Feb. 27, 2026, 3:26 p.m. PT
In 2025, the number of high school seniors in California who applied for federal financial aid jumped by 11%, according to the California Student Aid Commission.
The growth represented 72.7% of all public high school seniors in California who completed a financial aid application, which was up from 64.2% for the class of 2024, the commission said in September news release.
“These trends are showing us that California’s students want to enroll in higher education, and that families need financial aid to make college affordable,” Daisy Gonzales, Executive Director of the California Student Aid Commission, said in the release. “We are grateful to the families and students who trust us to make college affordable.”
With this year’s deadline quickly approaching, here’s what to know about applying for financial aid in California.
When is the deadline to apply?
To be eligible for state aid in California, students must complete their applications by the priority deadline of Monday, March 2, according to the California Student Aid Commission.
For California community colleges, the deadline is Sept. 2, the commission says.
“Some colleges have earlier deadlines,” the commission says, adding that applicants should check the requirements for each college they are interested in.
What application should students use?
There are two different financial aid applications for students in California: the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the California Dream Act Application (CADAA), according to the California Student Aid Commission.
Only one, however, needs to be completed.
FAFSA is an application administered by the U.S. Department of Education and the Office of Federal Student Aid. It allows students to qualify for federal, state, and institutional financial aid.
Here’s when to use FAFSA:
- If you are an American citizen
- If you are a permanent resident, or “Green Card” holder
- If you have T-Visa
- If you are an eligible non-citizen
The CADAA is administered by the California Student Aid Commission and allows undocumented and other eligible students to qualify for state and institutional financial aid.
Here’s when to use CADAA:
- If you are undocumented
- If you have a U-Visa or Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
- If you meet the California non-resident exemption requirements
- If you are a student from a Mixed-Status Family
What is needed to apply?
To apply for FAFSA, you will need the following:
- A Federal Student Aid ID. You can create an account on the Federal Student Aid website.
- A parent FSA ID (if applicable)
- A Social Security card
- An alien registration number / green card (if applicable)
- Driver’s license (if applicable)
- Tax information, such as 1040s and W2s from two years prior (if applicable)
- Record of untaxed income. This includes child support, combat pay and retirement.
- List of colleges you’re interested in applying to
To fill out CADAA, you will need the following:
- An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (if applicable)
- A driver’s license (if applicable)
- Tax information, such as 1040s and W2s from two years prior (if applicable)
- Record of untaxed income (child support, combat pay, retirement, etc.)
- A list of colleges you’re interested in applying to
How to apply for financial aid
To apply for either FAFSA or CADAA, students can do so online.
FAFSA can be found on the Federal Student Aid website, while CADAA can be found on the California Student Aid Commission’s dedicated website.
What kind of aid is offered for California students?
“While federal aid such as the Pell Grant or Work Study is limited to FAFSA applicants, state and institution-based financial aid such as the Cal Grant, Middle Class Scholarship, California Community College Promise Grant, and more is available for both CADAA and FAFSA applicants,” the California Student Aid Commission says.
A full list of programs administered by the California Student Aid Commission can be found online.
What to do after an application is completed
After completing your financial aid application, students should do the following, according to the California Student Aid Commission:
- Make sure your application was submitted: After submitting your FAFSA or CADAA, you should receive a confirmation email. “If there are no issues, your application should be processed within a week,” the California Student Aid Commission says, adding that you can make additions or corrections to your applications as needed.
- Check your financial aid using WebGrants 4 Students: After creating an account, students can view and manage their financial aid rewards.
- Check your email: Be sure to check your email, including your spam folder, for financial aid updates, such as requests for additional documents or notifications from the college about next steps.