Financial Aid

Financial aid helps cover college costs such as books, supplies and transportation. The Cypress College Financial Aid Office encourages all students to learn about available financial aid options. 

US Citizens and eligible non-citizens (e.g. permanent residents) can apply for federal aid by completing the FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov/.

Undocumented students may qualify for state aid by completing the California Dream Act application (CADAA) at https://dream.csac.ca.gov. CADAA applicants must meet AB540 criteria and submit required documentation and a Non-Resident Tuition Exemption Request to the Admissions and Records Office. 

Students should include Cypress College School Code: 001193 on either application.

Students are encouraged to apply by the March 2 priority deadline to maximize state aid opportunities. However, Community College students have until September 2 to be considered for state aid

The Financial Aid Office cureently administers the following types of state and federal financial aid programs to our students:

Federal Financial Aid Programs

  • Federal Pell Grant
  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
  • Federal Work Study
  • Federal Direct Loan (Subsidized and Unsubsidized)  

State Financial Aid Programs

  • Cal Grants
  • California College Promise Grant
  • Studnet Success Completion Grant
  • Chafee Grant
  • Middle Class Scholarship

For detailed information on these programs, please visit the Cypress College Financial Aid Office - Types of Aid page

Verification

The Department of Education or California Student Aid Commission randomly selects students for verification. Students can comp;ete their verification requirements online by visiting the Financial Aid Requirements section in myGateway or reviewing requirements at https://cypresscollege.studentforms.com/account/registerstudent

All new financial aid applicants who have not yet verified their identity must visit the Financial Aid Office in person to verify their identity with an unexpired government-issued ID. 

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

  • Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher
  • Students must complete at least 67% of all units attempted cumulatively
  • Students become ineligible for Financial Aid after attempting more than 150% of their program length
    • Example: for an AA Degree requiring 60 units, the maximum allowed is 90 units (60 x 150%) 
    • For Certificate programs the maximum allowed units vary based on the program length multiplied by 150%.
  • Students must be enrolled in a valid financial aid eligible program.

For more information about SAP, please visit the Financial Aid Requirements section in myGateway  or the Policies, Appeals, and important information page on the Financial Aid website.

Withdrawing from Courses & No Shows

Withdrawals are the student's responsibility and can be done online via myGateway or at Admissions and Records. Financial Aid assumes students will attend and complete their courses. If a student withdraws after attending at least one day, a Return to Title IV (R2T4) calculation is done based on the Last Day of Academic Activity (LDA) to determine earned or unearned aid. This affects Title Iv aid like Pell Grants and Federal Loans. Cal Grant recipients with fee refunds may lose their awards.

Students receiving all failing or no-pass grades without officially withdrawing are considers unofficial withdrawals. Starting Fall 2024, instructor provided LDAs will be used to verify attendance for R2T4 calculations

A students is a no show if attendance cannot be documented. If attendance cannot be confirmed during R2T4, the course is also a no show and aid will be adjusted accordingly, which may result in a balance being owed. 

Students may appeal by contacting the Financial Aid Office. Aid, including state aid is based on units at the freeze date, but units without confirmed attendance do not count toward eligibility. Regular attendance is required to keep financial aid. 

For more information about the the impact of no shows and withdrawals, please visit the policy appeals and important information page. 

Financial Aid Office
Cypress College Complex, 1st Floor
9200 Valley View Street
Cypress, CA 90630
(714) 484-7114
https://www.cypresscollege.edu/financial-aid/