Eligibility and Your Financial Aid

To be eligible for federal financial aid from SDSU you must:

• Be a United States citizen, permanent resident, or other eligible noncitizen
• Be admitted to a degree, credential, or eligible certificate program at SDSU
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress
• Be eligible for aid according to federal and state regulations
• Reapply for aid each year

Eligibility for students who meet AB 540 requirements

The California Dream Act allows students who are without lawful immigration status to receive certain financial aid, if they meet specified criteria, as defined by California State Assembly Bill 540. Find out more about the California Dream Act and AB 540 requirements.

Ineligibility for financial aid

The Financial Aid Office will notify you via my.SDSU if you are not eligible for financial aid.

Reasons for ineligibility include:

• Not making satisfactory academic progress
• Being in default on a student loan
• Being convicted of a drug offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student financial aid

Accepting or declining a financial aid award

• You do not need to take any action to accept a grant award.  All grants are assumed accepted.
• Activate only the amount of loan you need to meet your expenses for the academic year.
• You have the right to decline any or all of your financial aid award.

The amount of your SDSU awards

If you are eligible and do not decline aid, the amount and types of aid you receive will depend upon many factors, including:

• When you apply
• Availability of funds from grant programs with limited amounts
• Whether you are a California resident
• Your enrolled units

Eligibility topics:

• Calculating your eligibility 
  Learn about your Cost of Attendance (COA), university housing costs, your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), estimating your financial aid using the Net Price Calculator, and more.  

• When you can view your initial financial aid eligibility 
  Log in to my.SDSU to review your eligibility. The Office of Financial Aid will make students aware when awards get posted.   

• Adjustments to your initial eligibility 
  Your first eligibility notice is based on the assumption that you will be enrolled full time. Eligibility amounts may be adjusted for various reasons, including a change in your enrollment status or because we may have recently completed the review of documents you were required to submit.

• Change in financial situation after FAFSA 
  What to do if you experience a change in resources, income, or special circumstances not addressed on the original FAFSA.  

• When your expenses exceed your award 
  What expenses may be considered for an award adjustment and how to request a budget increase.