Financial 援助 FAQs
We know that applying for financial aid brings up some pretty big questions. Here are answers to some common ones. As always, please contact 我们的办公室 if need assistance.
FINANCIAL AID FAQS
Am I eligible for financial aid?
虽然每个援助项目都有特殊的要求, 以下是获得资格所需的基本标准. 为了有资格获得经济援助，你必须:
- 做一个U.S. citizen or eligible non–U.S. citizen (Federal regulations and College policy limit the types of financial assistance available to non–U.S. 公民)
- Have a valid Social Security Number (unless you’re from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau)
- Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) Certificate, or pass an exam approved by the U.S. Department of Education
- 在参加联邦学生援助计划的学校，以普通学生的身份注册或被录取，攻读学位或证书
- Not owe a refund on a 联邦 grant or be in default on a 联邦 student loan
- Demonstrate financial need (except for unsubsidized Federal Direct Loans, 加上贷款, or private alternative loans)
How do I apply for 圣玛丽 aid?
You must complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student 援助) each year to be considered for any financial aid. 圣玛丽 Priority deadline is Feb. 新生15日，续读生3月2日. Make sure to have your and your parents’ tax information from two years prior.
How is my financial aid calculated?
SMC’s need-based aid looks at our Cost Of Attendance (COA) for the year, which includes tuition, student activity fee, food and housing, 书/课程材料/供应/设备, 个人, and transportation expenses. 学生资助指数(SAI)由FAFSA计算. We will offer institutional, 状态, and 联邦 grants based on a percentage of the financial need calculated; loans and Federal Work Study (FWS) will be offered on top of the grants. Based on availability of funding, we are unable to cover the full financial need with grant funding, 因此，SAI的变化不会改变美元对美元的奖励.
What is an SAI, and how is it used?
学生资助指数(SAI)是衡量你家庭经济实力的一个指标，是根据联邦政府制定的公式计算出来的. Based on what you report on your FAFSA, your family's taxed and untaxed income, 资产, and benefits (such as unemployment or Social Security) are all considered in the formula. 大学使用SAI来决定你的联邦, 状态, 以及机构学生资助资格和奖励. 你的SAI是 不 你的家庭要支付的大学学费 ,是 不 the amount of aid you will receive.
Will my Saint Mary's grants and/or scholarships cover food and housing?
我们的SMC政策要求SMC优点和基于需求的援助仅限于学费，极少数例外的体育援助可以覆盖食品和住房. 我们将减少超过学费的奖学金.
Can I get the same amount of financial aid if I am a part-time student?
To be eligible for institutional aid, a student must be enrolled as a full-time student. State and 联邦 regulations do allow students to receive a prorated grant amount if they are part-time, 但要最大限度地提高所有奖学金和助学金, students need to be full-time. Loans are available for students that are enrolled at least half-time.
我如何知道我是否有资格获得优异奖?
招生顾问将根据你的高中GPA来决定你的入学申请, 考试成绩, 以及高中课程的严谨性, along with any special talents—whether you are eligible for a 圣玛丽 merit scholarship. You will be 不ified in your acceptance letter and in your financial aid offer letter if you are selected.
我的优异奖在未来学年是否会增加?
当你被圣玛丽录取时，你的优秀奖学金金额将在8个学期内保持不变, 这取决于你的学生水平(大一), 二年级学生, 等.) at that time. 它将 不 increase in subsequent years.
If I take a leave of absence or withdraw from school and want to return to SMC, will my financial aid change?
有资格休病假(LOA)的学生, 他们必须在注册办公室有良好的信誉. 学生请假连续不超过2个学期，才有资格申请相应的院校, 联邦, 和/或国家援助，如果FAFSA反映了经济需求. Students who take a leave of absence longer than 2 consecutive semesters will 不 be eligible for institution aid, only applicable 联邦 and/or 状态 aid if FAFSA reflects the need.
I’m a new student, and since my admission there have been changes in in my parents' circumstances, 比如收入的大幅减少, changes in health, 或其他情有可原的情况，因为我们提交了FAFSA. 圣玛丽会考虑这个吗?
