Take The Frist Step To Grow and thrive

The first step to obtaining financial aid is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Absolutely! It’s a common misconception that families with moderate to high incomes won't qualify for financial aid. Many factors are considered in determining your eligibility, and some people miss out on aid simply because they don't file a FAFSA. Plus, you are always eligible for PLUS (Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students) and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, regardless of your calculated need.

Ideally, you should file your FAFSA form right after filing your federal taxes. While you can file a FAFSA before completing your tax return, your estimates should be as accurate as possible, as you will need to update your FAFSA once your tax return is filed. In some cases, state aid may be available to residents attending school within their state (such as the California Grant Program). To be considered for state aid, you must file your FAFSA before the state-specified deadline. The earlier you file your FAFSA, the sooner your financial aid will be finalized.

A Federal School Code is a number assigned to a specific institution of higher education. When you enter this code on your FAFSA, it directs the U.S. Department of Education to send the results of your processed FAFSA to the school(s) you plan to attend.

When completing your FAFSA application, please use the following school code for our campus:

School Code: PCTI 040823

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PIN stands for Personal Identification Number. This unique identifier is assigned to you by the Department of Education and serves as your legal electronic signature for signing your FAFSA form online. You'll also need it to make any corrections to your FAFSA form online.

If you don't remember your PIN or need to apply for one, log in, select the PIN task from your checklist page, and follow the instructions provided.

IMPORTANT: Your PIN is a vital piece of private information. Keep it secure and do not share it with anyone, including Financial Aid Advisors. Protect it as you would any other piece of private financial information.

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The Department of Education considers your previous year's tax return as the best indicator of your financial need. To ensure you receive all the aid for which you are eligible, we must have the most up-to-date information. A new FAFSA is required for each award year, which runs from July 1st through June 30th.

EFC stands for Estimated Family Contribution. This amount is calculated by the Department of Education using the information you provided on your FAFSA. It indicates how much money the Department of Education expects you and your family to contribute towards your educational expenses each academic year. These expenses include tuition, fees, program costs, and the estimated cost of living while you attend school.

All you need to do is file a FAFSA form with the Department of Education, and our Financial Aid Department will handle the rest, ensuring you receive the financial aid for which you are eligible.

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Verification is a process by which the Department of Education audits the Federal Student Aid Program. At least 30% of students who file a FAFSA form are randomly selected for verification. If you are selected, the Financial Aid Department is authorized to collect copies of your federal tax return information and details about your household to ensure the accuracy of the information provided on your FAFSA form.

Verification is a process by which the Department of Education audits the Federal Student Aid Program. There may be a couple of reasons for this. If the Department of Education requests additional documentation to verify or clarify information you provided on the FAFSA, the financial aid office will contact you to request these documents. We cannot provide an Award Notification until all required documents have been received.

Therefore, it is essential to submit any additional documentation as soon as possible. Additionally, a delay in our Award Notification can occur if your FAFSA form is missing the correct Federal School Code for the campus you plan to attend. Check the School Code section of the report to ensure that the correct school code is on your FAFSA. For a list of our school codes, please refer to the question above entitled, “What is a Federal School Code and what is its purpose?”

You should contact the lender to see if there is an opportunity to reverse the decision. Sometimes, providing a verbal explanation or written documentation regarding a specific credit situation can result in loan approval. Alternatively, you can reapply with a co-borrower. If these options are not feasible, other private funding options are available. Please contact the Financial Aid Department for assistance.

You should contact the lender to determine if there is an opportunity to reverse the decision. Sometimes, providing the lender with a verbal explanation or written documentation regarding a specific credit situation can result in loan approval. Additionally, you can reapply with a co-borrower. If neither of these options is feasible, other private funding options are available. Please contact the Financial Aid Department, and we will assist you.

Please send proof of your scholarship (award certificate and congratulatory letter) to the Financial Aid Department. You can mail it or fax it; contact the Financial Aid Department for the correct fax number. We will update your financial aid package to include your scholarship.

Many resident non-citizens are eligible to receive Federal Student Aid. Please contact the Financial Aid Department so we may assess your eligibility. NOTE: International students in this country on an I-20 Visa are not eligible for federal.