiver!
The Board of Governor’s Fee
Waiver (BOG) waives per-unit
enrollment fees at California
community colleges and all but
$30 of parking fees per term.
Cal Grants
Students must apply by the stated
deadlines and meet academic and
financial guidelines.
Cal Grant A
Cal Grant A pays tuition at public four-year post
secondary schools in California. These awards are
limited. *Note: Cal Grant A cannot be used at SRJC. If
you are awarded a Cal Grant A and attend community
college, your grant can be held in reserve for two years
until you transfer to a four-year school. If students have
circumstances beyond their control that cause them to
take a third year to transfer, they will need to request an
extension.
Cal Grant B
This grant gives disadvantaged students $1648 per
academic year to help pay for living expenses for college.
If a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year student has a Cal Grant B award
and is at a four-year school, it also pays tuition. Like the
Cal Grant A, it can be held in reserve to be used later at a
four-year school.
Cal Grant C
Pays $547 at SRJC per academic year toward books and
supplies for students in enrolled at least half-time in
certain short-term vocational programs.
For information, visit the Financial Aid office in Plover Hall on the Santa Rosa Campus
or room 116 Jacobs Hall on the Petaluma Campus.
www.santarosa.edu/finaid or call (707) 527-4471
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Carefully read this brochure and keep it with your important school records.
Step One – Apply
Fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA). The FAFSA is a single application for all federal
financial aid, including grants, loans, and Federal Work
Study. You should fill out the FAFSA even if you think
you won’t qualify for aid. You may need to request
a student loan. You must also fill out a FAFSA to be
considered for state aid, such as Cal Grant. To apply for
Cal Grant you must also have your GPA verified. Some
students qualify to have their GPA certified electronically
and automatically. Contact the Financial Aid Office
to determine if you need to complete a paper GPA
verification form.
You can apply online at fafsa.gov. Both English
and Spanish FAFSAs are available online. If you apply
before March 2, you will meet the state deadline to be
considered for a Cal Grant. March 2 is the priority deadline
for financial aid at SRJC. You can still apply after the
priority deadline, however, it is important to fill out the
FAFSA as soon as possible. This will help you resolve any
issues, budget and plan for the semester, and receive aid
when you need it.
Step Two – Sign It
Remember to sign your FAFSA! Create a FSA ID to sign
your FAFSA. The FSA ID is a username and password
combination that serves as a student’s or parent’s digital
signature. If you have applied for financial aid in the past,
you probably have a PIN. If you have a PIN, you can link
your information to your new FSA ID by entering your PIN
while registering for your FSA ID. You can create a FSA
ID online at fsaid.ed.gov. Unsigned applications are
considered incomplete and no aid can be awarded.
Note: If you are considered a dependent student and
must have parent information to complete the FAFSA,
your parents must also sign. After a signed application is
submitted, the Department of Education uses a complex
formula to determine your Estimated Family Contribution
(EFC). The EFC is not what you pay, but it will determine
what aid you are eligible to receive.
Step Three – Review Your Application
Next you get a copy of all the information you
supplied on the FAFSA called a Student Aid Report
(SAR). Review all the information and make any
necessary changes. If you aren’t sure if you need
to make changes or how to read the SAR, ask the
Financial Aid Office for help. Our office processes
financial aid in batches so that more students are
paid promptly, however it may be up to 4 weeks
before your application is in our system.
Step Four – Turn in Supplemental Documents
Contact the Financial Aid Office to see if your file is in our
system. If our office has not imported your FAFSA yet,
follow up in a few weeks. Once our office has received
your FAFSA, ask if anything is needed to complete your
financial aid file. Many students will not need to take any
further action.
One third of students are selected for verification to make
sure that the information on their FAFSA is correct. If you
are selected for verification, you must submit a verification
worksheet listing: household members, household
members going to college, details regarding child support
paid and if anyone has received SNAP benefits for the last
two years. You must also verify tax information using the
IRS Data Retrieval Tool on the FAFSA or an IRS Tax Return
Transcript. If you don’t understand what documentation is
required or what action you need to take, please contact
us. You can’t receive aid if you don’t turn in the requested
documents.
After all paperwork is submitted a technician will
determine if it is necessary to correct the information listed
on your FAFSA. If corrections are necessary, you will receive
a new Student Aid Report.
When the college has an accurate application on file and
has received all documentation necessary, an Award
Package is created. Once the Financial Aid Office has
determined your Award Package, we will send you an
Award Letter. The letter will tell you about financial aid
based on your preferences listed on the FAFSA and on your
eligibility. Please come to our office or contact us if you
have questions about your award letter.
Note: If you have requested a student loan, you will receive a loan
packet that includes instructions on what to do next and a revised
award letter.
Step Five – Receiving the Money
Once you have received an Award Letter, enrolled in
classes, and continued to make satisfactory academic
progress, you are ready to receive most financial aid.
Remember, loans are evaluated separately.
For information, visit the Financial Aid Office in Plover Hall on the Santa Rosa Campus or room 116 Jacobs Hall on the Petaluma Campus.
www.santarosa.edu/finaid or call (707) 527-4471
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