If you and your family have any of the extenuating circumstances outlined above, please visit our Professional Judgement Policy page, carefully review information, and submit the required documents for consideration. If you are unsure whether you qualify for an appeal, contact 我们的办公室 at 925-631-4370. 如果您已经提交了上诉，并已被审查, your financial aid offer will indicate that Saint Mary's considered this when it put your package together. Typical response time from January to April is 2-4 weeks; from May to July is 4-6 weeks. 我们知道你必须在5月1日之前做出入学决定, 我们会尽一切努力及时回应您的要求. In the meantime, you may have to make your decision to attend 圣玛丽 based on the awards you have already been offered. Certainly, if there are changes later in the year, you can submit an appel at that time. We can不 guarantee that 圣玛丽 funds will be available or that the appeal will be approved.
What if my family’s circumstances change for the worse in future years?
圣玛丽 will do it’s best to reevaluate your situation and see if you qualify for 状态 or 联邦 aid first. The 圣玛丽 need-based award you received for your first year will remain the same throughout your academic career (4-year maximum as a freshman); we do have limited emergency resources, 优先考虑高年级和低年级学生.
在过去的一年里，我家的经济状况有了很大的改善. Will this impact my 圣玛丽 award?
圣玛丽 need-based scholarships are based on a percentage of need as determined by the FAFSA. If a family’s financial situation changes substantially for the better, we will reevaluate the student’s need. 例如, if the family’s number of students in college is reduced from 2 to 1, they will have greater resources for the remaining student in college. 如果一个家庭的收入大幅增加, due to new employment as an example, 这也可能影响学生的奖学金. We want to give our scholarships to students with the greatest need, and we will always be happy to discuss and review the changes and how they impact students’ need-based awards. The Pell Grant and the Cal Grant are based on the student's Student 援助 Index (SAI), and the student’s eligibility is evaluated each year for those funds. Merit 奖学金 are based on merit and will remain at the same amount each year.
I was selected for verification. What is this, and what do I do?
美国教育部(DOE)要求所有发放联邦财政援助资金的机构核实学生及其家人提交的信息的准确性，以作为发放援助的依据. 每年, 美国能源部从接受联邦学生援助资金的学生中选取一定比例的学生，核实他们获得奖学金所依据的一些信息. If selected for verification, as 不ified on your Student 援助 Report (SAR) when your FAFSA was processed, 我们将向您发送必要的表格和说明，并要求您(如果您提交了纳税申报表)和您的父母使用FAFSA上的IRS数据检索工具或订购IRS纳税申报表, and verify information such as household size and number of family members enrolled in college. We reserve the right to request similar information for verification purposes for any student awarded aid. Information collected may result in changes to your financial aid offer. Failure to comply with the request for this information will result in the cancellation of your financial aid funds.
My financial aid is contingent on receipt of additional documents or information as 不ed on the cover letter. Does this mean my financial aid offer 可能会改变?
Your financial awards 可能会改变. 如果我们需要重新评估你的财务信息, such as income, 资产, and household size, this could affect your eligibility for 圣玛丽 aid as well as 状态 and 联邦 aid. 如果你已经在FAFSA上估计了你家庭的纳税申报表, please update it as soon as possible once you or your parents have filed your tax returns.
I received a significantly better financial aid offer from a不her college. 十大正规网赌平台能否与另一所学院的奖项相媲美?
圣玛丽 does 不 match financial aid offers in response to merit-based awards from other colleges. With exception of athletic aid and merit awards determined by the 招生 Office, 圣玛丽 scholarships are based solely on demonstrated financial need. If a不her college has offered a need-based financial aid offer significantly better than that of 圣玛丽, 可能是另一所大学收到了关于你家庭经济状况的新信息或更新信息——这些信息我们可能还没有. In such cases, we can check our system for the latest FAFSA update.
我如何申请直接学生贷款?
Once you have received a financial aid offer from us listed with the Direct Loans for which you are eligible, you may accept these loans as instructions indicate on the financial aid offer. 我们会给你发一封电子邮件，告诉你如何在网上完成“入学咨询”和“主本票” studentaid.政府. You will need to have names, phone numbers, and addresses of two people 不 living in your household for references.
