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Paying for School

Paying for School

FEDERAL PELL GRANT

The Federal Pell Grant program provides a foundation of assistance to which other forms of aid may be added. This grant is available for all eligible students. Unlike loans, grants do not have to be paid back. A maximum amount of Pell is set each year by congress, but the total amount that an individual student is eligible for is determined by a standard formula used to identify financial need. This formula is revised and approved every year by the federal government. Your financial aid advisor will be able to tell you more about your pell grant eligibility after you complete your FAFSA.

WHO MAY APPLY

  • Undergraduate students in a degree program
  • U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens
  • Students without a Bachelor’s degree

HOW TO APPLY

  • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  • You must file the FAFSA each year to continue to receive the grant

HOW AWARDS ARE DETERMINED

  • Based on financial eligibility as determined by a standard formula
  • Maximum awards go to full-time students with a -1500 SAI
  • The Maximum Pell Grant amount available in 2024-2025 is $7395
  • Percentage of eligibility is influenced on enrollment intensity (credits taken).

DURATION OF ELIGIBILITY (LIFETIME ELIGIBILITY USED)

The amount of Federal Pell Grant funds a student may receive over their lifetime is limited to the equivalent of six years of Pell Grant funding. Since the maximum amount of Pell Grant funding you can receive each year is equal to 100%, the six-year equivalent is 600%. For more information about the Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU), visit Studentaid.gov.

FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY GRANT (SEOG)

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) are awarded on the basis of financial need and do not have to be repaid. The Financial Aid Office will award a student up to $200 dollars per academic year, depending on the student’s financial need, when he/she applies, the amount of other aid received and the availability of funds at Westcliff University (WU). There is no guarantee every eligible student will be able to receive a FSEOG. FSEOG funds are awarded by academic year.

Westcliff University receives a certain amount of FSEOG funds each year from the U.S. Department of Education’s office of Federal Student Aid. Once the full amount of the school’s FSEOG funds has been awarded to students, no more FSEOG awards can be made for that year. This system works differently from the Federal Pell Grant Program, which provides funds to every eligible student. Westcliff can offer additional FSEOG if funds remain up to a total of $550 an award year.

WHO MAY APPLY

  • Undergraduate students in a degree program
  • U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens

HOW TO APPLY

  • File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  • You must file the FAFSA
    each year to continue to receive the grant

HOW AWARDS ARE DETERMINED

  • Based on financial eligibility as determined by a standard formula
  • FSEOG awarding is done in two tiers based on the student’s SAI:
    • Tier 1 $200 FSEOG per academic year: SAI ranging from -1500 SAI up to but not including zero (0) SAI
    • Tier 2 $100 FSEOG per academic year: SAI of zero (0)

AWARD AMOUNTS

  • Tier 1 $200 per academic year
  • Tier 2 $100 per academic year
  • Up to $550 for the 2024-2025 academic year if additional funds are available.

FEDERAL WORK STUDY (FWS)

The Federal Work Study (FWS) Program is a financial aid program funded by the federal government with the intention of providing part-time employment opportunities for eligible students who need additional financial resources to pursue a college education.

WHO MAY APPLY

  • Students in good academic standing with financial need
  • U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens

HOW TO APPLY

  • File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  • You must file the FAFSA each year to continue to be eligible for FWS.
  • Apply for open positions that you are interested in and qualified for.
    • Qualified applicants will be interviewed by the hiring director or outside employer.

HOW AWARDS ARE DETERMINED

  • Financial need.
  • Qualifications for position offered, based on criteria set by the position’s hiring manager.

AWARD AMOUNTS

  • Students will be paid for hourly work according to the rate on their hiring agreement.
  • The rate of pay is specific to the type of job you will be applying for but will not be less than minimum wage.
  • You will be paid at least once a month, Work Study students who work at Westcliff University are typically paid every two weeks.
  • There are limits to the amount of hours you can work. These will be assigned to you by your hiring manager.

CAL GRANT

Cal Grant is an additional form of aid that does not need to be repaid. It is funded by the State of California and is available to eligible California residents.

WHO MAY APPLY

  • Undergraduate students enrolled at least half time
  • California residents who have been a resident for at least a year
  • US Citizens and eligible noncitizens or students who meet the AB540 eligibility criteria (DACA)
  • Students without a Bachelor’s Degree
  • Students who meet Cal Grant GPA requirements

HOW TO APPLY

  • File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or CA Dream Act Application (CADA) by the Cal Grant Priority Deadline
  • You must file a FAFSA or CADA each year to continue to receive this grant
  • The Cal Grant Priority Deadline is usually March 2nd
  • For the 24-25 Academic Year the Priority Deadline has been extended to April 2, 2024
  • After submitting the FAFSA or CADA application create a CSAC webgrant account to select and manage your school

HOW AWARDS ARE DETERMINED

  • There are 3 Types of Cal Grants: A, B, and C
  • Westcliff University Students may be eligible for either Cal Grant A or B, Cal Grant C is only available to students enrolled in a California Community College
  • Eligibility is based on criteria such as student need, GPA, school type, and/or additional factors depending on the type of Cal Grant
  • More information about Cal Grant can be found at csac.ca.gov

AWARD AMOUNTS

  • Annual Cal Grant awards are based on a number of factors including grant type
  • The maximum Cal Grant amount for new Cal Grant A recipients at Private For-Profit Colleges like Westcliff University for the 24-25 academic year is $8056
  • Cal Grant B recipients may be eligible for a maximum grant amount of $8056 towards tuition and fees and an additional $1648 Access award to help pay for books and supplies*
  • Students must be enrolled Full Time (12 credits a semester) to receive the full amount of Cal Grant aid that they are eligible for**

*Cal Grant awards are set and awarded by the CA state government and subject to change. The maximum listed is based on 24-25 award amounts for students enrolled in Private, For-Profit Institutions.

**Cal Grant award amounts are reduced on a prorated schedule for students enrolled in less than 12 credits per semester.

DURATION OF ELIGIBILITY (LIFETIME ELIGIBILITY USED)

The amount of Cal Grant funds a student may receive are limited to the equivalent of four years of Cal Grant funding. Since the maximum amount of Cal Grant funding you can receive each year is equal to 100%, the four year equivalent is equal to 400%.