Financial Aid 

​​The office of Federal Student Aid provides publications, fact sheets, online tools, and other resources to help you prepare and pay for college or career school.
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Use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form to apply for financial aid for college.
Click the above video to learn more about the FAFSA and its importance when applying for financial aid.

California Dream Act Application

The California Dream Act Application allows students interested in attending eligible California Colleges, Universities, and Career Education Programs to apply for state financial aid.

WebGrants 4 Students

The California Student Aid Commission has created WebGrants 4 Students to provide you with the resources, information, and tools needed to assist you with the college financial aid process.

icanaffordcollege.com - California Community Colleges

The “I Can Afford College” campaign is a statewide, financial aid awareness initiative sponsored by the California Community Colleges with financial aid available year-round to help pay for enrollment fees and college costs like books, supplies, and even rent in some cases.

BigFuture by the College Board

The College Board is a not-for-profit organization that connects students to college success by helping you find the right college for you.  Extremely handy tools, such as a financial aid checklist, tools, and calculators, make planning for college less stressful.  For direct access to these tools feel free to click on any of the below buttons.
Financial Aid Checklist - A step-by-step guide to help you navigate the financial aid process and get the most money possible for college.
Financial Aid Tools & Calculators - Make college planning easier with tools and calculators to help understand college costs and the amount of financial aid you will need.
Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Calculator - The EFC Calculator estimates the expected contribution of a student's family and gives financial aid eligibility insight.

Scholarships

SMUSD's Scholarship List

​It is common for students to find scholarships within their communities. Typically, local scholarships are less competitive as the eligible population is much smaller. Check out San Marcos USD's scholarship list for the best guide for local scholarships and more.
National College Scholarships

QuestBridge

QuestBridge is a national nonprofit that connects the nation's most exceptional students from low-income backgrounds with leading institutions of higher education and further life opportunities. ​Over $2 billion has been offered to QuestBridge students at our college partners. And the amount continues to grow.

The Gates Scholarship (TGS)

​The Gates Scholarship is a highly selective, last-dollar scholarship for outstanding, minority, high school seniors from low-income households. Each year, the scholarship is awarded to 300 of these student leaders, with the intent of helping them realize their maximum potential.
Local College Scholarships

Palomar Promise

The Palomar Promise is designed to provide first-time college students with access to an affordable higher education and to increase college-going and completion rates in our community.

The Palomar Promise offers up to two years of free course enrollment and related registration fees, textbook assistance, and access to specialized academic and career planning with related support services to first-time college students who meet the eligibility requirements.

CSUSM Scholarship

CSUSM offers a number of scholarship programs supported by the generosity of our scholarship donors. ​

​The CSUSM General Scholarship Application serves as one application for the various scholarship opportunities administered by CSUSM.  Applicants should also complete the FAFSA each year as most scholarships also consider financial need in the awarding criteria.

SDSU Aztec Scholarships


​SDSU has over 850 scholarship opportunities to support students’ educational goals. Our application portal, “Aztec Scholarships,” allows students to apply for university scholarships via one application.  The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships coordinates the SDSU scholarship application and awarding process with core committees from the various colleges, departments and organizations responsible for selecting recipients.

PATHS Scholars Program

​UC San Diego offers the PATHS Program to increase the number, persistence, and success of underserved and underrepresented minority students in STEM. The PATHS Program will be available to academically talented students who demonstrate an interest in the advancement of historically underrepresented populations in the sciences and related fields who have been accepted into STEM-related undergraduate programs at UC San Diego. The PATHS Program selects annual cohorts students to participate in the 4+ year round pilot program, receiving a comprehensive package of student support components to address financial, cultural and academic barriers.

Chancellor's Scholarship

UC San Diego awards Chancellor's Scholarships to entering first-year students on the basis of outstanding academic achievement. Chancellor's Scholars receive an honorarium of up to $5,000 per year in each of their 4 undergraduate years (up to $20,000 total), plus special privileges as outlined below.