As a graduate student (i.e. graduate, doctoral, professional) am I eligible for 联邦 student aid?
如果我的父母无法支付净费用，我们该怎么办?
有许多可供家庭选择的融资方案. We strongly encourage students to search for outside scholarships to reduce the need for loans. Please see our scholarship websites 网页和 outside scholarships webpage for scholarship opportunities. 家庭也可以考虑申请联邦父母PLUS贷款. Loan approval is subject to credit criteria established by the U.S. Department of Education. A credit report will be obtained from a national credit bureau once you apply. Generally, parent borrowers must 不 have an adverse credit history. 父母 can borrow up to the cost of attendance minus any other aid. 此外，学生还可以申请私人教育贷款. Co-signers are encouraged since the interest rate is set based on the credit score of the applicant(s). The loans are deferred while the student is in school, and interest accrues during this time.
How do my parents apply for a PLUS?
要申请PLUS贷款，你的父母需要去 studentaid.政府 并以他/她的金融服务机构编号登入，填写“直加贷款申请”及“直加总本票”. Parent typically 不ified of approval or denial decision upon completion of application.
What options are there if my parent is denied the Federal Direct PLUS Loan?
如果你的父母被拒绝了联邦直接加贷款, s/he can submit an appeal directly to the Direct Loan Department; or reapply for the loan using an endorser (equivalent to a co-signer); or you (the student) are eligible to borrow an additional unsubsidized 联邦 Direct Loan ($4,000 for freshmen and 二年级学生s; $5,000 for juniors and seniors). 如果你想借额外的无补贴联邦直接贷款，财政援助办公室必须收到你(学生)的书面请求.
如何申请私人教育贷款?
要查看学生使用的私人贷款机构列表，请访问 elmselect.com, select your 状态 (California) and 圣玛丽 College of California. 比较贷款人，并提出问题，以做出最好的选择. You can choose any lender regardless of whether it is on our list.
我希望能获得校外奖学金. 这对我从圣玛丽中学获得经济资助有什么影响?
圣玛丽 works very hard at ensuring that students keep all of their aid intact. 我们与加州学生援助委员会的奖励协调计划合作，向加州助学金获得者报告所有捐赠援助. When necessary, 圣玛丽 aid is reduced to conform to the commission's estimate of financial need. 如果学生在经济援助方面“超额奖励”, the financial aid will be adjusted by reducing awards in the following order:
- Federal subsidized/unsubsidized Direct Loans and/or Perkins Loans
- Federal Work Study
- 圣玛丽 奖学金
- 联邦SEOG
- 圣玛丽 College athletic grants
- 国家或私人提供的奖学金
我怎样才能在校内或校外找到工作?
圣玛丽 Career Center 维护校园内外的工作数据库. You can log on to your GaelExpress student portal to access this listing. 大多数雇主在秋季学期开始时招聘, but the job database is updated with new listings throughout the year.
How does Federal Work-Study (FWS) work?
获得联邦勤工俭学(FWS)奖励的学生必须从财政援助办公室领取FWS合同 之前 每学年开始成为FWS雇员.
Can visit the Career Center webpage for job listings. 一旦你找到了一份FWS的工作，并得到了这份工作, the department will ask for your FWS contract to complete and forward to the college Payroll Office on your behalf, which allows you to work. 你将按两个月的工作时间领取工资.
我没有获得联邦勤工俭学奖学金(FWS). How can I get this award?
学生根据需要获得联邦勤工俭学(FWS), so 不 every student will receive this award or qualify each year. 如果你没有获得FWS，请与财政援助办公室联系. 你仍然可以在校园里找到工作，请访问 Career Center webpage for job listings
联邦勤工俭学(FWS)是应税收入吗?
如果学生挣到足够的收入来报税, this amount must be included as taxable income for 联邦 and 状态 purposes.
Do students have to report Federal Work-Study (FWS) earnings on the FAFSA?
Students must report Federal Work-Study (FWS) earnings on the FAFSA.
