Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) electronically each year at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. The priority FAFSA filing date is March 2 and applicants applying by this deadline will receive first priority consideration for funds with limited allocations. If you would prefer to have a paper version of the FAFSA, you may obtain it from the Federal Student Aid Information Center at the toll-free number (800)4.FED.AID (800-433- 3243).
The federal processor conducts a social security match to verify the applicant's citizenship status, a selective service registration check (for males only), and a National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) match to verify outstanding student loans and/or federal grants from prior years.
The federal processor calculates an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) based on the applicant's income and household size. The EFC represents the amount the government believes that, based on a federally determined Needs Analysis formula, the family should be able to afford to pay toward the applicant's cost of education for the year. The cost of education is determined by the university, and includes a standardized budget for living expenses, transportation to and from school, tuition, books, and personal miscellaneous expenses.
The federal processor electronically transmits the applicant's processed application data, called a Institutional Student Information Report (ISIR), to each school that the applicant lists on their FAFSA (an applicant may add or delete schools from their ISIR). The California State University, Bakersfield 's (CSUB) Title IV School Code is 007993.
The school uploads the ISIR data into their computer system. Based on the applicant's admission's status and EFC, CSUB may make a tentative Offer of Financial Aid at this time.
At least 30% of all financial aid applicants are randomly selected by the federal government for "Verification." The federal processor identifies those applicants selected for "Verification" by placing an asterisk (*) on the ISIR next to the EFC. This means that the school is REQUIRED to verify the applicant's ISIR data as being true and accurate. The school does this by requesting verification documents from the applicant such as; income tax returns, verification worksheets, W-2 forms, etc.
If the federal government has a concern regarding the applicant's NSLDS record, or was unable to verify citizenship and/or selective service registration based upon the applicant's name, date of birth and SSN, then the federal processor flags the ISIR by placing a letter "C" (for "caution") next to the EFC. This means that the school is REQUIRED to verify the applicant's NSLDS eligibility, citizenship and/or selective service registration. The school may do this by requesting verification documents from the applicant such as; Birth Certificate, permanent resident "Green" card, Social Security Card, Selective Service Registration Card, etc.
A notification that an Offer of Financial Aid has been made will be e-mailed to applicants who are new or continuing students. This offer may be viewed online at the myCSUB Student Self-Service link. This offer list the applicant's budget, the tentative offer of aid, and all verification documentation needed to complete the applicant's financial aid file. CSUB financial aid forms may be downloaded at http://www.csub.edu/FinAid/forms/index.html or requested by calling our office at (661) 654-3016.
Once the applicant submits all of the necessary documents, which must be scanned into CSUB's imaging system, and their financial aid file is complete, their file is forwarded to a Financial Aid counselor for review.
For those applicants selected by the federal government for verification, the counselor verifies that the applicant's ISIR application data matches their verification documentation submitted. Among other things, the counselor checks academic progress for all continuing students (i.e., that the applicant completed the appropriate number of units in the prior academic year).
If the applicant's verification data does not match their application data, the counselor may request additional documentation and/or make the necessary corrections to the application data, recalculate the applicant's aid eligibility, and revise the Financial Aid Offer. If corrections are made, an Award Revision Letter is sent to the applicant's e-mail account.
Once all data is complete and accurate, the counselor certifies the applicant's aid eligibility. At this point, the applicant's aid for the quarter is ready to be disbursed into the applicant's university account upon proper registration and no sooner than 10 days prior to the beginning of the term.
Once the aid is disbursed into the applicant's university account, it will be credited toward any outstanding fees or charges (please be aware that federal regulations prohibit us from automatically deducting prior year balances from current year aid. Thus, prior year balances must be paid by the student in cash, credit, or check). If there is any remaining credit balance, a refund check will be issued to the applicant via direct deposit into the applicant's checking or savings account. If you do not have a Direct Deposit Authorization Form on file with CSUB Student Financial Services, please complete and submit one immediately. You may download this form at http://www.csub.edu/BAS/fiscal/studaccount/forms/DirectDeposit_FinAid.pdf. If you have questions regarding the Direct Deposit Authorization Form, please contact the CSUB Student Financial Services office at (661)654-3225.
Note: Upon admission to the University, applicants may view their financial aid award, holds, messages, etc., on-line via the Student Self-Service at: MyCSUB