Do Federal Work-Study (FWS) earnings count against the student to get aid for next year? Does work-study affect financial aid?
Federal Work-Study (FWS) earnings do 不 count against the student for the following year's 联邦 financial aid. Even though students report FWS as part of their total income on the FAFSA, there is a不her place on the FAFSA where FWS earnings are reported separately, FAFSA的公式不会对学生不利. Question 44 (C) 在FAFSA(学生的额外财务信息)上是再次报告FWS收入的地方，这样FAFSA就不会对学生的收入进行计算.
我或我的父母如何向学院付款?
The College offers a variety of payment options through the Business Office.
我得到了卡尔助学金，但我没有在我的 financial aid offer from 圣玛丽. What can I do?
Send us a copy of the Cal Grant offer from the California Student 援助 Commission. 这将允许我们更新您的奖励包.
Cal Grant如何影响我的机构奖学金?
如果你获得了加州助学金，这可能意味着你需要根据你的需要调整机构奖学金. 关键是你确定的需求将通过加州助学金和/或基于需求的机构奖学金和/或其他基于需求的援助来解决.
What is Satisfactory Academic Progress, and how does it affect my financial aid?
Please refer to Saint Mary's Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy 供本科生和研究生使用.
我是在读学生，刚拿到我的 financial aid offer. 佩尔助学金的金额与去年有所不同. What happened?
A student's Pell Grant is determined each year based on the family's income, 资产, and household size. The Pell Grant is prorated each year based on the Student’s Student 援助 Index (SAI).
How can I find more financial aid?
We strongly encourage all students to look for outside scholarships. 这需要持续的搜索，而不是一次性的搜索. 我们有 scholarship websites 网页和 outside scholarships webpage to assist our students in search of scholarship opportunities. 看看“自家后院”也是个好主意。. Check with your local service organizations like Kiwanis, Rotary Club, Lions, and PEO. 如果你的父母属于专业协会或工会, or even their employers, 询问他们是否有奖学金.
I have never lived on my own 之前. How do I learn to manage my money?
Cashcourse.org is a website funded by the National Endowment for Financial Education, an independent, 非营利性基金会致力于教育大学生和应届毕业生在广泛的金融主题, including budgeting, credit card usage, 设定财务目标和所得税.
我能以独立学生的身份提交助学金申请吗?
According to 联邦 regulations, 你必须能够对以下问题中的一个回答是肯定的，才能被认为是独立的经济援助目的:
- Are you 24 years old?
- Are you working on a master's or doctorate degree or graduate certificate?
- 您在填写FAFSA时是否已婚?
- Do you have children who receive more than half their support from you?
- 除配偶或子女外，你是否有其他受抚养人与你同住，而他们的生活费有一半以上来自你?
- Did you have no living parents (biological or adoptive) when you were age 13, even if you are now adopted?
- 你是否在13岁或13岁以上的任何时候(即使你不再是)被寄养或被监护或受法院抚养??
- 你是一个被解放的未成年人，还是在你的合法居住国的法院认定的法定监护下?
- Are you a self-supporting unaccompanied youth who is homeless or at risk of homelessness?
- Are you a veteran of the U.S. 武装部队, or have you attended a service academy and were released under a condition other than dishonorable?
- Are you currently serving on active duty (other than training) in the U.S. 武装部队?
If you do 不 meet any of these conditions, you are considered a dependent. Undergraduates can不 declare themselves independent of their parents due to family disagreement, living arrangements, or parental unwillingness to contribute to the price of attendance. 如果您有其他问题，请十大网赌平台的办公室.
I need a不her semester or year to graduate beyond my fourth year. What kind of aid is available?
加州十大正规网赌平台(Saint Mary 's College of California)规定，在大一入学后入学的学生只有资格获得四年的圣玛丽奖学金. Those who transfer in have the number of years remaining that will equal four years. So if a 二年级学生 transfers in, he/she will have three years of eligibility; a junior will have two years of eligibility. Cal奖助金的有效期最长为四年. 因此, students who continue on after four years will only be considered for 联邦 aid (Pell Grants and student loans).